2013 Goals

[mer]

I don't have them.  But I think I should make them. In public. And have some accountability, like, for every goal segment not reached I have to donate a dollar to a charity I hate.  The Tea Party?  And what's a hurtful number of goal segments? $100 isn't enough. I'm thinking $250.

More later, as I figure this all out. Suggestions for figuring this out welcome!

Comments

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Is there some reason that you are feeling particularly self-flagellatory, and the stick seems like a better approach for you than the carrot?

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

Carrot has not worked thus far! I am much more likely to be like, "Well, I said I could only buy a DSLR if I did x, y AND z, but I only got z done, and I have the money, and I need the camera, so I'm going to buy it eventually anyway, so x and y can go hang themselves."

I'm too benevolent to myself.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I will buy that you're benevolent to yourself. But I tend to think of a DSLR as a useful creative tool, whereas the Tea Party is...not that kind of tools...so I'm the wrong person to ask whether it's too benevolent. I just...if you have to come up with a negative consequence, is it more effective to you to punish the rest of us if you have a bad writing month? That's a genuine, not a rhetorical, question. Because to me there's a difference in scope between "Mer has to do thing she doesn't like" and "Mer has to do thing she doesn't like that negatively affects the rest of the world," and on the one hand, while I like neither, I prefer the former to the latter--and yet on the other hand I could see why that might make the latter a more effective threat to you.

It just makes me nervous when people are working under threats at all.

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

Heh, okay. Yeah. Punishing the rest of the world is not the goal of this goal, by any means, if I were to fail. (Granted, with a consequence like that, I don't think I would.)

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

I would rather see you spin this as a reward to yourself rather than a penalty (in large part because, were the money to go to a charity you hate, it will punish not only you but also everyone affected by how those fuckwits spend that money). Thus: if I get to [goal x] by [date y], I get to donate $250 to a charity I love.

Or, make the penalty something that affects a more limited circle, such as "If I don't reach x by y, I have to wear Ohio State tattoos in public for a month." Or, "If I don't reach z by a, I have to post a podcast of [story you disliked reading]." [evil smile]

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

As above to Mris, but not only do I know myself, but there are motivation experts who recommend this technique.

[cathshaffer.livejournal.com]

What kind of goals are you thinking? Writing goals? Write a chapter by X date or the Tea Party gets my money? Harsh, but sounds very effective!

[merriehaskell.livejournal.com]

Writing goals entirely!

[dendrophilous.livejournal.com]

Like stickk.com?

I do like mrissa's idea of picking something you hate that wouldn't affect the world. Like scrubbing toilets or washing the baseboards. Or no visiting the bar at cons (ok, that would adversely affect the world).

No advice on actual amounts of $$, as I am not privy to your financial details.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Wow....I don't think you're going to miss any goals with that kind of pressure.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_earthshine_/]

Wow ... that's hardcore. I guess i have a few random thoughts to throw into the mixing pot for review:

• The self-flagellant approach to goal-meeting will only work if you are truly the only thing standing in your way. Despite all the smarmy self-help idioms, we are often held back by practical issues -- often other responsibilities that we're forced to meet -- and realistic expectations of time and energy levels. I'm not saying to give up or anything, i'm just suggesting that you make sure that the goal you want to keep is also a goal you can keep before you start fining yourself.


• Giving to a charity you hate probably isn't a great idea. If you want it to hurt enough to keep you motivated, just up the dollar amount. If you want it to hurt more, give it to a cause you see as wasteful but not harmful -- like to someone to go blow at poker table (but not dannimal, cuz he'll just come home with more). I think making it actually make the world a worse place is to add so much insult to injury as to lead to a path of serious self-loathing, depression, and/or madness.


• How about a little positive reinforcement to mix in? If you fail to meet Goal A, you have to pay out. If you meet Goal A, you don't. If you exceed Goal A by margin X, then you get to spend X units of time/money on something awesome!

Food for thought. Good luck!