I memorised two phone books in just 24 days.
For more than 25 years, my work has taken me from memory championships to boardrooms, classrooms and stages around the world. Today I help people unlock those same principles to learn faster, remember more, and perform at their best.
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Chapter One.
It started with a terrible memory.
For years, I genuinely believed I had a terrible memory.I forgot people’s names, struggled to remember conversations and retained little of what I read. At university, I failed the same subject three times because no amount of cramming seemed to work. I accepted that having a bad memory was simply part of who I was.Everything changed when I discovered memory techniques. What began as curiosity quickly became an obsession. I studied how memory worked and applied the techniques every day. To my surprise, they worked—not because I had suddenly become gifted, but because I had finally learned that memory could be trained.That discovery eventually led me to break national records, represent Australia internationally and become a four-time Australian Memory Champion.An extraordinary memory isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build.
Chapter two.
Curiosity became a life's work.
One discovery led to another.The more I learned about memory, the more I realised it was never only about remembering information. It was about unlocking human potential. I became fascinated by a simple question:What becomes possible when people truly understand how their memory works?For more than twenty-five years, that question has taken me into classrooms, boardrooms, conference halls, television studios and one-to-one coaching sessions.Along the way, I’ve written two internationally bestselling books, organised the Australian Memory Championships and TEDxDocklands, and developed learning frameworks with the University of Melbourne and PwC.The work has evolved over the years. The mission never has: to help people discover they’re capable of far more than they believed.
Chapter three.
The people I'll never forget.
For a long time, I thought I was teaching people how to remember more. I was wrong.Remembering is rarely the final goal. People want confidence before an exam. Calm before stepping onto a stage. The ability to remember someone’s name and make them feel seen. The belief that they can learn something they once thought impossible.I’ve worked with students preparing for final exams, professionals pursuing demanding qualifications, executives leading organisations, keynote speakers taking the stage and individuals who simply wanted to believe in themselves again.Everyone arrives with a different goal, but many share the same belief: “I don’t think my memory is very good.” Watching that belief disappear has been the most rewarding part of my work.
Chapter four.
What memory really taught me.
Working with thousands of people over more than twenty-five years has changed the way I think about memory.Techniques matter, but memory has taught me far more about people than it has about remembering.I’ve learned that our greatest obstacle is often not intelligence, but the belief that our abilities are fixed. I’ve seen confidence return when someone achieves something they once thought was beyond them.I’ve also learned that memory is not about collecting more information. It is about paying attention to what matters—an important idea, a meaningful experience or the name of the person standing in front of you.Memory gives us more than recall. It allows us to learn, connect and perform with greater confidence. That understanding shapes every keynote, workshop and coaching session I deliver.
Chapter five.
Client success stories.
The Master Sommelier
The only person to pass one of the world's toughest exams that year. When he first contacted me, he had just two months before sitting the Master Sommelier examination, widely regarded as one of the most difficult professional exams in the world.Together, we built a memory system that helped him organise, understand and retain an enormous amount of information across multiple languages. After one month, he knew the material. The second month was spent refining and reviewing. When the results were released, he was the only candidate to pass.
The Year 12 VCE Student
From average marks to the top 5% in Australia.She came to me as a capable student who worked incredibly hard but struggled to retain what she studied. Rather than spending longer hours revising, we changed the way she learned. The result was a transformation from consistent marks in the 70s during Year 11 to scores in the 90s during Year 12, placing her among the top 5% of students in Australia and earning entry into medicine.
The TEDx speaker
Walking onto the stage without a script.Just weeks before delivering a TEDx talk, one speaker arrived overwhelmed by a six-page script and terrified of forgetting it on stage. Instead of memorising words, we built a structure. Within a short time, the talk became effortless, allowing the speaker to focus on connecting with the audience rather than remembering lines. The result wasn't simply a memorised presentation. It was a memorable one.
The comedian
Turning structure into spontaneity.Most people assume comedians rely on improvisation. The best don't. They rely on preparation. Working together, we developed systems to organise routines, remember transitions and perform with confidence, allowing creativity to take centre stage instead of worrying about forgetting material.
Every story here represents someone who discovered they were capable of more than they believed. Explore more client stories →
The next chapter.
Every chapter in my life began with a conversation. Whether you're looking for private coaching, a keynote speaker, corporate training, media interview, or a collaboration, get in touch.
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Selected media appearances featuring memory demonstrations, interviews, and insights on learning and cognitive performance.
"Tansel’s expert memory mentoring helped me learn my TEDx presentation in under 20 minutes—and deliver it verbatim without notes. I’ve never learned anything so fast!"
Tiffiny Hall, Celebrity Trainer
“After only one session and a few days’ practice, I’m using these techniques in my comedy, and they work a treat. Tansel has saved me from a few deaths on stage by taking away that stress.”
Hung Le, Comedian
“Tansel’s coaching is both gentle and laser-focused. He helped me turn memory training into a daily creative habit, ultimately guiding me to break a national memory record. His ability to unlock potential is extraordinary—I came away braver, more confident, and deeply inspired. Tansel is a true catalyst for success.”
Kathy Lang, Director, 3 Pebbles