How to triple your memory by using this trick | Ricardo Lieuw On | TEDxHaarlem

so add a little test for you don’t panic

so add a little test for you don’t panic I’m not here to judge you it’s just a

I’m not here to judge you it’s just a

I’m not here to judge you it’s just a little test okay

little test okay

little test okay first you get 30 seconds to memorize 10

first you get 30 seconds to memorize 10

first you get 30 seconds to memorize 10 words in the right order after that you

words in the right order after that you

words in the right order after that you get 30 seconds to write down what you

get 30 seconds to write down what you

get 30 seconds to write down what you remembered and then finally you get 30

remembered and then finally you get 30

remembered and then finally you get 30 seconds to check your answers so are you

seconds to check your answers so are you

seconds to check your answers so are you guys ready well we’re gonna start anyway

guys ready well we’re gonna start anyway

guys ready well we’re gonna start anyway so memorize ten words in the right order

so memorize ten words in the right order

so memorize ten words in the right order in 30 seconds in three two one go

okay stop now write down which you

okay stop now write down which you remember

okay and stop now quickly check your

okay and stop now quickly check your answers

[Music]

[Music] okay and stop so very exciting I heard a

okay and stop so very exciting I heard a

okay and stop so very exciting I heard a lot of grunting and moaning so I hope I

lot of grunting and moaning so I hope I

lot of grunting and moaning so I hope I didn’t stretch you out too much now

didn’t stretch you out too much now

didn’t stretch you out too much now a moment of reflection I’d like you to

a moment of reflection I’d like you to

a moment of reflection I’d like you to ask yourself how did I memorize this and

ask yourself how did I memorize this and

ask yourself how did I memorize this and was it the best way to do it now for the

