Thursday, May 13, 2010

The Five Monkeys (Part 1)

Someone from my office left the story of the five monkeys on my desk yesterday.  I think it was meant as a joke, however, it is based on a real research project.  The easiest way to get the gist of this is to take a quick look at the experiment in this video:



During the night, I kept thinking about the banana and the monkeys that fought to keep the other monkeys from getting it, even though monkeys really like bananas.  Clearly, there is a reward for the monkey that overcomes the brainwashing.  If this reward is shared with all the other monkeys, the group wins.

There is a great risk in thinking differently.  Without the risk, the banana reward is permanently out of reach.

Is there anything in your life that you are doing or not doing that is preventing you from getting your banana?  Do you follow the crowd because you don't want to suffer the consequences of change?  Is there a way to win?

I am thankful for the people who came before me who decided the banana was worth going after.  People like Christopher Columbus and Thomas Edison.  Are you the next visionary?  Don't let the world stop you from sharing your gift or ideas...go for it!  Your banana awaits...(see part 2 of this story in tomorrow's post).

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