Goal Website Puts a Price on Failing
Posted by Holly in Free Productivity Tools, Productivity
Did you make a 2010 New Year’s Resolution? Did you keep last year’s resolution? If not, are you ready to make your commitment real and your goals a reality? StickK, a website which takes goal-setting to an entirely new level, could possibly help you to achieve your online and offline goals. Created by two Yale professors two months ago, this growing website allows users to create a public web contract – and optionally set the stakes by putting money down on their goal. If the person does not accomplish the goal, the money will be given away, usually to a charity the user specifies.
One of the users from Boston, addicted to junk food, posted his public commitment on StickK to eat one piece of fruit a day or two weeks. He wagered $20 on the commitment, with the money going to NARAL – an abortion-rights organization that he does not support – if he didn’t meet his goal. On an interview with the Boston Globe, he said that he wanted to put the money down because “I am weak. I need the accountability.” According to Jordan Goldberg, the site’s webmaster, “…users who put money on the line and assign a referee had the highest rate of successfully meeting their goals. He said 78 percent of those users lived up to their pledges, compared with 35 percent of those who put no money down and had no referee or supporters.”
So, if you are struggling to achieve a goal, you may want to check out this innovative website. I joined today, haven’t yet posted any goals but I will. After posting your first goal, and optionally adding money down to it, you can then assign a referee, who should be your major support, and individual supporters can join in at any time. So as a member, you can support friends or others with similar goals, by visiting their profile, specific goal and clicking “Request to be a supporter.” Your progress and accomplishments are publicly recorded, which adds to the level of accountability. The site if very social in nature, which creates a supportive and uplifting atmosphere online.
So, if you are struggling with accomplishing daily goals in your online marketing, this could also be a beneficial tool for you. The goals can be set for 1 day or as long as you like. The last post I wrote was about how to Quit Quitting in 2010, and this may be a tool to help you do that!
Here is my personal StickK profile page – I want to spend some time figuring out my specific goals before adding it on there – but please add me a friend if you join! I would love to be a supporter for anyone who joins and sets some goals, and I could use some myself as well. I hope this helps you on your journey – it seems to be a very useful goal-setting tool.
15 Responses to “Goal Website Puts a Price on Failing”
Leave a Reply
Dave Doolin
04. Jan, 2010
Done.
A friend and I have been doing this privately. Works really well.
Garry
04. Jan, 2010
Great follow up to your last post . . . and timely for me.
I’ve been mulling over the idea of seeking out and creating a private accountability group. Finding some folks I’ve connected with and keeping each other on track.
THere used to be a site I’d visit (can’t remember the name) where people would state their goals, get feed back, then post whether they succeeded or not. But StickK steps it up a bit in the accountability.
It’s an old idea, but the site looks like a great resource. I may join in . . . if I have the guts to be held accountable.
Take care.
GARRY
Irish Tom
04. Jan, 2010
Great New Year Post Holly. I have tried this idea a number of years ago and it “half worked”..but it did help me a lot, so I guess I am in.
Putting together a goal so will post as soon as I have it ready.
Thanks again for a great idea.
And Garry, the worst we can do is “blow it” and as we are only human, we can start again.
Cheers
Tom
Holly
04. Jan, 2010
I agree Tom!
I’m glad you’re giving it a try! I added my goal on there – and I’m working to finish it soon. 
We’ll see. 
Garry
04. Jan, 2010
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our goal is too high and we miss it, but too low and we achieve it”
- Michelangelo
========
O.K. . . . I’m in. I’ll set up the account, but it will take a couple days to put the first goals together.
I really have been looking for something like this. Just another sign of the universe delivering when we are ready.
GARRY
Davin-The Viral Sanctuary
04. Jan, 2010
Hey looks very cool Holly. I was speaking about a support system on my new blog just the other day at davinogden.com.
I had you listed as part of my support system…you and another guy. I’d put that even to this day…I found that I still turn to you for support at times..(probably more than you like)..lol.. to help re-inspire etc. so I can keep pushing forward.
I have some very lofty goals this year..so I’m sure something like this will help..I’ll go take a closer look at this thing now..
It reminds me of the accountability site we briefly discussed ages ago…
Thanx for the cool post…
Jacinta Dean
04. Jan, 2010
Hi Holly,
This sounds like a really cool idea. OK now I have to write the actual list of goals and join in.
See you back here soon!
Jacinta
Jenny
05. Jan, 2010
Holly I’m all in, I believe that half ( or more:) of my frustration is lack of accountability. I’ll see you on the site!
Kieran
08. Jan, 2010
Great idea Holly,
Have signed up and listed my first goal, which has a due date of 17 Jan-10. If anyone would like to either support me during the goal, or give me some decent heckling if I don’t achieve it then friend me on StickK.com. My handle is Kmackaz.
Accountability is great – I could contribute part of the success of quitting my job recently to the fact I posted my intention on a forum of 400 users. Feeling the freedom now is a rush each day!
Love your inspiration Holly – words are so powerful..!!
Kieran
Holly
08. Jan, 2010
I’m so glad you joined Kieran! I just added myself to your new commitment – I’m happy you’re on there. Talk to you soon! Good luck with the websites!
Paul Lynch
08. Jan, 2010
Hey Girl!
One of my New Year resolutions was to post on here more!
You need to set yearly goals in order to keep you focused.
I see making money online like this (You might not understand this if you are not from the UK)…
“If you throw 100 darts at the dartboard by luck…chance…skill…one of those darts will hit the bullseye”
-Chapter 2, verse 9- Paul Lynch 2010 LOL :0)
Lock Chee Hoong
18. Jan, 2010
Great post Holly.
The trouble with most people is 1) they do not turn up and 2) they do not follow up.
I am guilty of 2) so this will definitely force me to follow up on my goals, and taking the necessary actions to achieve them…
Holly
18. Jan, 2010
Yes I am guilty of it too. If you join this site – please add me as a friend.
Dan Mitchell
09. Feb, 2010
I’m stuck on StickK.
Ken Montville
07. Jul, 2010
“…haven’t yet posted any goals but I will. ” Maybe your first goal will be to set a goal. This looks like a great way to get a kick start on stuff I’ve been procrastinating about.