was it the best way to do it now for the

was it the best way to do it now for the generation of my parents and

generation of my parents and

generation of my parents and grandparents being able to memorize

grandparents being able to memorize

grandparents being able to memorize something like this was an absolutely

something like this was an absolutely

something like this was an absolutely essential skill but nowadays why would

essential skill but nowadays why would

essential skill but nowadays why would anyone want to remember a list of

anyone want to remember a list of

anyone want to remember a list of anything you just take a picture of the

anything you just take a picture of the

anything you just take a picture of the screen and you’re done right so with all

screen and you’re done right so with all

screen and you’re done right so with all the technology we have these days it

the technology we have these days it

the technology we have these days it seemed as if memorizing is somehow

seemed as if memorizing is somehow

seemed as if memorizing is somehow become less important so why should we

become less important so why should we

become less important so why should we then in today’s day and age still want

then in today’s day and age still want

then in today’s day and age still want to get better at memorizing well to

to get better at memorizing well to

to get better at memorizing well to answer that question I’d like to tell

answer that question I’d like to tell

answer that question I’d like to tell you a little story in high school I

you a little story in high school I

you a little story in high school I flunked a grade twice after seven years

flunked a grade twice after seven years

flunked a grade twice after seven years of torture I finally got my diploma

of torture I finally got my diploma

of torture I finally got my diploma sweet sweet freedom what would I do with

sweet sweet freedom what would I do with

sweet sweet freedom what would I do with it I didn’t know one thing I did know

it I didn’t know one thing I did know

it I didn’t know one thing I did know however was that I didn’t want to go

however was that I didn’t want to go

however was that I didn’t want to go back to school because that old learning

back to school because that old learning

back to school because that old learning business

business

business it wasn’t cut out for me so instead I

it wasn’t cut out for me so instead I

it wasn’t cut out for me so instead I went to sunny California for nine months

went to sunny California for nine months

went to sunny California for nine months and there I worked as a bagger not

and there I worked as a bagger not

and there I worked as a bagger not beggar bagger so in a supermarket I had

beggar bagger so in a supermarket I had

beggar bagger so in a supermarket I had to put people’s groceries in bags and

to put people’s groceries in bags and

to put people’s groceries in bags and then I’d get a little tip surprisingly

then I’d get a little tip surprisingly

then I’d get a little tip surprisingly that year I learned so much I learned

that year I learned so much I learned

that year I learned so much I learned how to bag a bunch of groceries really

how to bag a bunch of groceries really

how to bag a bunch of groceries really really quickly I learned how to drive a

really quickly I learned how to drive a

really quickly I learned how to drive a car and in California people are a

car and in California people are a

car and in California people are a little bit more open than they are in

little bit more open than they are in

little bit more open than they are in Amsterdam so I also learned how to have

Amsterdam so I also learned how to have

Amsterdam so I also learned how to have a little chat with a stranger just for

a little chat with a stranger just for

a little chat with a stranger just for the hell of it that year I discovered

the hell of it that year I discovered

the hell of it that year I discovered that I don’t hate learning just a

that I don’t hate learning just a

that I don’t hate learning just a specific way of doing it so I just

specific way of doing it so I just

specific way of doing it so I just to go and study psychology now for the

to go and study psychology now for the

to go and study psychology now for the first time ever I was getting

first time ever I was getting

first time ever I was getting information that I absolutely wanted to

information that I absolutely wanted to

information that I absolutely wanted to know now I was spending more time in the

know now I was spending more time in the

know now I was spending more time in the library then I spent skipping school as

library then I spent skipping school as

library then I spent skipping school as a teenager voluntarily the only problem

a teenager voluntarily the only problem

a teenager voluntarily the only problem was that I was spending all of my time

was that I was spending all of my time

was that I was spending all of my time in the library because I’d never learned

in the library because I’d never learned

in the library because I’d never learned how to learn so I started experimenting

how to learn so I started experimenting

how to learn so I started experimenting with different methods of reading texts

with different methods of reading texts

with different methods of reading texts of memorizing texts and I got my reading

of memorizing texts and I got my reading

of memorizing texts and I got my reading time of three hours to chapter down to

time of three hours to chapter down to

time of three hours to chapter down to one this way of studying enabled me to

one this way of studying enabled me to

one this way of studying enabled me to do an honours program to get my degree

do an honours program to get my degree

do an honours program to get my degree and to fall in love with learning and

and to fall in love with learning and

