Altruism isn't always an energizing thing. If you want to do something small, no problem: your own energy and resources will be sufficient. If you want to do something big, you face the task of having to drum up the energy and resources of others. Next thing you know these folks have "ideas of their own" and people will expect you to show up to things.
Never again! The PledgeBank website provides an automated way of using pledges to gain co-operation for simple tasks. You simply pledge to do something on the condition that 1 or more other folks do the same. Here, for example, are a couple of pledges from the site:
"I will buy 10 copies of "Loose Change 2nd Edition" and distribute them for free to people who need to know. but only if 100 other people will too." -Mark Sugrue (http://www.pledgebank.com/loosechange)
"I will purchase the $100 laptop at $300 but only if 100,000 other will too." -Mike Liveright (http://www.pledgebank.com/100laptop)
Pledges are an effective mechanism. If you pledge to do something jolly in the future you will feel jolly in the present. And, when the time finally comes to honor your committment, you may not feel energetic, but guilt and the risk of losing face will provide renewed motivation.
I feel like pledgin' tonight!
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