Motivating Users.
The word on the street is that there will be an abundance of new motivational titles on the market by the middle of 1998. Until then, we found this gem, which should get you started on your path to reaching your goals.
Similar to software management utilities, Motivator pro 4.0 provides a familiar interface with easy-to-use buttons on one side and a menu of icons across the top. The program lets users keep a journal as well as provides a scratch pad for reminders. But the key feature is a Goal Coach that will make suggestions about the progress of the goals you should be keeping.
The Coach will tell you, for instance, how many objectives you should be pursuing, how many daily messages you should send yourself to boost inner strength, and how many smaller goals you should set to reach your larger objective.
If your goal is weight loss, for example, the Coach will first ask you to set the objective through a series of screens. It will ask you to set "Success Questions," which are questions you will ask yourself to focus on the objective. A success question if you want to lose weight might be, "How might I exercise today?" The Coach also will suggest that you add smaller goals, such as "Today, I will not eat dessert," as well.
Once you routine is in place, Motivator Pro will deliver parts of it back to you by flashing goals or success questions on your computer screen. Additionally, from Motivator's main screen, the program will show users what their tasks for the day are and what time they're scheduled.
One of the nicer things about Motivator Pro is that the program let us scan images in. If weight loss is the objective, you could attach a picture of your former skinny self into the routine as extra motivation to take off the pounds.
Hopefully, you'll reach your dreams without programs such as these, but it never hurts to know that your computer could be just the thing to put you over the top.
by William Dean Hinton
Smart Computing