“If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.”
Albert Einstein
Usually motivation is driven by rewards for success. But here’s a site, Lose it or Lose it, that helps people to lose weight by punishing them (in the form of lost money) for failing to achieve the targets they set themselves. It’s choosing sticks over carrots
It’s an odd premise, especially since users must stake their own money which they ‘win’ back by meeting the weight-loss objectives they set themselves over the 10 week program. The theory is that by declaring publicly the goal (which requires 2 or more ‘accountability’ friends to verify your weigh-ins and support you) and putting something tangible at risk, ie hard cash, you are more likely to achieve them.
But a counter argument is that announcing your plans may make you less motivated. For some people, declaration of action can provide a “premature sense of completeness”, which then results in a reduction in the drive to achieve those plans.
Lose it or lose it is an interesting experiment in try to externalise a process of self-motivation by creating a game-like condition. Self-motivation is a fascinating subject area, full of the little cheats and rules we set ourselves to try and compel us to achieve the goals we desire.