30 Jan,2019

Ace Any Test

Test taking tips to ace any test

Need to ace your upcoming test?

William Poundstone, author of Rock Breaks Scissors, held a study that found 56% of true/false test answers were true. This is because it is actually harder to invent something that is false rather than thinking of something that is true.

63% of the time the next question will be different than the previous. In the case of true/false test it’s probable that the next answer will be the opposite of the previous question.

When it comes to multiple choice questions that had 3 choices there was no one that stood out from the others. Although when a test offered 4 choices the second choice ,B, had a 28% higher chance of being correct. Same goes for a multiple choice question with 5 options, E is your best bet with 23%.

If you have a test that offers an “all the above” or “none of the above” it is 52% chance to likely be the answer. You have a 90% chance of choosing the right answer if you always choose those.

Although these statistics are good, it is in no way a 100% guarantee.

My first tip is to get pumped, be positive and believe that you are going to do well. Stress is the worst enemy to our brains, during times of stress our bodies produce cortisol which inhibits us to think properly.

ace your test

Be prepared. Sounds simple but stay relaxed and breathe deep. This will increase oxygen levels and you will be able to think more clearly.

Another tip is to look at the whole test before beginning. Look to see how many questions are on the test and what sort of questions do you have, this will help you to manage your time better. This will also help with reducing anxiety and prevent surprises.

Follow the test in order, answer all questions and skip the ones that seem difficult. Once you have gone through the whole test go back to the ones you skipped. This will help eliminate wasted time spent on more difficult questions. When you stay on question that seems hard instead of moving on your stress levels will rise and as I said before it’s good to keep those levels low.

Eliminate answers you know are wrong. Also make sure you are reading each question carefully. Try covering the answers to see if the answer comes to you before being swayed by the answers on the page. This will help you to answer quickly and keep the your stress low.

When you are finished be sure to review your answers, entirely or at the end of each page. There is nothing good about being the first one done. Take your time, read carefully, and go back and review before turning in your test.

10 Jan,2019

Memorize Lines the Shakespeare Way

MEMORIZE LINES

Memorize lines like a true Shakespearean actor.

Remembering lines can be tough but I will show you a proven way that is 2,500 years old that even Shakespeare himself used. This fast and easy way to memorize lines, is called THE MIND PALACE

The mind palace actually dates back thousands of years, all the way back to 477 B.C. Shakespeare used this method with his actors at the Globe Theater in London when he wanted his actors to memorize lines.

Here’s the concept of how this works. Imagine the window in your room is open and you look out where 2 bumble bees are buzzing away carrying a question mark.

memorize lines

Then next to the window is a chair. In that chair is a Noble person sitting, and in that space is crazy weather. He’s surrounded by wind and snow.

Next imagine a human brain. That brain is in pain and is suffering.

memorize lines

Now let’s go back and review. In the window is 2 bees carrying question marks, next was a noble man in bad weather, and following that was a human brain suffering in pain. Maybe you’ve already figured out what I’ve done but if you haven’t, I just took the first few lines of Hamlet’s famous soliloquy. We have taken these lines and placed pictures around the room to give us queues to memorize lines.

“To be or not to be?, that is the question

Whether ’tis nobler

In the mind to suffer.”

So you may be wondering, “How did Shakespeare use this to memorize lines?”. When he had the Globe Theater constructed, he already had this technique in mind. He had five doors built and each door was a different color. He had five columns built and each column was a different color. Each door and column were locations that his actors would imagine their lines and see them interacting with the columns or the doors.

memorize lines

For other locations they would also use paintings, steps or even exit signs within the theater. They would take their lines and create pictures or brain triggers. They would place these images around the room so that if they ever were to get stuck all they had to do was look around to help remember.

You can create your very own mind palace by standing in the doorway of each room in your house. Number 5 pieces of furniture 1,2,3,4,5. Then go to the next room 6,7,8,9,10. Then the next 11,12,13,14,15 and so on. When you complete that close your eyes and say them forwards and backwards until you have them memorized. Then take your lines and turn them into pictures and imagine them around the pieces of furniture in your house. When you are up on the stage just think back to your house to help you remember your lines when you feel stuck.

8 Jan,2019

The best brain foods for memory

BEST BRAIN FOODS TO INCREASE MEMORY

Brain foods are the first thing I think of when I start to train for memory tournaments. Your brain is like any other part of your body, it needs a steady supply of energy to function properly.

First brain food on my list is whole grains. The ability to focus and concentrate comes from a steady and adequate supply of energy that comes in the form of glucose and we can get this from whole grains. Opt for foods such as brown cereals, wheat bread or brown pastas.

