So much of this job is about making decisions.

Usually with imperfect information on an accelerated timeline. They often feel like make-or-break decisions. I had a conversation today with a founder I really respect, let’s call them Mike, to try to help me work through some of the problems. He’s built companies and sold companies. There are very few unfamiliar experiences so we have developed a bit of shorthand when we chat. I don't have to explain things the way I might with someone who’s never been in this seat. 

There's something comforting about saying the thing that’s felt scary or embarrassing out loud, and the person nods and tells you their version of being in that very same place. I had that experience this morning during our call. I felt like I was rambling as I tried to articulate what felt like a game of 4D chess playing in my head. 

Usually, my strategy for overcoming inertia is to just do something. My rationale is that the momentum of completing a task will get me out of my head, and I’ll start figuring out the bigger parts of the problem. But that wasn’t really working. I felt like I was spinning my wheels and not gaining the clarity I needed. 

After listening for a bit, Mike asked if I’d ever heard of the Monkey and the Podium. I had not lol

When challenged with getting a monkey to juggle while standing on a podium, which task will you focus on first?

Some folks might say the podium, check the easy thing off first. BUT what if you build the podium and can’t get the monkey to juggle? Now you’ve wasted all your time building a podium for a monkey that still can’t juggle. If we focused on teaching the monkey to juggle on the ground first, then it would be relatively easy to get it to juggle up on the podium. 

We’ve been trained to show progress. Showing your work in school or giving your manager an update. Building a great podium checks the progress box. It gives us that dopamine hit of accomplishment that days of testing and training a monkey likely won’t. But the most important part of the problem IS the monkey juggling, and we’ve deprioritized the critical element for the quick win. 

This heuristic helped me reframe challenges by asking myself what needs to be true for this to be a success. What was the monkey, and what was the podium in the scenario.

I got off the call and started focusing on the monkey.

Talk Soon!
Kelly

PS: Two things before you go. NYC founders, we have a couple seats left at the April 29th Guava Supper Club. Small dinner, real conversation, no pitching. RSVP here. LA founders — I'm coming to you the first week of May and I want to break bread. Nothing formal yet, just reply and I'll keep you posted.

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