Last weekend, former US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin was the featured speaker at the Tea Party Convention in Nashville, TN. Later in the day, during a question and answer session, to remember her key points she snuck a look at notes she had written in ink in the palm of her hand.

Let’s see what she had written.

[Fig. 1 Sarah Palin's Hand]

It reads:

• Energy
• Budget cut
• Tax
• Lift American Spirits

Below are five methods to avoiding what happened to Sarah.

Ways To Remember Short Lists

What happened to Sarah could have happened to any of us. As a manager, a marketer having to influence people, stay on top of the issues, and remain confident are expectations of our roles. You are the expert – if you don’t know it, who does?

1. Mnemonic Device: Acronym

Create an acronym or phrase out of the key words. For example, I remember the colors of the rainbow from the name “Roy G. Biv” (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet).

Perhaps Palin could have used BELT. (Budget, Energy, Lift, Tax)

2. Mnemonic Device: Short Sentence / Story

Alternately, she could have made a short sentence – almost a short story – about the topics. Perhaps…

Spend Energy Lifting Not Taxing

All the key words are there in a simple sentence.

3. Learn It

Some criticize Sarah for needing notes at all to answer the basic question. As a subject matter expert, this information, her ‘elevator pitch’ for change, should roll off her tongue. (After all, it’s only four items).

As a marketing or business lead your colleagues, operations team, agency, et al are looking to YOU to be the expert.

4. Note Cards

There’s nothing wrong with using notes and note cards. Nobody is expected to remember everything.

The two main issues with what happened to Sarah were:

1. Earlier in the day she referred to the Tea Party movement as being “much bigger than any charismatic guy with a teleprompter.”
2. She tried to sneak a look – and got busted. She pretended to know. She would have been better off simply carrying and openly referring to notes.

She would have been fine if she had her list written in LARGE PRINT placed flat on the table next to her water.

[Fig. 2 Table Would Have Worked For Note Cards]

5. To-Do Tattoo

Finally, if you MUST write on your hand – do it properly.

[Fig. 3 To-Do Tattoo]

Use the To-Do Tattoo – “the perfect solution for your shoddy short-term memory.”

It is a temporary tattoo with lines, and a skin-safe washable gel pen. You can have Amazon deliver one.

Unfortunately, we now have a new word in the Urban Dictionary: the “redneck teleprompter.”

What techniques have you found helpful to recall important information while under pressure?

In re-telling, it sounds abusive. But it was actually good, tough love.

Moto taught history class the same way he coached his winning baseball teams at Edwardsville High School… With energy, moxie, and pushing students further than they knew they could. Moto knew some of us had it in us.
These were some of my early lessons about being a champion. Not just a “winner” kind of champion, but someone who champions projects, ideas, and their own lives.
I’m then reminded of the more recent lessons shared with us by Seth Godin in his book “Free Prize Inside”
Seth says the same stuff. “It is up to you!” he writes as he introduces the section of the book on becoming a champion. On the cover of the book Seth wrote, “Make Something Happen.”
If you read between the lines, what Moto and Seth are saying is that we can be the 1% who does care and who can make a difference.
Many find twisted satisfaction in griping. Having something to bellyache about is a pastime… It’s what helps to fill a 40-hour workweek.
We love to rail… “They don’t know what they’re doing. How they’re mucking it up again. How this meeting is another waste of time.”
WE are the THEY.
No, it is not easy. Perhaps the task is “out of your pay grade.” And, Yes, it would be simpler to just do your job and hope to a) quit, b) get fired, or c) transfer to a place where you don’t have to deal with what’s broken.
The beauty is not many have the moxie to be a champion. To suck it up and have the gumption to make a change.
Seizing opportunities like these are the training camps for leaders.
Once you’ve set your sights on a project to champion, Seth recommends leveraging three key aspects… a fulcrum ensuring it is doable, worth doing, and can be done by me.

• Doable? – Is it going to be successful? While it may be nearly impossible to predict, Seth writes… “Proceeding with confidence and as more than a wild notion, you’re far more likely to get the support you need.”

• Worth Doing? – Being a champion means “figuring out who wants what – and then playing it back to them.” And look for those small pockets of power within your organization.
• By Me? – Am I able to champion the project? Perhaps you know you can… But sometimes others may not perceive you as such. Seth suggests building your reputation as a champion with small, easy-win tasks. Gradually increase the size and importance as others gain confidence.

While I can’t recall the details of the Civil War battle of Chancellorville… I do remember what it means to be a champion.
So… I ask you… do you have what it takes? Do you have mox….ie?!