Next on the list is oily fish. Essential fatty acids can not be made by the body and they must be obtained through a healthy diet. Good sources for this are salmon, trout, mackerel, and herring. If you have an allergy try flax seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, walnut oil or take an Omega-3 pill.

brain foods

Following oily fish is my favorite brain food, blueberries. Blueberries have antioxidants in them that will be beneficial for your brain. My tip for you is to get blueberry concentrate and mix with water so that you don’t have eat 1,000 blueberries a day.

Another brain food that you may not be aware of is tomatoes. Tomatoes protect against free radical damage to your cells which can lead to things like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Next is B Vitamins such as B6, B12 and folic acid. These vitamins are extremely beneficial to your memory.

Number 6 is walnuts. Walnuts are the top nut for brain health, they have a high concentrate of DHA. DHA has been proven to protect the brains of newborns and cognitive performance in adults.

brain foods

Then we have avocados, which promotes healthy blood flow. Healthy blood flow will help keep your blood pressure low and that is great for cognitive function.

Good news with this next brain food, dark chocolate! Studies show that a half an ounce to one ounce of dark chocolate is great for the brain. It has powerful antioxidant properties is helpful to your brain along with being a natural stimulant.

The next brain food on the list is broccoli. Broccoli is a wonderful source of Vitamin K whose major function is to regulate calcium in our bones and in the brain. Vitamin K can also help to prevent Alzheimer’s.

Last on my list of my top ten brain foods is turmeric. One of my favorite dishes is curry whose main ingredient is turmeric. Keep in mind that if you chose to take this in pill form you will not receive the benefits from it as you would as a spice in cooked food.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of the top ten brain foods to improve your memory.

Here is another source with some great brain foods

4 Jan,2019

How to study better

Study Tips to study better with 10 simple steps

When it comes to studying I think we all have our faults. Here are my best study tips. We allow ourselves to get distracted by so many things that when the time comes to apply what we studied we realize we know NOTHING! I have ten steps that will help you study better.

I’ve noticed with myself and others that when sit down to study we try to cram everything in all at once. Our brains need a break every now and then. Try studying in 25-50 minute increments with 10-15 minute breaks in between. During those breaks get up and move; go for a walk, exercise, do something to get your blood flowing. Then go back and repeat.
Next make sure to get a good 6 to 8 hours of sleep after you have learned something new. I know this step may seem difficult in our busy lives but it is also one of the most important. This study tips is very important. According to Dr. James B. Maas if we get a good night’s sleep the night after we learn something we will remember it better than if we have a poor night’s sleep.
Take notes. Don’t copy someone else’s notes, take your own! When you take your own notes you are engaging your brain and you are more likely to remember more from that class.
As hard as this next step may seem it is very important. Clear your mind of all distractions; turn off the television, turn off the phone and focus. When you find your mind wondering try to stop and take a moment to clear those thoughts and put your mind at ease then return to your studying. This study tip is very important.
Try using the keyword technique when you find yourself starting to lose focus or daydream. When you start to lose focus use a keyword to bring you back to the material. For example, if your topic is about Abraham Lincoln try repeating to yourself “Lincoln” until you are focused once again.
To improve your studying try to focus on learning the most important information first. Look to see if the book you are reading has a recap at the end or learning objectives in the beginning. These are often the most important details that you need to learn.
Flip to the back of the book to see if there is a glossary, if so familiarize yourself with these words. This will give you a better understanding of the material you need to study.
You make think this is a strange step but trying chewing a piece of gum. When it’s time to take the test grab that same flavor of gum. Scientific studies have proved that by doing so your brain will be triggered to remember what you were studying.
Try tricking your brain. While studying try to imagine what you’re reading is a movie. If you think that the material is more exciting you will be more inclined to pay attention and retain the information.
Lastly is my go to technique, the Mind Palace. This is my favorite study tip. I’ve used this to become a two time USA memory champion. Instead of using your home in your mind palace, try using your classroom. As you’re taking your test you can look around the room to visualize your answers.

These steps are sure to help you study better and ace your next test. Good luck guys!

Here is a blog with more study tips

2 Jan,2019

How to remember what you read

remember what you read

REMEMBER WHAT YOU READ

Have you at one time or another had to reread a page of a book several times because you can’t seem to remember anything you just read? I have a solution that can be broken into six steps to help your reading experience.

Step 1. Don’t try to memorize

While you read highlight things that stick out to you or grab a pen and paper to take notes. By doing this we take the pressure off ourselves to remember what we just read.

