When was the last time you tried to memorize something? Did that question just make you recoil? I was working with a client yesterday who’s getting ready for a big talk for a psychedelic conference in Berlin. She’s anxious because she thinks she has to memorize 15 minutes of content. She buries her face in her hands, “I’m never going to be able to do this.” “You’re right,” I say. “The point is not to memorize; it’s to familiarize.”

Then I teach her The Scramble. I handwrite the content on paper. Then I cut the paper up at random, numbering the back of each paper. Then I throw the papers all over the floor and begin. 

I put the content back in order, saying it out loud. I’m standing up, moving my body, mentally taking stock of where I get lost or confused. When all the papers have been ordered, I check the backs. Are the numbers sequential? If not, I do it again. If so, I do it again.

The first time I tried this I was flying to Helsinki the next morning to teach a 1.5 day workshop on presentation skills. My bags were packed, but I was still stressed: I hadn’t had time enough to prepare myself to stand in front of that company the next morning. 

After doing The Scramble three times something shifted. Instead of anxiety, I felt excitement. That’s how I know I’m ready to go on stage. Doing this exercise took me about three hours of focused attention, and it was fun. The workshop was fun too.

I gave my client The Scramble for homework. She seemed relieved.

What’s the talk you’re trying to memorize right now?

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