A Monkey Can Do Your Job!
No worries, our little contest isn’t over yet! But since my brain is currently drowning in ideas I figured a temporary distraction was in order.
Since it is traditionally hump day, I figured y’all could use a little pick me up also. This is for everyone that is or was in the “corporate world”.
Have you ever heard that expression? Or perhaps you’ve said it yourself. Either way, I found something a while ago on one of my vast virtual travels, and just HAD to share…..
Put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room is a ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the ceiling.
Each time a Monkey tries to climb the ladder, all the monkeys are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable.
Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the ladder all of the other monkeys not wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up.
Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder.
One of the original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room.
Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys are doing the obvious, but, undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the ladder.
All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly. He has no idea why. However, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder.
A second original monkey is removed and replaced.
The newcomer again attempts to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the crap out of him.
This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he’s not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it.
However, he has no idea why he’s attacking the new monkey.
One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight new monkeys are now in the room.
None of them have ever been sprayed by ice water. None of them attempt to climb the ladder. All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries.
Without having any idea why.
“AND THAT’S HOW ANY COMPANY’S POLICIES & CULTURE GET ESTABLISHED“
Hysterically funny, or so sadly true?
Never stop pushing forward!
Dennis
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Kev
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sherry
November 19th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Hi Dennis,
Woo Hoo! First commenter on two posts in a row! What luck!
This is a good story. I used to work at “corporate” and have seen my share of “monkeys” (won’t admit to having been one though). Maybe that’s why I thought the original British version of The Office was so darn funny (the US version isn’t bad either).
Well, I’d better stop here and submit before someone beats me to #1.
~ Steve, aka a “former monkey” and trade show guru
PS. I like the tag for this post too!
Steve | Trade Show Guru´s last blog post..Please help Will
November 19th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
LOL Steve, you must have me on speed dial!
I’ve never actually seen the office (either version), but just from the commercials it looks like a perfect fit.
November 19th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Good evening, Dennis.
At first, I was smiling, until you got to the part where the monkeys who’d never been sprayed with ice water were joining in because the others were.
That’s when I quit smiling and was reminded of some of the jobs I had when I was much younger.
It’s sadly true, in some cases.
And, I never did get my bananas!
(grin)
Act on your dream!
JD
John Dilbeck´s last blog post..Can AWeber and Squidoo Work Together?
November 19th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
That’s a great story Dennis. So you’re saying we need to spray internet marketers with ice water right ?
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog post..Free Report: “How To STOP Digital Product Theft”. . .
November 19th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I’ve heard this one before. It makes me so sad because bananas are soooo good.
rob´s last blog post..got wine? the orlando food and wine festival runs out
November 19th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
That reminds me of the hundred monkeys story, only they were washing bananas.
Somehow monkeys and bananas=mob mentality.
witchypoo´s last blog post...Recycled Toilet Story
November 19th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
bwahahahaha … this is the first time I read about this …
and yes, it’s sadly true for most cases …
Acakadut - Free Blog!´s last blog post..victoria ann chacon
November 19th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
@John - No bananas! Damn man, I’m sorry.
@Brian - Or somethin’
LOL
@Rob - Mmmmm bananas (Homer voice)
@ Witchy - I’m tellin’ ya, gotta be careful with them monkey’s!
@Acakadut - Perhaps, but still funny as hell!
November 20th, 2008 at 9:11 am
It read it thrice and I still couldn’t grasp the message. Probably I’m one of those monkeys who never gets the banana but I’m going somewhere else for my banana.
Yan
Blog for Beginners´s last blog post..Michael Dunlop - Young Entrepreneur Making Money Online
November 20th, 2008 at 9:33 am
LOL Yan, ya better not leave me!
Basically “Monkey See Monkey Do” as with most J.O.B.’s you do what you do without even knowing why…like a drone.
November 20th, 2008 at 10:16 am
My attitude is If I wanted the banana, there is no way 8, 9 or 10 monkeys would have stopped me! I guess that’s the Marine in me coming out.
Get your point though.
Larry´s last blog post..Reasons to Use Polls and Surveys on Your Blog
November 20th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Larry - If there are a couple “seal” monkeys in the mix, you may have your work cut out for ya.
November 20th, 2008 at 11:59 am
Now that’s classic, and I’m going to hopefully remember it and use it in one of my seminars one day. I do agree with the sentiment, though I haven’t quite seen it to that degree, but I’ve gone in and asked people why they do things and they say that’s just how they were taught, without asking any further questions. That will mess up a lot of companies, for sure.
Mitch´s last blog post..New Series - Writing And Marketing A Book
November 20th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
This explains why so many ppl give up in this business…others(who gave up) keep “beating” on them for trying!
All one has to do is simply “man-up” and stop being a monkey. Who cares what others think…too many before me made it in this biz so why can’t I?
I wrote a strong post on this in Marketing Metaphysics 101.
Hmmm…I wonder what was to happen if one monkey finally said “f@#% it” and get the bannas. The rest would follow suite eventually of course.
Caleb´s last blog post..ClickBank TopSites Review
November 20th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Mitch - Exactly right, the do as your told mentality is just blindly followed.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Caleb - This mostly refers to offline jobs, but you’re right. A monkey mutiny needs to occur!
November 20th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
So true Dennis, especially in the public sector. Hang around there for more than a couple of years and you risk having all ambition beaten out of you!
Rodney@Blogging with WordPress´s last blog post..How I increased my Alexa Rank by 2k percent
November 20th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Right on Rodney!
November 21st, 2008 at 3:34 am
Sadly its true ! And It has given me the remembrance of my last job.
November 21st, 2008 at 6:25 am
That is a great analogy. In many ways is symbolic of the corporate world and thinking back, I think I have seen it happen in regular businesses as well.
I only did the corporate thing for a relatively short time, but it was enough for me to realize I really didn’t like it. I am not saying I wouldn’t go back to it, but I would have to have a pretty good incentive to do so.
Tiger´s last blog post..Avoiding Peanuts Products Might Not Be Best Choice for Parents
November 21st, 2008 at 9:13 am
Dennis,
Just found your blog and OMG - this post is scary relevant. I have family members who are traditionally employed and just yesterday was talking one of them “off the ledge”. Wish I’d had this story to share!
I’m a subscriber! Keep this up!
Kathy @ Virtual Impax´s last blog post..Steps to Starting a Small Business: #7 Your USP - Unique Selling Proposition
November 21st, 2008 at 10:01 am
Lindsay - Sorry about that, but I hope you found a little humor in it!
November 21st, 2008 at 10:09 am
Tiger - I had a bunch of “jobs” before saying the hell with it, and you’re right! It happens just about anywhere with 2 or more employees.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:13 am
Kathy - Freaky how that works sometimes, ain’t it? LOL
Thanks so much for subscribing and welcome to the community! i hope to see you ’round more often.
(If you add the email subscribe option to your feedburner, I’d love to subscribe to yours as well.
)
November 25th, 2008 at 1:06 am
I’ve heard this story before, I don’t remember what it was in relation to, but it doesn’t seem like it was too long ago. As far as it relating to corporate policies and culture, I’m not so sure. If that were the case, there would be a reason behind it even if the monkeys in the room didn’t know that reason. Some of the policies and such are so screwed up that I don’t know if there really are reasons behind them.
Nick´s last blog post..Code of Federal Regulations
November 25th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Nick - that’s the whole point my man; there is almost always a reason behind it, but the drone-like employees are rarely privy to it.
Yea, it’s a pretty old joke.
November 28th, 2008 at 7:19 am
That’s a good one. Love it! XD
November 28th, 2008 at 10:51 am
LOL Simmone - Welcome to the community!