Heard about this on NPR – http://www.stickk.com/
Basic idea – you have a goal; you write up a contract with these folks saying you’ll meet that goal. Generally weight loss/exercise, but they have ‘learn to play the piano’ listed – so it could be anything. It’s the social contract idea.
Twist – you can get money involved. If you’re really serious about meeting that goal, you can put some money at stake. You give them the whole amount up front; if you meet the goal, you get it back; if you don’t, the money goes to whoever else you’ve designated.
Second twist – You can designated a charitable organization to be your beneficiary. The twist comes in when you designate a charity you vehemently disagree with. The Kill the Whales foundation or something. So it’s lose the weight …. or else.
Chattered with Mum about it … didn’t remember the website then, I’d just heard the show and hadn’t looked anything up. She asked me to send it to her .. thought I’d post it instead; thought you guys might think the concept was interesting, too. And we have to find a group that Mom would hate enough to be a motivating factor .. I haven’t thought of any yet.
Ideas?
For another application of the same idea:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/snuznluz.shtml
Alarm clock that, every time you hit ‘snooze’, it donates a small amount of cash to a charity you don’t like.
Same idea as the website, only every morning.