The Vorderman Challenge
The other day I was working (yes I do know it is not real work, thanks) as the compere at a corporate event in the glittering West End of London (the only part of London to glitter obviously) and I accidentally caught a glimpse of a piece of paper showing how much the band were getting paid. Now, I am not usually bothered about how much people get paid; see my blog on it’s not about the money.
Anyway, I saw that it was £2,500. Pretty good money I thought, but then I realised this money had to be split between the seven band members. As the band started their set, I drank my ice cold water and challenged my mind to work out, how much each band member would be receiving that evening. This will be a breeze I thought; my mind was quite relaxed as I had already prepared my next ten minutes on stage. Now, before you eggheads shout out “you idiot, it is £357 and 14 pence each, with two lucky band members getting the extra pennies”, I should point out, I had done a lot of travelling that week so I could have been tired. But Buddha on a bike, two songs in, and I still couldn’t work it out in my head, even an approximate figure. The exact figure would have required paper, but surely I could come up with a rough split. No, nothing; it was like one of those moments when you can’t spell a really simple word, (a word you have used a lot) no matter how hard you try.
This made me think, the brain is an incredible organ. I mean, how can’t I divide 2500 by 7, and yet, I can remember everyone’s name at an event with 150 guests? I still do not know how I do this; I just know it comes easily to me on the evenings of the functions. My wife is very good with faces, I am good with names. If we are at a party, she spots the face, I ask her where she has seen that person in the past, and I come up with the name; we are like buddy cops.
People often ask me how I can remember so many names. The only answer I can give is, I want, so much, for the people to have a great time that my sub conscious mind obviously believes this personal touch will help, and so it frees up brain space. So I guess I am somehow motivated to do it.
This made me think about motivation. Years ago, I wrote a revision guide for college students. When I finished it, I distinctly remember thinking it could all be summed up in six words – Just Believe You Can Do It.
My students often used to say, when I presented them with something difficult to study, “Sir (I miss being called Sir), I’ll never learn all that”. I would say “Are you sure, what about, if I give you 1 million pounds?” I stopped short of putting my little finger in the corner of my mouth Dr. Evil style, as I didn’t want humour to dilute my point. They always gave the same reply – “well obviously I would learn it for a million pounds”. To which I would reply, “So it is only the lack of financial incentives which is stopping you”. They would say “Look, if you are not giving me a million pounds I am not doing it”. I was a great teacher huh?
Anyway, the point I am making (in a very bad way) is, I was obviously not interested and therefore not motivated in working out the division of money between the band members, well either that, or I am a bit thick.
