Summary

The article advocates for tackling the most challenging aspect of a problem first, as exemplified by Google X's approach and supported by insights from Hal Gregersen and Astro Teller.

Abstract

The article discusses an unconventional problem-solving strategy where individuals are encouraged to address the hardest part of a problem initially, rather than starting with simpler tasks. This approach, known as the "MonkeyFirst" method, is highlighted as a practice at Google X, where Astro Teller advises colleagues to focus on the core difficulty to avoid wasting effort on secondary issues. The strategy is supported by Hal Gregersen's emphasis on the power of asking the right questions and is likened to Elon Musk's "First principle thinking." The article suggests that by confronting the main challenge head-on, one can ensure that efforts are directed toward the true objective, such as gaining readership for a Medium article, rather than getting sidetracked by less critical aspects.

Opinions

The author acknowledges a common tendency to start with easier tasks to gain a sense of progress and boost confidence.
The article cites the psychological impact of problem complexity and the importance of small victories in building problem-solving confidence.
Hal Gregersen's book "Questions are the answer" is referenced to underscore the significance of formulating the right questions in problem-solving.
Astro Teller's "MonkeyFirst" strategy is presented as a method to maintain focus on the primary challenge, using the metaphor of teaching a monkey to sit on a pole and recite Shakespeare.
The article suggests that starting with the hardest task aligns with Elon Musk's "First principle thinking," which involves questioning all assumptions to get to the core truth.
The author proposes that the "MonkeyFirst" approach can be applied to various scenarios, including writing for Medium, starting a business, finding a partner, or improving finances, to ensure that energy is not wasted on less impactful tasks.
While the strategy is not presented as a panacea, the author believes it to be a transformative method for problem-solving that has been effective in their personal experience.

Business | Self-Improvement | Problem solving

Tackle the monkey first: start with the hardest task

How at Google X people start with the hardest task to solve a problem

Which is your starting point when you face a problem? What is your first step in finding a solution?

Commonly, people start with the easiest thing. I did it too. I started with a very small task in solving my problems, for many reasons.

First, when the problem is very complex I preferred to start doing without asking myself too many questions. This had the advantage for me to feel involved in the solution path immediately.

Second, finishing a small task, taking the first step was for me something to be grateful for. It seemed to be the first success in my solving process. And it probably was.

Third, I was initially scared by the complexity of the problem. This is actually quite common, especially if the problem is labeled as “hard”. As suggested in this article, a person’s belief about self and problem solving play a dominant, often overpowering, role in his or her problem-solving behavior. So gaining some little triumphs used to boost my awareness in problem-solving activities.

I have been always fascinated by the different strategies adopted by problem solvers; there is always something to learn from people with different perspectives. Then, I came into one remarkable suggestion while I was reading the “Questions are the answers” book by Hal Gregersen. In his book, the author underlines the incredible power of questioning. In particular, in a problem solving process, he highlights how relevant it can be, finding the right questions to answer. This activity requires focus and knowledge about the final goal you aim to achieve. There is the possibility that you come up with an answer that is right for a question that you didn’t want to solve in the first place. Although this could be an interesting method to find serendipities, it is not always a linear path to solve a problem.

“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first fifty-five minutes determining the proper question to ask”

Gregersen cites Tina Seelig when she quotes the often-told story about Einstein “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first fifty-five minutes determining the proper question to ask”.

The author continues this interesting simple, but often underestimated problem solving method, citing the way of thinking proper of X, an entire unit of the company Alphabet, the parent company of Google. Since, according to Gregersen, finding the right questions can be one of the hardest tasks in solving a problem, he cites the MonkeyFirst strategy introduced by Astro Teller (here the Medium article where Teller himself writes about this method).

Teller always suggests to his colleagues to “start with the hardest part of the problem”

Teller always suggests to his colleagues to “start with the hardest part of the problem”. In addition, he reminds us of the example that Xers often use to remind themselves to adopt this strategy. If the vision was to get a monkey to sit on top of a pole citing Shakespeare, the typical team would go straight to work building that pole with its nicely balanced platform at the top.

It is the part of the problem they already know how to approach, and solving it feels and looks like momentum-building progress. But everyone knows the hard part is going to be teaching the monkey — and if that proves impossible, any time spent on other parts of the solution will turn out to have been wasted. To keep themselves focused on here their energies should be directed, people at X sometimes toss a hashtag into their team communications: #monkeyfirst.

But everyone knows the hard part is going to be teaching the monkey — and if that proves impossible, any time spent on other parts of the solution will turn out to have been wasted.

Gregersen continues writing that when people engage in producing stable knowledge, they only play with secondary assumptions within a larger framework which is taken for granted.

Even Elon Musk has adopted a similar method, according to the author. He writes that one of the most favorite terms that Musk uses to describe this way of thinking is First principle thinking. This principle hacks away all the things that have been treated as givens but shouldn’t be, until it gets down to the base layer of incontrovertible truth.

Thinking about a practical example to use the #monkeyfirst, try to think about your blank page when you are going to write an article for Medium. What is, in many cases, the pivotal goal that a writer has? Finding readers! Only if you are writing something personal, as a daily journal, you may prefer to keep it just for yourself. There are many situations where writers want to spread their stories, their points of view, and their articles. Even if there can be many variables to take into account if one of your masterpieces receives just a few views, the main problem when you start writing on a Medium platform is to find readers, followers, etc.

This can be a good fit for the #monkeyfirst and the theorized power of questioning suggested by Gregersen. How can I gain readers for my article?

This can be a new strategy in problem solving for many other situations:

You want to start a new business: How can I get my products/services bought?
You want to find a partner: How can I get her/him attention?
You want to better your finances: How can I spend less and gain more?

Is this the final solution for all problems in the world? Not at all. Will this strategy change your life? I don’t know, it worked for me in many, but not all situations.

Is this a different way to face problems, forcing yourself to be focused on the core issue of what you are looking for? Yes! This is an alternative strategy, suggesting that you can start with the scariest and hardest part of a problem, to not waste your energies on the easiest part. They will be solved accordingly.

Making questions has always been a good method to know something more, asking yourself something is a good way to start an analysis, starting with the hardest question can be a revolutionary way to solve problems.

So, don’t hesitate! Tackle the monkey first and start with the hardest task!