and to fall in love with learning and now I happily work for a company called

now I happily work for a company called

now I happily work for a company called remind in which we teach people the

remind in which we teach people the

remind in which we teach people the science and art of learning we’re trying

science and art of learning we’re trying

science and art of learning we’re trying to bring back into education but we

to bring back into education but we

to bring back into education but we ourselves missed now for the past three

ourselves missed now for the past three

ourselves missed now for the past three years we’ve also organized the Dutch

years we’ve also organized the Dutch

years we’ve also organized the Dutch national memory championships for high

national memory championships for high

national memory championships for high schoolers we do this to show that

schoolers we do this to show that

schoolers we do this to show that everybody is capable of amazing feats of

everybody is capable of amazing feats of

everybody is capable of amazing feats of memory but also to show that

memory but also to show that

memory but also to show that memorization is about a lot more than

memorization is about a lot more than

memorization is about a lot more than just learning your French or your

just learning your French or your

just learning your French or your Spanish words and today I’d also like to

Spanish words and today I’d also like to

Spanish words and today I’d also like to share this with you so in the beginning

share this with you so in the beginning

share this with you so in the beginning I made you do this little test just to

I made you do this little test just to

I made you do this little test just to make you aware of how you’re memorizing

make you aware of how you’re memorizing

make you aware of how you’re memorizing things right now next I’d like to give

things right now next I’d like to give

things right now next I’d like to give you a new type of memory experience this

you a new type of memory experience this

you a new type of memory experience this time you can even sit back and relax

time you can even sit back and relax

time you can even sit back and relax so I’m going to ask you to find a

so I’m going to ask you to find a

so I’m going to ask you to find a comfortable position to sit to close

comfortable position to sit to close

comfortable position to sit to close your eyes and to take a deep breath now

your eyes and to take a deep breath now

your eyes and to take a deep breath now I want you to think of someone you know

I want you to think of someone you know

I want you to think of someone you know called John and I want you to see him

called John and I want you to see him

called John and I want you to see him now John just grabbed the Sun out of the

now John just grabbed the Sun out of the

now John just grabbed the Sun out of the sky and he just threw it on your feet

sky and he just threw it on your feet

sky and he just threw it on your feet and now your feet are getting really big

and now your feet are getting really big

and now your feet are getting really big and red and swollen because John just

and red and swollen because John just

and red and swollen because John just threw the Sun on your feet

threw the Sun on your feet

threw the Sun on your feet now you look to your knees and on your

now you look to your knees and on your

now you look to your knees and on your knees you see ten little guys playing

knees you see ten little guys playing

knees you see ten little guys playing basketball very strange sight and on

basketball very strange sight and on

basketball very strange sight and on their shirts you can see in brightly

their shirts you can see in brightly

their shirts you can see in brightly colored letters the New York Knicks so

colored letters the New York Knicks so

colored letters the New York Knicks so you have some Knicks on your knees next

you have some Knicks on your knees next

you have some Knicks on your knees next you look to where your thighs are but

you look to where your thighs are but

you look to where your thighs are but they’re gone your thighs have been

they’re gone your thighs have been

they’re gone your thighs have been replaced with Ford’s the cars they could

replaced with Ford’s the cars they could

replaced with Ford’s the cars they could be Ford Focuses or Ford Mustangs your

be Ford Focuses or Ford Mustangs your

be Ford Focuses or Ford Mustangs your thighs have been replaced with Ford’s

thighs have been replaced with Ford’s

thighs have been replaced with Ford’s now with your bottom you feel a hard

now with your bottom you feel a hard

now with your bottom you feel a hard plastic seat of a go-kart vibrating with

plastic seat of a go-kart vibrating with

plastic seat of a go-kart vibrating with your bottom you feel the hard plastic

your bottom you feel the hard plastic

your bottom you feel the hard plastic seat of a go-kart your belly starts

seat of a go-kart your belly starts

seat of a go-kart your belly starts rumbling very loudly so you follow your

rumbling very loudly so you follow your

rumbling very loudly so you follow your belly and it leads you to McDonald’s and

belly and it leads you to McDonald’s and

belly and it leads you to McDonald’s and there Ronald McDonald start shooting

there Ronald McDonald start shooting

there Ronald McDonald start shooting rays of light at you with a ray gun

rays of light at you with a ray gun

rays of light at you with a ray gun Ronald McDonald is shooting rays of

Ronald McDonald is shooting rays of

Ronald McDonald is shooting rays of light at you with a ray gun you he hits

light at you with a ray gun you he hits

light at you with a ray gun you he hits you on your chest and now from your

you on your chest and now from your

you on your chest and now from your chest a big Bush of gray hairs is