Step 2. Mind Palace technique

The mind palace is essentially a map of a room in our minds. Start with your house, stand in the doorway and pick 5 prominent pieces of furniture and label them one through five. Move to the next room and pick five more, six through 10. This is YOUR mind palace and will help you store data that you read.

remember what you read

Step 3. Create pictures

Turn the key points you want to remember into pictures. Let’s say you’re reading a book about Abraham Lincoln and you want to remember he was born in Kentucky and that he was the 16th President. The following are examples of what I would use:

Abraham Lincoln = penny

Kentucky = Kentucky Derby

16th President = car (we get our driver’s licenses at the age of 16)

Do this for the things you highlight.

Step 4. Place pictures in your Mind Palace

In this step you will take the pictures you’ve chosen and place them on the furniture you’ve selected to be in your Mind Palace. To remember that Abraham Lincoln is from Kentucky I would take a penny and imagine it racing around the Kentucky Derby. Next I would place that picture on the first piece of furniture, let’s say a table. To remember he was the 16th President I would imagine a penny driving a car and place that on the second piece of furniture. It’s that easy!

remember what you read

Step 5. Segment the chapters, keep it simple

Don’t overwhelm yourself. Try beginning with 5 key points from each chapter. Each chapter use one room along with five pieces of furniture. As you are recalling the information that you’ve read step into each room and walk around looking at the pictures you’ve placed on those five pieces of furniture.

Step 6. Create pictures for important dates (optional)

Like in step 3 you will have to create pictures that correspond to the date. Think cupid for February or marching soldiers for the month of March.

remember what you read

When you turn key points into animated pictures and imagine them in your house on the furniture it helps you to remember what you read. Check out my video below to help you memorize what you read.

14 Jan,2018

How to Memorize Numbers With Major System

How to Memorize Numbers

In order to memorize anything (names, numbers, cards or whatever) you need a picture or image for it. For example your brain won’t recall 17218 very easily but it would remember a woodpecker peck a duck’s head while wearing handcuffs. Your brain remembers pictures. So the first step in how to memorize numbers is to create pictures for numbers. Some numbers it is easier than others. Here are some easy examples.

How to Memorize Numbers Easy Examples:

Ducks neck shaped like 2

Fork looks like the 1 and plate like the 0

Dozen Eggs = 12 Eggs

20 Fingers and Toes

The 1 looks like the key and 8 the handcuffs

The tree looks like the 1 and the woodpecker the 7

In many countries 16 is driving age

The drumstick looks like a 1 and the drum looks like the round part of the 5 and the symbol above like the top of the 5

14 carat gold

A 3 on it’s side would look like the twin peaks and the 1 is the ground

You can kind of see how these are easy examples of how to memorize numbers. But what about numbers that aren’t as simple to think of an image for like 94 or 782?

Well thankfully there is a way to do this. Here is the more advanced version.

How to Memorize Numbers (the advanced way).

Every digit is assigned a sound and those are:

This chart is from http://mt.artofmemory.com/wiki/Major_System This website (Art of Memory) is a great memory training website

Now once you have consonants for numerals you simply create images from the sounds. For example

25 = N and L = Nail

782 = C and F and N = Coffin

909 = B and S and B = Baseball

95 = B and L = Ball

33 = M and M = Mom

41 = R and T = Rat

42 = R and N = Rain

57 = L and K = Lock

I know it sounds cumbersome but it really isn’t. If you really want to learn how to memorize numbers this is how you do it. And now for the next 3 weeks every time you see a 2 digit number turn it into a picture. Once you have done this for a number (for example you decide 57= lock) it is always lock. It never changes, so the work is all front loaded. You only have to create a picture for each number ONCE and you just use that for the rest of your life.

USES:

1. Memorize phone numbers

2. Remember facts/dates

3. Remember details of products pertaining to numbers

4. Exercise your brain

5. Remember facts that are numbers when giving a speech or presentation

6. Compete in memory tournaments! 🙂

So if you want to learn how to memorize numbers I do believe the MAJOR SYSTEM as it is referred to is the best method. It was developed over 400 years ago by Pierre Hérigone (1580–1643) was a French mathematician and astronomer and devised the earliest known version of the major system.

If you would like to get MY picture for number enter your email below. You will get my pictures for numbers in my book (you actually get an entire book not just on how to memorize numbers but how to memorize everything)

27 Jul,2017

Motivational Speaker For Your Conference

Motivational Speaker

Are you looking for a motivational speaker for your next conference or convention?

motivational speaker

What if your motivational speaker was not only motivational but funny and educational too? That is exactly how Ron White has been described.

