No Go on "Resolutions?" Donate to Charity!

Now that we are two weeks into the year, it is worth discussing how best to keep those commitments, goals, etc., that you set for yourself at the beginning of the year. Like I said in a previous entry, I prefer not to call them "resolutions" as that word is loaded with expectation/disappointment.

I ran into an article on Springwise.com (find it HERE) that discusses a great tool for sticking with those New Year's commitments - or more specifically, creating a palatable consequence for not fulfilling on them. Here's a piece of it:

Tallinn-based Pledgehammer gives people a way to make their resolutions public, whether it's stopping smoking, losing 20 lbs. or—to take an example from the more than 100 on the site—taking better care of one's tractor. When they make their pledge, users are asked to choose a deadline—say, by a year from today—as well as some amount of money to give to charity should they fail to keep their promise. Members of the site can create profiles and then post updates of their progress toward their goal over time, as well as cheering other people's efforts.