Your memory isn't broken

Remember when I told you that great ideas are useless if you can’t recall them?

Well, last week, I forgot an important detail about a project.

Not because I wasn't in the meeting.

Not because I wasn't taking notes.

I forgot it because I was thinking about three other things while they were talking.

My body was present.
My attention was scattered.

Here's what I immediately remembered: 

Memory problems are usually attention problems.

You can't remember what you never fully noticed.

The professionals who retain and apply more information aren't blessed with better memory.

They've just learned to focus their attention strategically.

Sound simple? It is.

But it's not easy.

The Attention-Memory Connection

Now, you might think memory works like a recording device. Information goes in, gets stored, and is retrieved later.

But memory actually works more like a spotlight.

Only what falls within the beam of focused attention gets encoded deeply enough to be reliably retrieved.

Everything else, even if you're looking right at it, gets processed at surface level and quickly fades.

This explains why you can read an entire article and remember almost nothing.

Why you can attend a presentation and recall only fragments.
Why great insights from conversations can disappear within hours.

You weren't paying attention in a way that creates lasting memory.

So, the problem isn't your memory capacity.

It's your attention management.

The key isn't trying harder to remember.

It's learning to pay attention in ways that naturally create lasting memory.

Here's why this matters professionally

When you can't remember crucial details from conversations, you lose credibility and make worse decisions.

Folks notice when you ask the same questions repeatedly.

Your influence diminishes when you can't build on past discussions or connect patterns across situations.

The professionals who build lasting influence can reference specific insights from months-old conversations and synthesize information across multiple contexts.

The difference isn't memory capacity.

It's attention management.

And the good news is that attention can be trained.

So here’s the FOCUS framework for training attention for better memory:

FOCUS stands for:

F - Filter Input Deliberately
O - Orient Fully to the Present
C - Connect to Existing Knowledge
U - Use Active Processing
S - Space for Reflection

Let’s get it…

F - Filter Input Deliberately

Choose what deserves your full attention:

• What information is worth remembering versus just acknowledging?

• Which meetings require deep engagement versus passive participation?

• What reading deserves focused attention versus skimming?

• Which conversations contain insights worth encoding?

What fails: "I need to pay attention to everything equally."

What works: "This discussion could reshape our strategy - I'm putting away distractions and focusing completely."

O - Orient Fully to the Present

Eliminate attention competition during important moments:

• Close unnecessary tabs and applications

• Put devices in airplane mode during key conversations

• Set expectations about your availability during focus time

• Create physical cues that signal deep attention mode

What fails: "I can multitask and still catch the important stuff."

What works: "I'm closing my laptop so I can give this conversation my complete attention."

C - Connect to Existing Knowledge

Link new information to what you already know:

• How does this relate to previous experiences or frameworks?

• What patterns do I recognize from other contexts?

• Where does this fit in my existing mental models?

• What similar situations have I encountered before?

What fails: "I'll just capture this information as-is."

What works: "This reminds me of the principle we used in the Johnson project; same dynamic, different context."

U - Use Active Processing

Engage with information rather than just consuming it:

• Ask questions about what you're hearing or reading

• Summarize key points in your own words

• Consider implications and applications

• Challenge assumptions or look for gaps

What fails: "I'll highlight the important parts and review them later."

What works: "Let me paraphrase what I think you're saying to make sure I understand the implications."

S - Space for Reflection

Create time between input and action for consolidation:

• Take 2 minutes after important conversations to capture insights

• End meetings with a quick reflection on key takeaways

• Write brief summaries while information is fresh

• Connect today's learning to broader patterns or decisions

What fails: "I'll think about this later when I have time."

What works: "Before we move to the next topic, let me capture the three insights from this discussion."

POLL

In Case You Missed It!

• Great ideas are useless if you can’t recall them

• Grab your Pocket Guide to Impromptu Conversations
  (Essential questions and cues to connect quickly—without sounding rehearsed)

• Help me shape the 12 Shifts That Make You Instantly More Persuasive 

• The painful reason behind why I started this newsletter

The Bottom Line

Your memory isn't broken - your attention is scattered.

In our time of infinite distractions, the professionals who retain and apply more information aren't those with better memory; they're those who've learned to focus strategically on what actually matters.

Stop trying to remember everything and start paying complete attention to the right things.

Thanks for reading. Be easy!
Girvin