Monkeys and Bananas (Achievement Nudge about Achieving a Better Future)

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Last Updated on March 21, 2025 by Bill Truby

Hopefully this Nudge can keep you from monkeying around with your past, and moving forward using more effective “monkey business.” I’ll tell you what I mean.

There are two stories that come from two research studies that have to do with two sets of monkeys. These two stories teach two ways people live life. I wonder which of these stories represents you.

SCENARIO ONE is a cage of monkeys with a tall step ladder in the middle of it. Hanging at the top of the cage, right over the ladder, is a bunch of bananas. When the researcher left the cage, the monkeys naturally and immediately began climbing the ladder to get the bananas. But as soon as they did, the monkeys were blasted with a stream of cold water. Quickly, the monkeys learned to not climb the ladder. It wasn’t long before the monkeys would eye the bananas longingly, but left them alone.

After this first set of monkeys learned not to go after the bananas, the researchers took one of the monkeys out and replaced it with a new monkey. Immediately, the new monkey saw the bananas, looked at the other monkeys as if to say, “You idiots! Look at those bananas right there…ready for the taking!” Then he started to climb the ladder. But he didn’t make it very far. Even though the researchers did NOT shoot the blast of water, the experienced monkeys remembered what happened in the past and prevented the new monkey from climbing the ladder. Soon, he stopped trying for the bananas, too.

One by one, each of the first generation monkeys was replaced by a new monkey. And each time the new monkey learned what the previous culture knew…don’t go after the bananas. Even when there was a COMPLETE turnover to a new, second generation of monkeys, the belief and action continued. By this time, no one knew WHY you can’t go after the bananas; you just DIDN’T. This second generation, and the ones that followed, was stuck, limited by hand-me-down beliefs.

SCENARIO TWO is another cage with one monkey in it. A researcher hung a bunch of bananas in the middle of the cage, but this time there was no ladder. Instead, the researcher carried in a bunch of boxes, believing the monkey would eventually learn to stack the boxes to reach the bananas. But something unexpected happened.

The monkey sat in the corner and watched. What the researcher wasn’t aware of was this; the monkey wasn’t just watching. It was strategizing. While the researcher was setting up this elaborate study, the monkey had just one goal – get the bananas. The monkey patiently waited until the researcher’s movements brought him directly under the bananas. At that moment, with lightning speed and laser focus, the monkey jumped from his perch on to the scientist’s back, moved up to his shoulders, grabbed the bananas, and jumped down. The researcher was focused on one probable methodology, and went about setting it up. The monkey, unencumbered by probabilities and projected outcomes, looked at all of the possibilities to reach his goal…then chose a simple, elegant, successful solution.

Now…understand one thing: by using what was available, the bananas were always within physical reach. But in the first scenario, after the initial, unfortunate “cultural training,” the bananas were outside the monkey’s mental reach. They were limited by their own mind. How sad…yet, how common!

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This article is part of our ongoing Achievement Nudge series—short, witty, and often inspirational articles to spark your personal and professional growth. Explore more nudges on our blog, or sign up for our weekly Nudge and News email. Each edition includes an Achievement Nudge plus leadership, professional development, and personal growth videos and articles to keep you inspired and on track.

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