The new year is here and it’s been three months since the last amendments, so it’s time once again for another round of amendments. In this batch of amendments:

No More Comments

Since majority of comments contain only a handful of words (”That’s awesome!”), everybody agreed it wasn’t achieving its full potential so from now on comments will be optional and not be required to earn a good point.

Checking Grammar in Posts

Since the last round of amendments where spellcheck was implemented in each post, the number of spelling errors has dramatically gone down. However, there were many instances when the word itself was correctly spelled, although it was used incorrectly in the sentence. The next logical step then is to implement a grammar check. The rule: for every five spelling or grammar errors, you will earn one negative point.

Sticky Star for Cheaters

If you earn a negative point, you will have the rest of the day to post the negative point. If not, you will earn a sticky star. An appeal may be made to contest the star (for example, due to an honest mistake), in which case an investigation will be done. The star will be awarded depending on the result of the investigation.

Recommended Uses for Sticky Stars

We are now discouraged to use stars for lunches. Instead, it is preferred that we use our stars for things that preferably involve physical activity. In addition, food that may be consumed during the activity will be the responsibility of each person.

Since the last amendment to the rules, there have been some suggestions on how to further improve our “self-improvement” system. Rather than repeat all the rules from the last post, I thought it better to just retain them and point out amendments as necessary.

PART I – EARNING POSITIVE POINTS

1. Tardiness
   • You earn one positive point for every day that you are on-time. “On-time” means arriving on or before your designated clock-in time. If you arrive after your clock-in time, but within the five-minute grace period, you will not earn a positive point but you will also not be penalized with a negative point.
2. Posting
   • You earn one positive point on your scheduled day of posting, if you made a valid post and also posted a comment. An email of at least 300 words may be used in lieu of a blog post, as long as: (a) the email was sent to a business user or Gabe/Jon; and (b) the email was sent, and the intention to substitute was communicated, before your weekly deadline.

PART II – EARNING NEGATIVE POINTS

1. Tardiness
   • There will no longer be an additional negative point if you are late for 5 consecutive days.
2. Posting
   • There will no longer be an additional negative point if you earn four consecutive negative points related to posting and/or commenting.
   • You earn one negative point if there are five or more misspelled words in your post or email
3. Weight Loss
   • There will no longer be an additional negative point if you gain weight for three consecutive months.

MISCELLANEOUS

Two people who both have stars may combine each of their stars to increase the lunch budget. For example, two people can combine one star each to use two stars for one lunch capped at $128 ($64 x 2).

Similarly, two (or more) people can erase negative points by combining negative points to produce a star, which can be used for a lunch. The expenses for the lunch will be shared by the people involved in proportion to the points contributed.

I think the point system has started a year ago and its been alive till then. Taken different shapes and forms and twists and turns, excitement and entertainment. Lets talk a little about the history.

A year ago, I was in my weekly meeting with Gabe and talking about self improvement and being on time. That brainstorm lead us to conduct meetings. I think at one point of time we have realized that apart from conducting meetings one shall improve written communication skills. Thanks to Jon to suggest 5nongringos name for out blog. Meanwhile to control the sense of being on time we have started this so called points system. Earn 10 late points and enjoy the privilege of being a host for a team lunch. Myself and Jon were the biggest losers and winners of this system. We both had privilege to host at least 10 team lunches each. For past few months, we were on time most of the time and I think we are winners in this.

All these lunched made us gain weight and now we have added weight lose points. Then blog post points and now positive points. Thanks to Aravinda in this.Deal in this system is to take of 2 negative points once we earn 10 positive points continuously. If you get a negative point before reaching 10 positive, you lose all positive.

I was not happy with this approach since the positive points are polled only with on time but the negative points are polled against weight loss, blog and late points. To make it more easy and clear the below is my proposal

Positive points are polled for every act. For example, if you are on time, you will get a point. Posted a blog, you will get a positive point. Met your goal in weight loss and you will add a positive point. For each 10 positive points you take out 2 negatives and if you miss any of the three, you lose every thing from positive side. And I know its tough to maintain and Gabe now proposing to remove the wipe out process.

Now the rule is simple. gain 10 positive points and lose 2 negative points. Awesome right ?