There is a group of monkeys in a cage. Inside the cage, hangs a banana on a string and at the top of a pole.
Before long, a monkey will go to the pole and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as that touches the pole, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result: all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the pole, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the pole. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the pole, he will be assaulted. Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the pole and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the pole, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the pole or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the pole to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that’s the way it’s always been done around here.
This Experiment Never Actually Happened… it is an Urban Myth. But the premise is sound about learning from experience…
If you always do what you’ve always done: you’ll always get what you’ve always got! New uncertainties require new solutions. Our experience can both help and hinder progress: sometimes we have to unlearn as well as learn to find new solutions. And sometimes that is difficult to do without a new set of eyes: we help you find that insight; are a catalyst to action and help you accomplish peak performance.