Atomic Knowledge #5: Monkey First Principle
Embrace the monkey first principle: tackle the hardest task first, and pave the way to success in your projects.
The Monkey First Principle emphasizes tackling the hardest and most uncertain part of a project before investing time or resources in secondary tasks. It’s based on the metaphor: if your goal is to have a monkey recite Shakespeare on a pedestal, you must train the monkey first—not build the pedestal. This principle helps avoid the sunk-cost fallacy, where prior investments make it hard to abandon failing ventures. By addressing the critical challenge early, teams can prevent wasted effort and focus on feasibility. Clear go/no-go criteria (aka “kill metrics”) should be set at the outset to maintain objectivity and avoid emotional entanglement.
Google X, known for its moonshot projects, embodies this approach by rigorously testing assumptions and terminating ideas that fail to meet viability thresholds. This contrasts with conventional methods that prioritize visible progress to gain early buy-in.
A notable failure to apply this principle was Theranos, which neglected its core technological uncertainties and collapsed after building an ecosystem around unproven foundations.
The Monkey First Principle encourages a mindset of failing early to allocate resources wisely. Conquer the monkey first. The pedestal can wait.
Make the most of it! Until next time, S.
The Ratio: whenever I encounter an interesting concept—whether it’s a theory, speculative idea, formula, or law—I strive to deeply understand it and see how it connects within my knowledge network. Once I’ve grasped its essence, I distill it into a concise, no-frills note: simple, atomic, and memorable. To keep things sharp and focused, I stick to a “lazy” limit of 1,000 characters, give or take. These atomic notes, often described as mental models, have revolutionized how I understand and link ideas, fostering a more organic and interconnected expertise. Believing in the power of sharing, I’ve decided to make them public. Think of these notes as tools: mental models to keep in your back pocket for quick use or prompts to deepen your understanding when inspiration strikes. Subscribe if you’re curious—you won’t want to miss them.
Deepen Your Knowledge
Tackle the monkey first - Astro Teller (article)
The Monkey and the Pedestal (article)
The disastrous case of Theranos (article, $$)
