y brother said. It was perfect. I fully equipped my wardrobe with an assortment of silk braces and started to wear them everywhere.

Receiving mixed reviews on my fashion choice didn’t bother me in the slightest. Some people gave me compliments. Others said I looked strange. Some looked me straight in the eye and told me how great I looked, although it was obvious that wasn’t their true opinion. Regardless of what the comments were, one thing was for sure

As a young man getting started with my own business, I found that being tall, dark, and handsome simply made me blend in with all of my devilishly, good-looking compatriots. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that if I was going to make it in Toledo, I needed my own memory hook; a distinct thing that made me noticeable and memorable.

One night, at an after-hours business event, I decided to look around the room to kick up some fresh ideas.

“What about a hat?” I thought to myself. “No. I enjoy having a full head of hair. I don’t want to cover that up.”

“What about wearing tennis shoes with my suit?” Suddenly, I pictured Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. “No. That’s not quite the image I’m trying to build.”

Then, I noticed a younger man at the cocktail party who looked like he just rolled out of bed. You see, the trend nowadays is to look like you don’t care about your looks. Tousled hair, untucked shirt, fringes at the end of each pant leg: these are some of the pieces meticulously assembled to create the “I don’t care what I look like” look.

I knew this wasn’t my style. I’m a tucked-in shirt kind of guy. I needed something a little more substantial. Images of Tucker Carlson came into my head as I briefly considered a bowtie. Unfortunately, my abnormally large head would look even larger with a colorful bowtie directly beneath it.

So, for a few weeks I gave up, until I went suit shopping with my brother. Browsing through Neil’s Men’s Shop, I picked out some nice shirt and tie combos. As I was trying out the first set, the nice salesman laid out other products for me to consider. Well, wouldn’t you know, he laid out exactly what I needed.

Lying together, proudly coordinated, my shirt and tie combo had found a new friend: silk braces, otherwise known as suspenders. “Wow, that looks really good,” my brother said. It was perfect. I fully equipped my wardrobe with an assortment of silk braces and started to wear them everywhere.

Receiving mixed reviews on my fashion choice didn’t bother me in the slightest. Some people gave me compliments. Others said I looked strange. Some looked me straight in the eye and told me how great I looked, although it was obvious that wasn’t their true opinion. Regardless of what the comments were, one thing was for sure:

bout a hat?” I thought to myself. “No. I enjoy having a full head of hair. I don’t want to cover that up.”

“What about wearing tennis shoes with my suit?” Suddenly, I pictured Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump. “No. That’s not quite the image I’m trying to build.”

Then, I noticed a younger man at the cocktail party who looked like he just rolled out of bed. You see, the trend nowadays is to look like you don’t care about your looks. Tousled hair, untucked shirt, fringes at the end of each pant leg: these are some of the pieces meticulously assembled to create the “I don’t care what I look like” look.

I knew this wasn’t my style. I’m a tucked-in shirt kind of guy. I needed something a little more substantial. Images of Tucker Carlson came into my head as I briefly considered a bowtie. Unfortunately, my abnormally large head would look even larger with a colorful bowtie directly beneath it.

So, for a few weeks I gave up, until I went suit shopping with my brother. Browsing through Neil’s Men’s Shop, I picked out some nice shirt and tie combos. As I was trying out the first set, the nice salesman laid out other products for me to consider. Well, wouldn’t you know, he laid out exactly what I needed.

Lying together, proudly coordinated, my shirt and tie combo had found a new friend: silk braces, otherwise known as suspenders. “Wow, that looks really good,” my brother said. It was perfect. I fully equipped my wardrobe with an assortment of silk braces and started to wear them everywhere.

Receiving mixed reviews on my fashion choice didn’t bother me in the slightest. Some people gave me compliments. Others said I looked strange. Some looked me straight in the eye and told me how great I looked, although it was obvious that wasn’t their true opinion. Regardless of what the comments were, one thing was for sure

shirt, fringes at the end of each pant leg: these are some of the pieces meticulously assembled to create the “I don’t care what I look like” look.

I knew this wasn’t my style. I’m a tucked-in shirt kind of guy. I needed something a little more substantial. Images of Tucker Carlson came into my head as I briefly considered a bowtie. Unfortunately, my abnormally large head would look even larger with a colorful bowtie directly beneath it.

So, for a few weeks I gave up, until I went suit shopping with my brother. Browsing through Neil’s Men’s Shop, I picked out some nice shirt and tie combos. As I was trying out the first set, the nice salesman laid out other products for me to consider. Well, wouldn’t you know, he laid out exactly what I needed.

Lying together, proudly coordinated, my shirt and tie combo had found a new friend: silk braces, otherwise known as suspenders. “Wow, that looks really good,” my brother said. It was perfect. I fully equipped my wardrobe with an assortment of silk braces and started to wear them everywhere.

Receiving mixed reviews on my fashion choice didn’t bother me in the slightest. Some people gave me compliments. Others said I looked strange. Some looked me straight in the eye and told me how great I looked, although it was obvious that wasn’t their true opinion. Regardless of what the comments were, one thing was for sure

w weeks I gave up, until I went suit shopping with my brother. Browsing through Neil’s Men’s Shop, I picked out some nice shirt and tie combos. As I was trying out the first set, the nice salesman laid out other products for me to consider. Well, wouldn’t you know, he laid out exactly what I needed.

Lying together, proudly coordinated, my shirt and tie combo had found a new friend: silk braces, otherwise known as suspenders. “Wow, that looks really good,” my brother said. It was perfect. I fully equipped my wardrobe with an assortment of silk braces and started to wear them everywhere.

Receiving mixed reviews on my fashion choice didn’t bother me in the slightest. Some people gave me compliments. Others said I looked strange. Some looked me straight in the eye and told me how great I looked, although it was obvious that wasn’t their true opinion. Regardless of what the comments were, one thing was for sure

y brother said. It was perfect. I fully equipped my wardrobe with an assortment of silk braces and started to wear them everywhere.

Receiving mixed reviews on my fashion choice didn’t bother me in the slightest. Some people gave me compliments. Others said I looked strange. Some looked me straight in the eye and told me how great I looked, although it was obvious that wasn’t their true opinion. Regardless of what the comments were, one thing was for sure: everybody noticed them.

Within only a few months, some were referring to me as “Suspender Guy” or “The guy who always wears suspenders.” With my suspenders, people found it easy to remember who I was, what I looked like, and what I did. I finally had a way for people to not just remember me, but to remember my business as well. They would say, “Yes, I met a guy who does that. Oh, what’s his name? He wears suspenders all the time. Oh, yes, Tom Richard.” Perfect.

Having a memory hook separates you from the countless people seen every day. It is noticeable, grabs attention and sparks interest. It also acts as a mental label to organize and store information. When you think of a memory hook, your mind recalls all of the other pieces of information that are associated with it. It’s like smelling garlic and immediately thinking of not just Grandma’s classic spaghetti, but remembering with detail the sights, smells and sounds of her kitchen.

Being unique and memorable should not be by pure happenstance. It is your choice. With a memory hook, you can help create unforgettable relationships at networking functions and even create a notable reputation. You memory hook doesn’t have to be something you wear. It can be a unique business card, nametag, or even introduction. Whatever it is, make it memorable.