chest a big Bush of gray hairs is

chest a big Bush of gray hairs is growing a huge Bush of gray hair is

growing a huge Bush of gray hair is

growing a huge Bush of gray hair is growing from your chest

growing from your chest

growing from your chest so obviously you hurry home to shave it

so obviously you hurry home to shave it

so obviously you hurry home to shave it off and on your doormat you see a letter

off and on your doormat you see a letter

off and on your doormat you see a letter so you open it and it has good news as

so you open it and it has good news as

so you open it and it has good news as you read it you feel the huge weight

you read it you feel the huge weight

you read it you feel the huge weight falling off your shoulders a huge weight

falling off your shoulders a huge weight

falling off your shoulders a huge weight falling off your shoulders your

falling off your shoulders your

falling off your shoulders your shoulders get all light and tingly

shoulders get all light and tingly

shoulders get all light and tingly because you just paid all of your bills

because you just paid all of your bills

because you just paid all of your bills big bills little bills each and every

big bills little bills each and every

big bills little bills each and every bill has been paid for and you have

bill has been paid for and you have

bill has been paid for and you have plenty of money to spare

now you proceed to the bathroom because

now you proceed to the bathroom because now on your neck a bunch of tiny bushes

now on your neck a bunch of tiny bushes

now on your neck a bunch of tiny bushes of thin blonde hairs have appeared on

of thin blonde hairs have appeared on

of thin blonde hairs have appeared on your neck a bunch of tiny bushes of thin

your neck a bunch of tiny bushes of thin

your neck a bunch of tiny bushes of thin blonde hair

blonde hair

blonde hair as you look in the mirror suddenly your

as you look in the mirror suddenly your

as you look in the mirror suddenly your mouth just starts talking all by itself

mouth just starts talking all by itself

mouth just starts talking all by itself and it’s saying yes we can yes we can

and it’s saying yes we can yes we can

and it’s saying yes we can yes we can yes we can

yes we can

yes we can now you turn around and now suddenly

now you turn around and now suddenly

now you turn around and now suddenly your eyes are ah because Donald Duck

your eyes are ah because Donald Duck

your eyes are ah because Donald Duck just poked out both of your eyes with

just poked out both of your eyes with

just poked out both of your eyes with the trumpets made of pure gold now you

the trumpets made of pure gold now you

the trumpets made of pure gold now you can open your eyes again and come back

can open your eyes again and come back

can open your eyes again and come back to this place luckily it’s a lot safer

to this place luckily it’s a lot safer

to this place luckily it’s a lot safer here than what you just came from so I

here than what you just came from so I

here than what you just came from so I just made you guys memorize the past ten

just made you guys memorize the past ten

just made you guys memorize the past ten presidents of the United States of

presidents of the United States of

presidents of the United States of America in the right order now I’m gonna

America in the right order now I’m gonna

America in the right order now I’m gonna show you and then you can see how many

show you and then you can see how many

show you and then you can see how many of these you still know so with each

of these you still know so with each

of these you still know so with each body part I’m gonna ask you what

body part I’m gonna ask you what

body part I’m gonna ask you what happened there and then you could think

happened there and then you could think

happened there and then you could think of it even better would be if you just

of it even better would be if you just

of it even better would be if you just shout it up now what happened to your

shout it up now what happened to your

shout it up now what happened to your feet John through the Sun yeah President

feet John through the Sun yeah President

feet John through the Sun yeah President Johnson

Johnson

now what happened on your knees Knicks

now what happened on your knees Knicks yes President Nixon okay so what were

yes President Nixon okay so what were

yes President Nixon okay so what were your thighs replaced with for its

your thighs replaced with for its

your thighs replaced with for its President Ford okay and what did you

President Ford okay and what did you

President Ford okay and what did you feel with your bottom okay

feel with your bottom okay

feel with your bottom okay President Carter yes some people are

President Carter yes some people are

President Carter yes some people are ahead of the game um

ahead of the game um

ahead of the game um now um your belly led you to McDonald’s

now um your belly led you to McDonald’s

now um your belly led you to McDonald’s what happened

what happened

what happened okay Ronald McDonald shooting Raisa yeah

okay Ronald McDonald shooting Raisa yeah

okay Ronald McDonald shooting Raisa yeah okay so Ronald Reagan he itch in your

okay so Ronald Reagan he itch in your

okay so Ronald Reagan he itch in your chest and you got what big Bush of gray

chest and you got what big Bush of gray

chest and you got what big Bush of gray hairs bush senior now your shoulders got

hairs bush senior now your shoulders got

hairs bush senior now your shoulders got light why paid all your bills Bill

light why paid all your bills Bill

light why paid all your bills Bill Clinton now um what did you have on your

Clinton now um what did you have on your

Clinton now um what did you have on your neck okay

neck okay

neck okay a bush of thin blonde hairs Bush jr.

a bush of thin blonde hairs Bush jr.

