Researchers once placed five monkeys together in a cage with a bunch of bananas hanging from the top of that cage on a string.   The researcher then placed a ladder on the floor of the cage leading up to the bananas. When the first monkey tried to climb the ladder to reach the bananas, the researchers sprayed all five of the monkeys with freezing cold water for about five minutes straight.   

Then, a little later, when a second monkey predictably tried to climb the ladder for the bananas, the researchers again sprayed all five monkeys with the freezing cold water for another five minutes. The researchers then got rid of the hose.  They put it away and never brought it out again.  But then, when a third monkey tried to climb the ladder for the bananas, the other four monkeys attacked him to keep him from climbing the ladder because they were afraid to be punished with the freezing water.  

So then, the researchers removed one of the monkeys and replaced it with a new monkey that wasn’t part of the original experiment and had never gotten sprayed with the cold water.  But just as soon as he spotted the bananas, grabbed the ladder to climb up to get the bananas, the other four monkeys attacked him to keep him from climbing the ladder.  And when he tried it again, they all attacked him again.  Eventually the new monkey learned not to go after the bananas because he knew that if he did, he’d get attacked by the other monkeys.  The researchers then replaced the second monkey with a different new monkey and when this new monkey went for the bananas, the other four attacked him, including the new monkey that had never even been sprayed with the cold water.   

So, the researchers kept replacing all of the monkeys one at a time, with a new monkey, until all five original monkeys were removed from the cage.  And every time each new monkey went for the bananas, all the others attacked him and stopped him from climbing the ladder to get to the bananas, even though none of the new monkeys had ever been sprayed with the freezing cold water.  So, all the new monkeys, even though they had never been sprayed with the water learned to resist being tempted by the bananas. 

So, the researchers deduced that if they were to ask the monkeys why they didn’t try to climb the ladder to get to the bananas, they’d respond that it was “because that was the way that it’s always been done.”  This is what is referred to as the “Five Monkey Syndrome.” 

The five monkeys experiment can be applied to certain aspects of human behavior and societal norms. It perfectly demonstrates how we can be misguided by the heedless opinions and experiences of others, as well as institutionalized practices, traditions, and rituals that for unknown reasons, persist over time.  How beliefs and behaviors can become ingrained in individuals, a community or society, even if the original reasons for those behaviors are forgotten.   

Many times the opinions of others, no matter how well intended, aren’t always based in fact.  And the information that they pass on to us may keep us from reaping certain benefits that we could enjoy if we just overlooked the erroneous information, did our own due diligence, and ventured forward in the direction that we personally choose. 

Unfortunately, most people don’t take enough time (or have the desire for that matter) to do their own due diligence and seek out the truth on most subjects, so they tend to take the word of those that they trust or that they view as knowledgeable or expert in certain things.  All the while, the information that is being passed on to them may be misleading half-truths or completely incorrect. 

Most of what we know is what we have been convinced that we should believe – what we have been indoctrinated to accept as our reality – how we should endeavor to conduct our lives within the limitations that we have been educated to accept.   

When we extend this credulous trait of accepting without verifying into the realm of our jobs and livelihood, we discover that most of us find ourselves stuck in the rat-race because of the conditioning and controlling constraints of the mainstream doctrine that has been ingrained into us.  We’re afraid to deviate from established norms due to fear of judgement, rejection, or negative consequences. 

Remember the information presented in chapters eleven and twelve?  The doctrine that for generations has prescribed that we as workers must choose within the traditional and conventional occupational options that we are allowed to pursue as our life’s work.  A doctrine that prevents us from even considering less orthodox opportunities that are present and readily available to us. 

Similar to the monkeys in the experiment, most people tend to conform to established social norms and behaviors without questioning where they came from.  Cultural practices, society’s expectations and norms are passed down through generations, shaping individuals’ behavior without them fully understanding the reasons behind those norms. 

So if you have decided to think outside the box so to speak.  If you are truly considering a side hustle to supplement your wage or current income, I guess it all boils down to how much you want to make, and how and when you want to make it.  If you’ve worked for thirty, or forty, or fifty years and built up a 401K or government retirement, I guess collecting it during your retirement (since you’re not gainfully working to earn it) could be considered to be, like Mr. Buffett said, “…making money while you sleep.”