No not the comedian Ron White. The memory expert Ron White.

Check out this video of him describing his talk.

Why is Ron White the choice for you as your motivational speaker for your conference?

He will memorize everyone’s name in the room (up to 300 people) and then repeat the names rapid fire from memory during his talk. It is like a Vegas Show!

Then he will memorize a 50 digit number that the group creates and he never sees. It is fun, fun, fun.

The takeaways your group will get will be:

How to remember names to build relationships
Give speeches from memory to be a more dynamic presenter
Remember what you read or learn from conference to maximize time and money spent learning

We know you have a lot of choices when choosing a motivational speaker but you will feel like you got one of the best possible with Ron White.

If you would like to schedule Ron White to be the speaker for your conference go here to schedule http://ronwhitetraining.com/contact

Ron White has received rave reviews for his speech. Here is James Malinchak giving a review of Ron’s talk

When choosing your speaker you want someone who is:

Experienced (Ron has been speaking since 1991 professionally)
Is a business person (Ron has been an entrepreneur since 1991 and his talk isn’t about memorizing your grocery list but becoming a more productive person with your memory skills.)
Is a published author (Ron has written over a dozen books on the brain, memory and personal growth)
Is viewed as an expert in their field (Ron has appeared on national television shows since 2010)
Has credentials in his field (Ron is a 2 time USA Memory Champion)

18 Jan,2017

Ways to Save Money on College

save money

In my line of work I come across people who are wanting to help their children prepare for entering college all the time. I started thinking of all the costs that goes into college and how some kids don’t have the opportunity because of those costs. There are many ways to save money on the expenses that come with college. I know that these may not be able to help every family but it is my way of helping the ones that it will.

Every year you hear that the cost of a college education is increasing and it is easy to become fearful. Set aside money for your children’s college whenever possible. If starting a college fund is not feasible for your family that doesn’t mean that you have to turn to loans without doing your research or looking into other methods.

save money

Here are some tips on how to save money on college:

IN STATE COLLEGE – By having your child live at home while attending college, you can save up to $6,000 a year. If your child has their heart set on specific college or program look into regional tuition breaks.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE – There are many benefits of attending a community college instead of or before a state college, the reasons come down to cost. No matter which college your child attends the first 2 years are comprised of the same set of classes which makes it wiser to attend where it’s cheaper.

Another money saving perk of attending a community college is that they do not require the student to take the SAT or ACT to enter. Once in college look into summer classes at a community college to earn credits toward their degrees, they are usually much cheaper than the ones offered at the 4 year colleges.

save money

SCHOLARSHIPS – There are many options when it comes to scholarships, you just have to be willing to think outside of the box. (This is one website you can visit) When it comes to applying don’t assume that your child won’t get it or that there will be tons of other applicants, by doing so you are eliminating the possibility of this money saving option.

Make sure to read the fine print and do the math. Some scholarships require you to use so much money per semester or require the student to perform, practice and participate which could take time away from other classes. Also ask to be put on a mailing list for when new scholarships become available. Many colleges will match students to a scholarship.

FAFSA/FWS – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. FAFSA is an application that determines if a student is eligible for student aid. Along with this look into (FWS) work study jobs that allow your child to earn money to pay for their tuition. You can find more information for both of these options here.

save money

TEXTBOOKS – Never buy books from the college bookstore when possible. There are tons of places to buy textbooks that are way cheaper than the college bookstore. Before buying a textbook at all start have your child start class without to see if he/she will actually even need it. Some classes rarely touch their books, and for those times they may need it have them check it out from the library. Buy online at places like Amazon, or Half.com where they offer discounted prices. These websites allow you to buy, rent or even sell back textbooks.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDITS & EXAMS – AP classes and exams can help your child get on the fast track to a college degree. This gives them the chance to earn college credits while still attending high school. (This also looks great on their college applications!) AP exams are administered by The College Board and the student doesn’t have to be enrolled in an AP class in order to take the test.

By taking AP classes in high school your child could potentially graduate from college a semester or even a year early. This could save you a lot of money!!

save money

These may not work for everyone but no matter what you decide to do to ensure your child can further their education is all that matters. The need to save money doesn’t end once your kid gets accepted, it’s only the beginning. For more ways to save money here’s 31 ways to cut costs.