a bush of thin blonde hairs Bush jr. what was your mob saying yes we can

what was your mob saying yes we can

what was your mob saying yes we can President Obama and what happen to your

President Obama and what happen to your

President Obama and what happen to your eyes yeah Donald Duck trumpet pure gold

eyes yeah Donald Duck trumpet pure gold

eyes yeah Donald Duck trumpet pure gold who else but Donald Trump so if you

who else but Donald Trump so if you

who else but Donald Trump so if you memorized more this time than the first

memorized more this time than the first

memorized more this time than the first time please stand up

okay so we have almost everyone standing

okay so we have almost everyone standing up that’s awesome um now if you think

up that’s awesome um now if you think

up that’s awesome um now if you think this way of memorizing is more fun than

this way of memorizing is more fun than

this way of memorizing is more fun than the last way you use please stand up or

the last way you use please stand up or

the last way you use please stand up or remain standing if you’re already

remain standing if you’re already

remain standing if you’re already standing oh whoa now we almost have

standing oh whoa now we almost have

standing oh whoa now we almost have everyone I’m very pleased to see this

everyone I’m very pleased to see this

everyone I’m very pleased to see this okay you guys can sit back down thank

okay you guys can sit back down thank

okay you guys can sit back down thank you very much now when you make bizarre

you very much now when you make bizarre

you very much now when you make bizarre images to memorize suddenly it becomes a

images to memorize suddenly it becomes a

images to memorize suddenly it becomes a lot easier if you tie these bizarre

lot easier if you tie these bizarre

lot easier if you tie these bizarre images to a place you know well like

images to a place you know well like

images to a place you know well like your body suddenly memorizing things in

your body suddenly memorizing things in

your body suddenly memorizing things in order becomes a lot easier okay well

order becomes a lot easier okay well

order becomes a lot easier okay well cool but I asked you guys in the

cool but I asked you guys in the

cool but I asked you guys in the beginning why should we in today’s day

beginning why should we in today’s day

beginning why should we in today’s day and age still want to get better at this

and age still want to get better at this

and age still want to get better at this and memorizing well because by getting

and memorizing well because by getting

and memorizing well because by getting better in a skill like this you can also

better in a skill like this you can also

better in a skill like this you can also get better at a different skill the

get better at a different skill the

get better at a different skill the skill of experimentation by

skill of experimentation by

skill of experimentation by experimenting with different methods of

experimenting with different methods of

experimenting with different methods of doing things I found out that I can get

doing things I found out that I can get

doing things I found out that I can get better at anything I found out what

better at anything I found out what

better at anything I found out what works for me and what doesn’t what if

works for me and what doesn’t what if

works for me and what doesn’t what if I’d never learned the skill of

I’d never learned the skill of

I’d never learned the skill of experimentation I may have never gone

experimentation I may have never gone

experimentation I may have never gone back to school I may have never enjoyed

back to school I may have never enjoyed

back to school I may have never enjoyed studying psychology and I probably would

studying psychology and I probably would

studying psychology and I probably would not have been standing here today

not have been standing here today

not have been standing here today because one of the things I thought I

because one of the things I thought I

because one of the things I thought I really couldn’t do was public speaking

really couldn’t do was public speaking

really couldn’t do was public speaking now there are people of every generation

now there are people of every generation

now there are people of every generation not doing things that they might love

not doing things that they might love

not doing things that they might love that they might even be great at because

that they might even be great at because

that they might even be great at because they think they can’t do it

they think they can’t do it

they think they can’t do it so how beautiful would it be if in

so how beautiful would it be if in

so how beautiful would it be if in schools we can teach kids that they can

schools we can teach kids that they can

schools we can teach kids that they can get better at anything and they can even

get better at anything and they can even

get better at anything and they can even get better at getting better at things

get better at getting better at things

get better at getting better at things get it but not just the kids because the

get it but not just the kids because the

get it but not just the kids because the older generation is often seen as too

older generation is often seen as too

older generation is often seen as too old to learn but they’re not too rusty

old to learn but they’re not too rusty

old to learn but they’re not too rusty anyone can improve themselves by

anyone can improve themselves by

anyone can improve themselves by experimenting and I hope you experience

experimenting and I hope you experience

experimenting and I hope you experience that today now out remind

that today now out remind

that today now out remind we break up this process of

we break up this process of

we break up this process of experimentation into three steps the

experimentation into three steps the

experimentation into three steps the check the experience and the experiment

check the experience and the experiment

