Yesterday we talked about my first time. And we talked about how important it is to get that first time right. But why? Why do we have this fascination with our first times? Why is it we remember our first times so vividly?
I'm no brain scientist but I have a theory. I think we remember our firs times because of trepidation. You're always nervous the first time you do anything. Maybe you're fearful of failing or seeming silly to the more well practiced around you. Maybe you're a perfectionist. Doesn't matter why you're feeling trepidation, what matters is that you are feeling it.
My theory is that trepidation fires a pattern of neurons in your brain associated with memory. Why? Because people who don't want to fail, who are perfectionists or who just don't want to appear silly in front of others realize that they must learn and in some ways master what they are about to do -- the first time. They don't want to learn on the second time. They want to get is all the first time. Therefore, those neurons work together to codify memory -- good or bad. And that is where first times get dicey.
We've all know folks that have sworn off a repeat performance of an experience, a food, or a destination. We've all heard them say never again. How they hated it the first time. The old saying is you only get a once chance to make a first impression.... sound familiar?
We're wired to internalize that first experience. So I guess the question is... and one I plan to dive into more on Wednesday -- how do we as marketers ensure a great first time? How do we leverage these neurons to ensure a positive first memory is created, stored and called up on again in the future?
How would you do it?
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