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Re:Ask HN: Tips on hiring a “life manager” or coach to be pr... by konschubert on Tuesday October 16, 2018 @06:09PM (#18233733)
This looks like a super interesting project, but the website is (intentionally?) confusing and I don't get what it does.
Re:Ask HN: Tips on hiring a “life manager” or coach to be pr... by haxel on Tuesday October 16, 2018 @06:26PM (#18233843)
The website is indeed not ready for public consumption, so if there's anything I can clarify for you, I'd be happy to do so.

Edit: does this help?

The basic idea is that to solve a problem, you must take the right kind of action more often. Yet what compels us to take these actions when we are not self-motivated? Functional does, by taking it social.

1. Identify your problem or interest

2. Join or create a group whose topic is that problem or interest. The group may provide seed activities. Each activity has a target frequency (e.g. once per week)

3. Optional: add more activities you'd like to do more often

4. Tell the Functional when you do those activities

5. Everyone in your group gets to see how you're doing. Nobody gets to see what you're doing.

6. If you fall behind on an activity, you'll receive a message to do that activity from someone in your group.

The system is designed to be persuasive so that those simple messages (and other stuff) are as compelling as possible.

Re:Ask HN: Tips on hiring a “life manager” or coach to be pr... by konschubert on Thursday October 18, 2018 @05:23PM (#18252256)
That looks really cool. I tried to sign up but I have a German cell phone number. Does this mean that I'm out?
Re:Ask HN: Tips on hiring a “life manager” or coach to be pr... by haxel on Thursday October 18, 2018 @09:20PM (#18253661)
Right now, unfortunately yes. I'll be sure to mention that limitation in the future. Supporting regions outside of Canada/US is too much of an overhead for me right now.

While the system does support non-SMS communication channels, it looks like the regulatory overhead (GDPRS, etc) means I'd need a fair bit of funding before expanding to Europe.