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 started as curiosity quickly became an obsession. I immersed myself in understanding how memory worked and began applying 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 journey led me to compete in the Australian Memory Championships, where I broke national memory records and eventually became a four-time Australian Memory Champion. I later represented Australia at international memory championships in Malaysia, Japan, and the United Kingdom, competing alongside many of the world's best memory athletes.A few years later, a public relations company approached me with an unusual challenge. Could I memorise two Yellow Pages phone books in just 24 days? I accepted. The challenge became one of the defining moments of my life. More importantly, it reinforced something I had already discovered years earlier.An extraordinary memory isn't something you're born with. It's something you build.Today, more than twenty-five years later, I continue helping professionals, executives, students, and organisations unlock those same principles to learn faster, remember more, and perform at their best.
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 just about remembering information. It was about unlocking human potential. I became fascinated by a simple question.What becomes possible when people truly understand how they learn?That question has shaped my work for more than twenty-five years. It has taken me into classrooms, boardrooms, conference stages, television studios, and one-to-one coaching sessions with people from all walks of life.Along the way, I've written two international bestselling books, organised the Australian Memory Championships and TEDxDocklands, developed language learning frameworks with the University of Melbourne and PwC, represented Australia in memory sports, and worked with students, professionals, executives, and organisations around the world.The work has changed over the years. The mission never has — To help people discover they're capable of far more than they ever 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.Over the years I've realised that memory is rarely the real challenge. People don't come to me because they want to memorise facts.They come because they want confidence before an exam. Calm before stepping onto a stage. The ability to remember a person's name and make them feel seen. The belief that they really can learn something they once thought impossible.I've worked with students preparing for final exams, professionals tackling some of the world's most demanding qualifications, executives leading organisations, keynote speakers stepping onto global stages, and individuals who simply wanted to believe in themselves again.Every person arrives with a different goal. Almost every one of them arrives with the same belief. "I don't think my memory is very good." Watching that belief disappear has been the most rewarding part of my life's 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.People often expect me to talk about techniques. The truth is, memory has taught me far more about people than it ever did about remembering. I've seen confidence return the moment someone realises they can do something they once believed was impossible.I've learned that the biggest obstacle to learning isn't intelligence. It's the belief that we're simply "not good" at something. I've learned that remembering a person's name isn't just about memory. It's about making someone feel seen.And I've learned that memory isn't about collecting more information. It's about paying attention to what truly matters. Extraordinary memory isn't reserved for extraordinary people. It's something anyone can build.That's the lesson I've carried into every keynote, every workshop, and every coaching conversation since.
Chapter five.
Stories of transformation.
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 →
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