I had a bit of an epiphany recently about Beeminder: the goals that got me hooked all had an obvious monetary value tied to them.
Practicing Violin
About ten years ago, during my first stint with Beeminder, I set up a goal to practice the violin. I’d spent good money on the instrument and lessons, but I wasn’t actually practicing much between lessons, so they felt like a waste.
Setting up a Beeminder goal changed everything. I committed to practicing a certain amount each day. I was often in the red and I derailed a few times. But even when I did, it was worth it. The derail fees were way less than what I was spending on lessons, and without Beeminder, the lessons have been all but wasted.
Thanks to that goal, I practiced way more than I would’ve otherwise, and it felt like I was finally getting my money’s worth.
Beeminding Work Hours
Fast forward to a few years ago - I hadn’t used Beeminder for a while, but then I picked up a side job where I was paid hourly. I had total flexibility to work whenever I wanted, which sounds great but meant I often didn’t get around to it.
The solution? Another Beeminder goal, this time tied to Toggl (which I was already using to track my hours). Instant win. My work hours became consistent and predictable, and my employer was happy. For me, it was a no-brainer: my hourly rate was way higher than what I’d pay for a derailment, so even when I derailed, I was still coming out ahead.
A Perfect Gateway for Newbees
For newbees, who may be on the fence about putting money on the line, a goal that is tied to something with obvious monetary value may be ideal. The money saved, earned, or not wasted will easily be much more than what they put on the line with Beeminder. If they are remotely close to being type bee, it will be a clear win-win situation.
Beeminding paid work, like I did with the second goal I described, is perfect. Beeminding what you buy, like I did with the first goal, is also really good. I think that Beeminder should emphasize these kinds of examples to newbees. This may just be about using the right perspective:
- Running should be free, but not running would be a waste of my shiny new running gear.
- Losing weight should be free, but I could use a tool to encourage me to go to the gym where I already have a membership.
Using Beeminder in situations where I felt like I couldn’t loose got me used to the tool and how it works and how nice Beeminder’s support is. When I get comfortable with Beeminder and see how powerful it can be as a hammer, I start looking for other kinds of nails to hit.