habitforge.com

From: Ed Baldwin
Subject: FW: Changing behavior - link

Interesting stuff. Takers? -Ed.
http://habitforge.com/

Edward A. Baldwin
Vice President & Director, Human Resources

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From: Marc Baldwin

Interesting concept. "Virtual communities" are usually scoffed at but I am beginning to understand that the virtual world is a new reality in our world. Jennifer has a very serious community of friends and supporters through "Super Poke Pets", and most people would say that's ridiculous. But during my deployment to Iraq, those were the people that she had DAILY contact with and who consistently encouraged her and checked in on her. Consequently, she has actually met some of these other women in London, California, Maryland, Virginia, etc.

At any rate, the interesting thing about this website is not that people are making commitments to create habits, but the added feature of allowing others to follow your progress and "cheer you on" is probably the real goal here. I think commitments are best kept when they are monitored in a community of accountability partners.

On a funny side note, sometimes the only thing that gets attention is emails! So it's funny that the medium for this habit-forming help is an email every day.

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From: Brad Baldwin

The old way – write em down and put em on the fridge for family and guests to see.
The new way – join an online community of strangers.

What is more impactful, pressure/encouragement from those close to you or from complete strangers? I think it depends on the individual.

Marc, I agree with your new reality. That being said (warning broad brush stroke upcoming) unfortunately, I think for so many the virtual community comes at the direct expense of real live relationships. I think it is because the anonymity of online avatars and ability to be someone you aren’t in reality gives people more bravado to communicate with others. I’m intrigued by people who actively forge relationships online but do not have similar aspirations of communicating directly with real live people.

It is slightly different but as an example: I travel a lot with a coworker. I constantly give him a hard time because he will always choose technology over people. Going out of a parking ramp? If there is a credit card automated line he will go to that instead of talking with the booth attendant. Checking in at the airport? He will get his ticket at the automated machine instead of a gate agent. He does it under the guise of “efficiency” but will hop in the technology lines even if they are longer than the people lines.

While I embrace technology more than I have historically, I still have reservations about technology as a form of quality social relationships. Hence, you won’t see me on Facebook anytime soon.