Sharp as a Tack Memory... for Life
A 90-minute lecture exploring how memory systems work, the brain areas involved, and techniques for improving memory and learning.
Memory formation · Attention · Working memory · Learning strategies
FOCUS · PASSION · CONSCIENCE
Better minds.
Better world.
Exploring the connection between the mind, the body, and the everyday choices that shape wellbeing.
Discover the Inspired Motives philosophy ↘A curious mind is a powerful starting point.
THE PURPOSE
Knowledge that inspires
healthier habits.
The mission of Inspired Motives is to advance the understanding of our bodies at the cellular level, so that individuals will be inspired to invest in their health and engage in daily activities that promote optimal fitness.
The original work brought together ideas from memory research, behavior modification, and proactive wellness to encourage lifelong learning and positive daily practices.
LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
Ideas for a sharper life.
Original seminar descriptions are retained below as a record of the educational programs developed by Jill Jones.
7 Steps to a Healthier You
Explore how mental training practices used by world-class athletes can be incorporated into daily habits to support optimal health.
Mental agility · Mind-body connection · Wellbeing
Happiness as a Practice
An introduction to the science of happiness and the habits that can support positive emotions, stronger relationships, and wellbeing.
Positive emotions · Happiness research · Daily habits
Self-Mastery
Understand the internal programming, beliefs, and behavior patterns that shape how we see the world and motivate change.
Beliefs · Values · Behavior patterns · Personal growth
Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Learn why sleep matters for mental and physical health, recognize common inhibitors, and explore healthy sleep habits.
Sleep physiology · Memory · Emotions · Sleep habits
If Your Cells Could Talk
A look at biological versus chronological aging, cellular health, longevity research, and lifestyle factors associated with wellbeing.
Cell health · Aging · Longevity · Lifestyle
FOR ORGANIZATIONS
On-site business training
The original seminars were designed to be engaging, concise, and adaptable to an organization's needs. Presentations used animations and sound effects and were described as 90 minutes or less, conducted on-site, and customized to the business.
90MINUTES
OR LESS
OR LESS
◯
FOCUS
PASSION
CONSCIENCE
PASSION
CONSCIENCE
MEET THE INSTRUCTOR
About Jill Jones.
Jill Jones — Instructor, Course Developer, and Founder of Inspired Motives.
For more than a decade, Jill Jones has served as a volunteer speaker at TMC for Seniors, developing and delivering proactive wellness presentations. Her work focuses on helping people better understand the connections between the mind, the body, and everyday choices that support wellbeing.
Jill spent 33 years at IBM, where her career included roles in systems engineering, marketing, education, and consulting. That broad professional experience helped shape her approach to teaching: making complex ideas accessible and giving people practical ways to apply what they learn.
Her interest in hypnosis led her to establish Inspired Motives as a part-time business. For eight years, she trained others in self-hypnosis and visualization techniques, helping participants explore the ways attention, thought, and mental practice can influence behavior and personal development.
Jill holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Natural Sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is certified as a hypnotist by the National Guild of Hypnotists.
THE STORY BEHIND THE SYMBOL
Jill designed the Inspired Motives logo to represent her aspiration for a disciplined mind: Focus, Passion, and Conscience. The words form a triangle around a Japanese Enso, an open calligraphy circle, hand-drawn to represent the artist's state of mind in the moment — like a signature.
The logo's meaning remains at the heart of the original Inspired Motives identity.
Biography details adapted from Jill Jones's instructor biography in the OLLI-UA Summer 2026 catalog.
FROM THE ORIGINAL WEBSITE
Past programs &
historical notes.
The original site listed a 2017 program schedule at Tucson Medical Center and El Dorado Health Campus in Tucson, Arizona. It noted that most classes were free and open to the public, with a $50 fee for the UCLA Memory Training Program.
These dates, venues, fees, and registration details are historical and are not current offerings.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
Useful books &
resources.
A selection of books and publications featured on the original Inspired Motives website.
01
The Mind-Gut Connection
Emeran Mayer, M.D.
02
How the Body Works: The Facts Simply Explained
DK Books
03
In Search of Memory
Eric R. Kandel
04
Epigenetics: How Environment Shapes Our Genes
Richard C. Francis
05
Mind Change
Susan Greenfield
06
The Brain’s Way of Healing
Norman Doidge, M.D.
07
Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence
Daniel Goleman
08
The Organized Mind
Daniel J. Levitin
09
The Emotional Life of Your Brain
Richard J. Davidson, Ph.D.
10
The Power of Habit
Charles Duhigg
11
Willpower: Rediscovering Our Greatest Strength
Roy F. Baumeister & John Tierney
12
The Brain That Changes Itself
Norman Doidge, M.D.
13
Scientific American Mind
Magazine
A MOMENT OF CURIOSITY
The original
brain quiz.
The original website included a ten-question brain quiz. Explore the questions below and reveal each answer to learn more.
Answers preserved from the original Inspired Motives brain quiz.
- What is the primary job of the brain?
- Approximately how much does the brain weigh?
- How many calories does the brain consume each day?
- What everyday activity supports brain health?
- What percentage of brain power is used for visual processing?
- Are concentration and attention important for memory and learning?
- What share of the body's oxygen does the brain use?
- How long can the brain go without oxygen before damage begins?
- How many thoughts do people have each day?
- Can thoughts and memories change connections in the brain?
THE ANSWER KEY
How well do you know your brain?
Open each answer to see the information provided on the original website.
PART ONE - Questions 01–05
01What is the primary job of the brain?+
The job of the brain is to keep the whole body in an optimal state relative to the environment, in order to maximize the chances of survival. The brain does this by registering stimuli from the rest of the body and the outside world. As the brain interprets this information, it generates experiences — sights, sounds, emotions, and thoughts. But its primary function is to produce changes in the body.
02Approximately how much does the brain weigh?+
The brain weighs approximately 3 pounds.
03How many calories does the brain consume each day?+
The original quiz states that the brain consumes 400 calories a day.
04What everyday activity supports brain health?+
Aerobic exercise is identified as the most important activity for keeping the brain healthy. The original explanation notes that gentle aerobic exercise, such as rapid walking, has been shown to increase the formation of new cells in an area of the brain important to memory and learning.
05What percentage of brain power is used for visual processing?+
The original quiz answer is 25%.
PART TWO - Questions 06–10
06Are concentration and attention important for memory and learning?+
True. Concentration and attention control are necessary for memory and learning.
07What share of the body's oxygen does the brain use?+
The brain uses 20% of the total oxygen in the body, according to the original quiz.
08How long can the brain go without oxygen before damage begins?+
The original quiz states that the brain can survive for 4 to 6 minutes without oxygen, but will suffer permanent brain damage with 5 to 10 minutes of no oxygen.
09How many thoughts do people have each day?+
The original website gives an estimate of 12,000–50,000 thoughts per day, attributed there to the National Science Foundation.
10Can thoughts and memories change connections in the brain?+
True. The original explanation states that every time you recall a memory or have a new thought, you are creating a new connection in your brain.