12 Jan,2017

Weird quirks of geniuses

We all have strange things that we do but don’t realize how strange they may seem to others. The following are some weird quirks of some of the most famous geniuses throughout history.

weird quirk

ALFRED HITCHCOCK

An English film director and producer best known for the 1963 movie The Birds. His weird quirk is while filming the movie he nearly tortured the lead actress Tippi Hedren by having real birds attack her until she collapsed on set.

weird quirk

EDGAR ALLAN POE

An American writer, editor, and literary critic. You may know Poe for his poem The Raven. He was hardly a popular author in his time because of his weird quirk of annoying his editors by writing on scrolls rather than paper.

weird quirk

DR. YOSHIRO NAKAMATSU

Not a common household name for most, this is the inventor of the floppy disk along with 3,300 other inventions. Dr. Nakamatsu’s weird quirk is that he intentionally stays underwater until just before the moment of drowning. He believes that by doing so stimulates his brain. He also likes to think in a bathroom tiled in 24 karat gold believing that is blocks out television and radio waves.

weird quirk

HONORE DA BALZAC

A French novelist and playwright who’s weird quirk was drinking up to 50 cups of coffee a day.

weird quirk

ALBERT EINSTEIN

The most famous Theoretical Physicist. Sometimes he would eat insects straight off the ground and take his violin with him to go bird watching where often he would cry while he played.

weird quirk

NIKOLA TESLA

An electrical and mechanical engineer and physicist who’s best know for the “Tesla coil” which is still used in radio technology today. Tesla’s weird quirk is that he would often work from 3 am to 11 pm which eventually lead to a breakdown at age 25. Tesla would recover to then continue the same schedule for another couple of decades.

weird quirk

THOMAS EDISON

An American inventor known for his invention of the light bulb along with others such as the phonograph and motion picture camera. When it came time to interview someone for a job, Edison would offer a bowl of soup as a test. If they added salt before they tried it he believed they made too many assumptions. Would you pass his test?

weird quirk

CHARLES DICKENS

An author best known for creating some of the best fictional characters in stories like “Oliver Twist”, “Great Expectations”, “A Christmas Carol” and many others. His weird quirk was that he liked to keep his hair neat so he always had a comb on hand to fix his hair hundreds of times throughout the day. Not that weird of a quirk.

weird quirk

LEONARDO DA VINCI

There’s no mystery as to who this genius was, the painter of the famous Mona Lisa. Da Vinci would write backwards often and as a left handed dyslexic, he would cram every available space on the paper with drawings and writings.

weird quirk

IGOR STRAVINSKY

This composer and pianist is best known for the controversial The Rite of Spring. He would begin each day by standing on his head to clear his brain, believing that this would improve circulation and detoxification.

For more fun facts about famous geniuses check out the link below:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/72709/11-strange-habits-geniuses

25 Nov,2016

Become Fluent in Any Language in 6 Months

Fluent in Any Language in 6 Months

Fluent in any language with these 10 Steps in only 6 Months. My name is Ron White and I am a 2 time USA Memory Champion. I held the record for the fastest to memorize a deck of cards in the USA from 2009 to 2010. You may have seen me on the Nat Geo show Brain Games or the History Channel’s Stan Lee’s Superhumans. These are my tips to learn any language in 6 months. I think that learning another language is one of the most valuable things a person could spend their time learning. Here are my top 10 tips:

1. Learn the 625 key words to any language. If you master and learn these 625 words you will be well on your way to mastering any language. Here is a like to Gabriel from Fluent Forever’s list: http://fluent-forever.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/625-List-Thematic.pdf .

2. Listen to how the words are pronounced in this language. This is an important step to become fluent in any language.

3. Mix it up. If you want to become fluent in any language take the words that you already know and mix them up in sentences. For example if you know 10 nouns, 10 verbs and 10 adjectives you can say 1000 different phrases already!

Fluent in Any Language

4. Immersion is the best! If you can go to that country that is the best. If not, then maybe something like a Rosetta Stone course.

5. To become fluent in any language use technology. Set your phone to that language in the settings or change your computer browser settings to that language.

6. Read children’s books to become fluent in any language or watch movies with subtitles in the language you are trying to learn.

7. Use memory training to become fluent in another language. Learn to think and imagine the words as pictures or images.

8. Work on your pronunciation! If you are saying the words wrong it doesn’t matter if you have them memorized.

9. Make friends in that language or get a language tutor.

10. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! You will make lots of mistakes but this is how you learn.

When you learn another language this is a great brain exercise. It is going to keep your brain active and alive. With the internet and travel so easy today it is becoming more and more important to learn other languages.

But you may not have a lot of time to learn another language so that is why I think it is important to take short cuts to become fluent in any language in only 6 months.

I have more language videos at http://brainathlete.com/category/foreign-language/?format=video

Here are some samples of those videos