I’m not good with names, terrible actually.
Typically, the first time I meet someone, I’m too focused on my own, personal elevator pitch to hone in and focus on the very first thing, and most important thing, my acquaintance tells me - their name.
This past weekend at an event I was working at, I must have met 20-30 people, all who told me their name, and I could probably only tell you one of those names now. It’s not impressive, and it’s a skill I long to be better at.
Names are important. They’re part of our identity, and often the first sign I catch that someone respects me and wants to know me is when they remember my name and use it.
Of course, there are others like me, who are just bad with names and mean no disrespect when they can’t remember it, but when we can remember names, it can changes someone’s entire day and entire experience.
-Cliff
Cliff’s Note: Take names.