Major consequences for failure seem to be very effective motivators, but since I want to undertake projects that are difficult enough to have a significant chance of failure, I would like these consequences to be highly motivating without being horribly costly, if possible. Ideas?
Cross domain costs tend to be the most effective motivators for the least amount of investment. A $10 bet is a reasonably effective motivator for me; a $100 bet is more effective but not ten times as much; a $1000 bet is even more effective but not 100x as much. Similarly doing something embarrassing in front of 5 people is effective; doing something embarrassing in front of 50 people is only marginally worse. The more of these consequences you layer on, the cheaper each one can be individually.
Eg, Working out. My family knows I’m trying to bulk up and not to let me slack off (weak social consequences). One friend has a $20 bet with me if I don’t go at least twice a week (financial consequences). My girlfriend has a standing bet that I must uninstall all games from my computer for at least a week if I fail to go to the gym at least 2x a week (hedonistic consequences), we’ll also spend the time watching some terrible rom-coms or The Hills or something (pretty sure it qualifies as torture). Another friend gets a couple hours of my week for the next month editing her Harry Potter fanfiction if I slack off (time commitment). Also my mother gets to choose my haircut next time I see her should I slack (embarrassment/autonomy loss).
I have set times to be going to the gym. This means that even if I want to slack off, I can’t. My computer won’t allow me to visit my favorite websites while I’m supposed to be at the gym. I can’t play any of my games online while I’m at the gym because my friends will know. And it’s not like I can do any other fun things because my girlfriend and friends are in on it as well. I’ve got a very strong web ensuring that I act in my own best interest. Each minor individual commitment strengthens my total commitment. It also helps insure my friends and family act against me in concert. It’s hard to get a defector to help you slack when everybody has something to gain. So although the aggregate costs are minor, they way they combine is much more effective than any single large cost could possibly be.
I will note that Working Out is a goal with broad social support. I assume losing weight and quitting smoking (if I needed those) would work similarly. I’m pretty that another goal of mine, learning Lojban, would not provide comparable results. When I attempted to go back to the Uberman sleep schedule I actually encountered a united front to stop me. I’m still trying to figure out how to diversify motivators for unpopular goals.
Cross domain costs tend to be the most effective motivators for the least amount of investment. A $10 bet is a reasonably effective motivator for me; a $100 bet is more effective but not ten times as much; a $1000 bet is even more effective but not 100x as much. Similarly doing something embarrassing in front of 5 people is effective; doing something embarrassing in front of 50 people is only marginally worse. The more of these consequences you layer on, the cheaper each one can be individually.
Eg, Working out. My family knows I’m trying to bulk up and not to let me slack off (weak social consequences). One friend has a $20 bet with me if I don’t go at least twice a week (financial consequences). My girlfriend has a standing bet that I must uninstall all games from my computer for at least a week if I fail to go to the gym at least 2x a week (hedonistic consequences), we’ll also spend the time watching some terrible rom-coms or The Hills or something (pretty sure it qualifies as torture). Another friend gets a couple hours of my week for the next month editing her Harry Potter fanfiction if I slack off (time commitment). Also my mother gets to choose my haircut next time I see her should I slack (embarrassment/autonomy loss).
I have set times to be going to the gym. This means that even if I want to slack off, I can’t. My computer won’t allow me to visit my favorite websites while I’m supposed to be at the gym. I can’t play any of my games online while I’m at the gym because my friends will know. And it’s not like I can do any other fun things because my girlfriend and friends are in on it as well. I’ve got a very strong web ensuring that I act in my own best interest. Each minor individual commitment strengthens my total commitment. It also helps insure my friends and family act against me in concert. It’s hard to get a defector to help you slack when everybody has something to gain. So although the aggregate costs are minor, they way they combine is much more effective than any single large cost could possibly be.
I will note that Working Out is a goal with broad social support. I assume losing weight and quitting smoking (if I needed those) would work similarly. I’m pretty that another goal of mine, learning Lojban, would not provide comparable results. When I attempted to go back to the Uberman sleep schedule I actually encountered a united front to stop me. I’m still trying to figure out how to diversify motivators for unpopular goals.
Great!