How Tackling Hard Tasks First Drives Success: Mastering the Monkeys vs. Pedestals Mindset

In today's fast-paced world, success isn't about taking the easy route—it's about doing the hard things first. Inspired by Annie Duke’s book Quit and the insightful monkeys vs. pedestals analogy, this mindset challenges us to focus on the toughest, most uncertain tasks that truly determine our success.

Duke recounts the story of Astro (Eric) Teller who headed the innovation hub X, a subsidiary of Alphabet (Google). Let’s say you are trying to train a monkey to juggle flaming torches while standing on a pedestal in a public park. If you can achieve such an impressive spectacle, you’re probably going to make some money on the show.  There are two requirements to being successful: 1) train the monkey, 2) build a pedestal. By tackling these “monkeys” head-on, you not only avoid wasted effort on trivial tasks like building pedestals, but also set a solid foundation for long-term achievement.

The metaphor recounted in Annie Duke’s book offers a powerful lesson for project management and decision-making:

• Monkeys:
  Represent the difficult, uncertain challenges that are crucial for a project's success. These are the tasks that, if you can solve them, validate the entire endeavor.

• Pedestals:
  Symbolize the easier, more predictable tasks that, while necessary, don't determine the overall outcome. Focusing solely on these can create a false sense of progress.

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize What Matters:
  Focus on the "monkeys"—the hard tasks that truly test the viability of your project.

• Learn Fast or Quit Early:
  If you can’t train the monkey (solve the tough problems), it's better to pivot than to waste resources building pedestals for a shaky foundation.

Real-World Example: The Startup That Chose Challenge Over Comfort

Consider a tech startup facing a critical decision: invest time in fixing minor bugs (pedestals) or develop a breakthrough algorithm (monkey) that could redefine their product. Instead of getting bogged down by low-impact tasks, the team decided to tackle the algorithm first. Although the initial phase was challenging and full of uncertainties, this hard-first approach validated their core technology. The breakthrough not only attracted investors but also set the stage for scalable growth—proving that investing in the toughest challenges can yield long-term success.

Strategies for Implementing the Hard-First Approach

Adopt these actionable strategies to harness the power of doing the hard things first:

1. Identify Your "Monkeys":

• List tasks that are critical for success.

• Pinpoint the uncertainties that, if unresolved, could derail the project.

2. Evaluate Risks Early:

• Conduct thorough risk assessments.

• Decide early whether to invest in solving the hard problems or to pivot.

3. Eliminate Distractions:

• Set boundaries to avoid getting sidetracked by easier, less impactful tasks.

• Use focused work sessions to tackle the toughest challenges.

4. Break Down Complex Tasks:

• Divide large, daunting challenges into smaller, manageable steps.

• Celebrate incremental progress to maintain momentum.

5. Review and Adapt:

• Regularly assess your progress on the hard tasks.

• Be prepared to iterate or change course if necessary.

Final Thoughts

Adopting the hard-first mindset isn't just a productivity hack—it’s a strategic approach to ensure your efforts are invested where they truly matter. By focusing on the “monkeys” first, you can determine early whether your project has a solid foundation or if it's time to pivot. Start prioritizing the toughest challenges in your projects, and watch as overcoming them paves the way for sustainable success.

Have any real-world examples? Share them in the post comments.