THE POWER OF NAMES
Authors want their names down in history; I want to keep the smoke coming out of the chimney.
~ Micheal Spillane.
Have you thought of why business personnel’s have always their name tags on? Why it is always a name board on some customer service desks of some business representing the personnel’s behind the desks? Why do we honor great people and business names who contribute huge sums into projects by engraving their names on these projects(buildings) to acknowledge them? Why do we name people after monuments because of their tremendous efforts in that helm? Why do people build their businesses with their names on them?
I was once in a Toyota Urvan, which is known in the local dialect as “trotro” with my elder sister Sharon. After the car drove off for about twenty meters, we came to follow a Metro Mass transit bus (MMT) which was introduced by the Ex-President John Agyekum Kuffour’s, so the bus has being well known in all over the country as “Kuffour bus”, which am also a victim. This issue was broached by the mate(the person who collects the monies in the bus) and some passengers supported, why is the bus still called “Kuffour bus” even after he has left office, one passenger who was fair in complexion and was sitting right behind me said,” and even, the 1 Ghana cedi currency after the redenomination exercise was known by some citizens as “kuffour dollar”. Also, there is a yellow gallon used to fetch water also known as ”kuffour gallon” due to the scarcity of water during his term of office in some regions of the country. I was really fascinated and smiling, as I pondered over it and sat quietly in the bus.
There was a time, my business team and I went to a hotel to seek for sponsorship on an event we intended to organize at the hotels’ premises. We were well dressed in our suits as we entered the hotel and were heading to the reception. As we got closer, I noticed the name tag on the receptionist’s uniform, I smiled and enthusiastically mentioned it and asked how she was fairing. She looked amazed and replied with courtesy. After, we asked if the manager was around and she directed us to his office. One of my team mates asked me, where I knew her? I smiled again at him and told him, I spied the name tag on her uniform. I can see my mate was euphoric about the gesture, my reader you can try this and you will be amazed at how the person will behave towards you!
This was another incident that happened at a workplace I was volunteering. On the first day, I was introduced to the personnel’s and the departments in the organization. It was really exciting as I tried to remember their names. It was not easy to recall everyone’s name, but I tried to remember as many as I could. There was this guy in a blue and white striped shirt, a baggy jean and a well shaved hair. He was at the marketing department, whom I first met at the counter before the introductions. At a point in time, he told me to do something for him and I needed some clarifications. So spotted him passing and I called him by his name, “Richie”. He responded and came around and he said “wow”! You know my name and I said “yes”. I was not stunned by his reply but I could see he was elated. I knew he might not have taken note of my name or didn’t know the power of names. Immediately, He asked my name again, my mobile number and started telling me a whole lot about his work and what he was expecting from me.
One thing I have known is that, every person’s name is the sweetest word in any language. So wherever I go and whomever I meet, I try as much as possible to ask the person’s name and try to repeat it in order to remember the name. At times, I would ask the meaning of the name especially, with the ladies. In order to know the significance and also to take some time to associate the name to the person so I can recall it whenever I meet that person again.
How do you feel when a mail is written and the salutation is like “dear Patrick or Hello Patrick” than dear Sir? When I see it, it puts me in a positive mood to read and reply what the sender needs from me. What might be going on in your mind is that, so if it is not written that way won’t you reply? I will reply alright but writing it with my name makes me feel important and believe you will also feel the same. You might find yourself in a cacophonous area; however, you can imagine the situation if someone mentions your name. You will see how swiftly you be turning your neck, albeit it might not be you in particular the person was referring to.
Finally, let’s all have this in mind that, names are of very importance and that we shouldn’t forget names just like that. Let take the pain to remember the names of people we meet, day in and day out. Whenever we didn’t hear the name right, we ask for person to repeat It and also try to associate the name with something around the person. Please, try to practice what am advocating and it will definitely pay off big time some time and someday. If you really want know what remembering names can do, I will edge you to read “How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie. My reader I bet you it contains some classic research on the use of names and it be of much help to you.
Many thanks for spending your precious time with me and I believe it really worth it. I appreciate it so much and lets keep on with the positive mental attitude as we ponder over the quotes blow.
Each generation wants new symbols, new people, and new names. They want to divorce themselves from their predecessors.
~ Jim Morrision
I always have trouble remembering three things: faces, names, and - I can't remember what the third thing is.
~ Fred Allen
The author is a creative writer, poet, self-motivated, God-fearing, social entrepreneur and a dynamic leader, who always communicate the idea of PEACE, the youth having a positive mental attitude and creating positive change in their communities. He believes, through our collective efforts we can make Africa (our motherland) and the world a better place.
Patrick Adjei Nketia,
email-poetinsmile@gmail.com
Phone:+233242661230
NB: comments and recommendations are warmly welcomed.
