Creating motivation through the fear of missing valuable opportunities
Core Idea: The FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) Punch technique creates motivation by highlighting what users might regret missing if they don't act, effectively using Core Drive 8 to overcome Status Quo Sloth.
Key Elements
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Psychological Mechanism:
- Leverages our fear of regret and missed opportunities
- Creates a mental "punch" that breaks through behavioral inertia
- Shifts focus from what we have to what we could lose access to
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Implementation Approaches:
- Highlight unique, non-repeatable opportunities
- Frame decisions as life-changing or significant
- Show others benefiting from opportunities the user might miss
- Create vivid mental images of potential future regret
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Real-World Examples:
- Steve Jobs to John Sculley: "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugar water, or do you want a chance to change the world?"
- Postcode Lottery in Netherlands: Only your neighbors win if you didn't participate
- Social media feeds showing what friends are experiencing without you
- Limited-time professional opportunities: "This position only opens once a year"
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Most Effective Phase:
- Particularly useful in the Discovery Phase when users are considering a new experience
- Helps overcome the initial resistance to trying something new
Additional Connections
- Broader Context: Core Drive 8 - Loss and Avoidance (the underlying principle)
- Applications: Discovery Phase Motivation Design (when to apply FOMO Punch)
- See Also: Status Quo Sloth (the opposing force FOMO Punch helps overcome)
References
- Yu-kai Chou, Actionable Gamification
- John Sculley's experience with Steve Jobs' recruitment approach
#gamification #psychology #marketing #motivation
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