check the experience and the experiment the check is all about becoming aware of

the check is all about becoming aware of

the check is all about becoming aware of what you’re doing right now

what you’re doing right now

what you’re doing right now so maybe during the first test you

so maybe during the first test you

so maybe during the first test you became aware of the fact that you just

became aware of the fact that you just

became aware of the fact that you just repeat the words over and over and that

repeat the words over and over and that

repeat the words over and over and that that doesn’t work too well the second

that doesn’t work too well the second

that doesn’t work too well the second step the experience is all about being

step the experience is all about being

step the experience is all about being open to new possibilities and trying

open to new possibilities and trying

open to new possibilities and trying them out so maybe during the

them out so maybe during the

them out so maybe during the visualization you realize that this

visualization you realize that this

visualization you realize that this works a bit better or at least you like

works a bit better or at least you like

works a bit better or at least you like it more and the third step is the

it more and the third step is the

it more and the third step is the experiment this is about taking

experiment this is about taking

experiment this is about taking something from that new experience that

something from that new experience that

something from that new experience that you had and applying it in your own life

you had and applying it in your own life

you had and applying it in your own life to see how it works for you so maybe

to see how it works for you so maybe

to see how it works for you so maybe you’re one of those people that when

you’re one of those people that when

you’re one of those people that when someone introduces themselves to you you

someone introduces themselves to you you

someone introduces themselves to you you just immediately forget their name yeah

just immediately forget their name yeah

just immediately forget their name yeah sound familiar and you want to use

sound familiar and you want to use

sound familiar and you want to use visualization to do something about that

visualization to do something about that

visualization to do something about that so far I’ve only taken you guys through

so far I’ve only taken you guys through

so far I’ve only taken you guys through the first two steps the final step is up

the first two steps the final step is up

the first two steps the final step is up to you so when I’m done here I’d like

to you so when I’m done here I’d like

to you so when I’m done here I’d like you to take a moment for yourself and to

you to take a moment for yourself and to

you to take a moment for yourself and to write down an experiment on the little

write down an experiment on the little

write down an experiment on the little card we’ve given you and to put that in

card we’ve given you and to put that in

card we’ve given you and to put that in your wallet as a reminder by continually

your wallet as a reminder by continually

your wallet as a reminder by continually following these steps of experimentation

following these steps of experimentation

following these steps of experimentation you discover what you’re doing you keep

you discover what you’re doing you keep

you discover what you’re doing you keep yourself open to new possibilities and

yourself open to new possibilities and

yourself open to new possibilities and you allow yourself to continually

you allow yourself to continually

you allow yourself to continually transform and regardless of what your

transform and regardless of what your

transform and regardless of what your learning be it memorizing or martial

learning be it memorizing or martial

learning be it memorizing or martial arts or mathematics you’ll get better

arts or mathematics you’ll get better

arts or mathematics you’ll get better not only in the skill that you’re trying

not only in the skill that you’re trying

not only in the skill that you’re trying to develop but you’ll get better at the

to develop but you’ll get better at the

to develop but you’ll get better at the process of learning itself and that’s

process of learning itself and that’s

process of learning itself and that’s something that sticks it’s something you

something that sticks it’s something you

something that sticks it’s something you could take with you to your new job your

could take with you to your new job your

could take with you to your new job your new hobby your new relationship you knew

new hobby your new relationship you knew

new hobby your new relationship you knew whatever so this is something absolutely

whatever so this is something absolutely

whatever so this is something absolutely everyone should know and I believe we

everyone should know and I believe we

everyone should know and I believe we should teach it in schools but let’s not

should teach it in schools but let’s not

should teach it in schools but let’s not just wait for it to be implemented in

just wait for it to be implemented in

just wait for it to be implemented in schools I also believe that the most

schools I also believe that the most

schools I also believe that the most important change starts with the

important change starts with the

important change starts with the individual it starts with you so go out

individual it starts with you so go out

individual it starts with you so go out there and experiment learn something new

there and experiment learn something new

there and experiment learn something new or a new way of approaching something

or a new way of approaching something

or a new way of approaching something old because there are a few skills as

old because there are a few skills as

old because there are a few skills as valuable as the art of learning thank

valuable as the art of learning thank

valuable as the art of learning thank you