Why You Should Tackle the Monkey First

Google X's unconventional approach to solving impossible problems

Google launched an innovation lab in 2010. It started out as an experiment.

Most people have never heard of X (I’m referring to Google X, not Twitter).

But I’m sure you’ve heard of some of their work like Google Glasses or their self-driving car Waymo. It’s impossible to go anywhere in Phoenix without seeing their self-driving car on the road with all the cameras and lasers spinning around. Anyways I digress from my point.

X was created to solve far-out sci-fi sounding problems that would change the world. Impossible problems to solve. Problems that require an extreme amount of money, time, and talent. Since 2010, X has worked on 100s of projects that have gone on to become independent businesses under Alphabet.

Specializing in crazy world altering ideas is not an easy job.

Most people will solve problems they understand how to solve, but it’s rare that those problems have any potency. The low hanging fruit is never impactful. You solve B+ problem more because it’s easier.

Moonshot ideas come from solving A+ problems. It takes a lot of time and energy to do that. Rarely is there an answer. It’s in our nature to procrastinate A+ problems.¹ X solves this tendency by having every employee embody the principle they call “Monkey First”.

Tackle the monkey first

“Monkey First” is a framework used to tackle the most difficult problem first.² Something all of the best companies have integrated into their culture.

The principle is formed around the idea that if you want to have a monkey recite Shakespeare on a pedestal, don’t focus on the pedestal first and leave the problem of getting the monkey to speak till the end.

Ignoring the monkey wastes time. You could be working on a problem that is impossible to solve right now.

In an effort to be “productive”, the majority of people will start with the easiest problems to solve.

They’ll begin by building the pedestal.