All knowledge, learning, living, experience and work are based on one form of memory or other. People need this mental skill. We know that any skill, hobby or knowledge can be converted into an income opportunity.

Many years ago, when I was in high school, I bought a book on improving memory by Harry Lorayne and it kindled my interest in the subject. Within a few months, I bought many books on memory and learnt the subject well.

At that time, a few of my friends were preparing for an important examination. I told them that they could easily remember every difficult thing if they used memory system. They did not believe me. So, I taught them a simple trick that I learnt from Harry Lorayne to prove that the system worked. They told that if it worked well in the exam, they would pay their pocket money for that month in full to me.

Here are 20 items: Television, Clock, Bicycle, Airplane, Pen, Cricket Bat, Necktie, Toothbrush, Rocket, Chair, Shoe, Bus, Book, Flower, Cigarette, Cell Phone, Fish, Computer, and Horse.

Can you memorize the list in two minutes or less, and recall them in reverse order or in out of sequence? It is impossible to do it if you don't follow systematic approach.

Here is that well known method: Associate or Link the first item to the second item; then second item to the third item and so on. See the associations as pictures in your mind. Association must be Ridiculous, Illogical, Out of Proportion, Active, Exaggerative, and Substitutive. (You can use this method to memorise many things such as to-do lists and shopping lists in every day life.) Television to Clock: You are watching a movie on a gigantic clock instead of a television. Close your eyes and see this illogical mental picture in your mind for a split second. As you gain experience you will be able to see images with your eyes open. Clock to Bicycle: You are riding a big clock instead of a bicycle. It is not necessary that you must use the picture I suggest. Whatever illogical picture that comes to you naturally can be used. Bicycle to Airplane: You are flying on a big bicycle instead of an airplane in the sky. Close your eyes and see this illogical mental picture in your mind for a split second. Airplane to Pen: Write something with a big airplane instead of a pen.

Pause for a few seconds and try to recall the items starting with television. Then proceed with the following images.

Pen to Cricket Bat: A cricket player is swinging a gigantic p e n instead of a cricket bat. Cricket Bat to Necktie: You are wearing a big cricket bat instead of a necktie. Necktie to Toothbrush: You are brushing your teeth with a big colorful necktie instead of Toothbrush. Toothbrush to Rocket: A gigantic Toothbrush instead of a Rocket takes off to the space with a big blast with fire and smoke. Rocket to Chair: A big Rocket is sitting on your Chair and rocking.

Chair to shoe: You are wearing big chairs instead of shoes. See yourself walking with a pair of chairs. Shoe to Bus: You are traveling in a big shoe instead of a bus. Bus to Book: You are reading a big bus instead of a book. Book to Flower: Millions of books are flowering and blossoming on plants or trees. Flower to Cigarette: You are smoking a big flower instead of a cigarette.

Cigarette to Cell Phone: You are talking through a big burning cigarette instead of a cell phone. Cell Phone to Fish: Cell phones are swimming in a huge fish bowl. Fish to Computer: You are using a big fish instead of a computer to send email. Computer to Horse: A big horse is using your computer.

Now try to recall the items one by one starting with Television.

Amazing! Isn't it?

If you have any problem, go back to the item you forgot and strengthen the mental picture and association. If something is abstract, just substitute a tangible item for it and memorize it. For example, if you are not able to remember the name Belladonna, just substitute the name with a bell.

My friends were hooked to the system. I taught them other memory methods to remember difficult things. In less than five hours, they memorized hundreds of formulas and equations. It is needless to say they all scored high marks in the exam. And, of course, my friends paid their pocket money to me.

You can develop many products and services using such knowledge and create new income opportunities.