With a slogan like “Put a contract out on yourself” I was half expecting StickK to be the brainchild of a masochistic hitman. I was slightly disappointed to find out it was quite the opposite - StickK is a service that helps busy people to improve (not extinguish) their lives by setting goals in the form of a contract which they must keep.. or else.

The ‘or else’ can come in the form of public failure, or optionally - lose money you wagered against yourself, which goes to charity. Whether you want to quit smoking, get fit or anything else that you keep promising yourself but never get round to it, StickK might just be the motivation you’ve been looking for.

From the site..

“stickK is a web-based company that helps you achieve your personal goals through “Commitment Contracts.” You create a contract obliging you to achieve a specific goal within a specific time-frame. By doing so, you put your reputation at stake. You may also choose to wager money to give yourself added incentive to succeed. If you do succeed, you get your money back. If you fail, the money is forfeited to charity, or to one of several causes, or to a person of your choosing. stickK’s services are absolutely free. “

Once you create a Commitment Contract, you can designate other users as “Supporters.” Supporters are able to track your progress and post comments in your Commitment Journal.

Founded by a Yale University economics professor, a law professor, and a business school student, StickK is a promising web 2.0 enterprise which unusually, might turn out to be pretty damn useful.