Get your act on with 43 Things & business groupies

We were at first concerned about conflict of future interest, but we figure if it's good for you, and helps improve your business, why not? We love you all. (We really do.) So, we've started a new category to help you on your entrepreneurial pursuit -- the oh-so-elegantly entitled: Biz Tools! With that said, let's recommend our first product: 43 Things.

What is 43 Things?

43 Things is a site/web-application that promotes achieving your selected goals. Each goal is based around a community that wants to achieve the same desires (e.g. stop smoking, learn Ruby on Rails, start a business, etc.). Unlike your typical MySpace groupie, 43 Things community members actually want to achieve something. Sign-in, write down your goals, and share your progress with others. Simple. There's an amazingly active business group, filled with like-minded individuals who are seeking the same goals as you are. Why does this help you? Easy.

One

One, if you write your goals down, you boost your chances of achieving them. This is what psychological guru Robert Cialdini calls the "commitment" factor: That is, you're more likely to follow-up on what you say you will do.

Two

Two, if you write your goals down, and are encouraged by others to achieve them, you boost your chances even more of achieving them. We're all products of our environment, to different degrees of course, but still are. There's a reason why your parents wanted you to hang with the bookworms. (Don't worry, we know you turned out well in any case.)

Three

Three, if there's an active community around your intended goal, the peer influence (for the good, this time!) will increase your odds even greater of achieving your goal. Psychological whiz-man Cialdini calls it the "social proof" effect. We do things based on who else is doing them. So, there you have it. That's why we love the psychology behind the idea of 43 Things. And hey, don't be surprised if we come out with something similar. Hint. Hint. Just kidding. (At least we hope so.)

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