Story Time When I was getting my degree in business, I learned of a science experiment that I’m sure is fictitious. I’ve heard variations on the story, but this is how I remember it: Take five monkeys and put them in a cage. There is food and living necessities, but there is also a ladder that leads to a basket of fruit at the top of the cage. After the monkeys settle into the cage they are going to notice the fruit and attempt to climb up to it. When they do, spray that monkey with cold water from a hose AND spray the other four monkeys. Do this every time a monkey makes a mad dash for the fruit. Soon, all five monkeys learn that everybody pays the price of getting cold, wet, and uncomfortable any time another monkey tried to use the ladder. At this point, you can take the hose out of the equation. After this, take one of the monkeys and replace him/her with a fresh new monkey (let’s just assume all the monkeys are male). Within minutes of scanning his new home, he’s going to see the fruit and start climbing the ladder, wondering how he was fortunate enough to be the first to notice the delicious looking fruit. Do you spray the monkey? Nope! The other four monkeys will attack the new one, until it also learns to keep his distance from the ladder. Now replace another one of the original monkeys with a new monkey, and you’ll find that the same thing happens. The new monkey starts to climb the ladder and the other monkeys attack, including the one that had never even been sprayed with cold water. Interestingly, he’s the most enthusiastic of the bunch, grateful to no longer be on the receiving end of these beatings. One by one, replace the other three monkeys until you have five monkeys that have never been sprayed, yet refuse to go for the fruit in fear they’ll all pay the price. The story goes that while the fifth newcomer is getting monkeysmacked around, one of the monkeys turn to another and says, “Hey, why do we beat up anybody who tries to climb the ladder?” The second monkey just says, “I dunno. It’s just the way we’ve always done it around here.” Then my instructor deadpanned, “And that, my students, is how corporate culture gets established.” Application My professor encouraged us to look at everything we do and question, “Hey, why do we do this?” If the answer is the same as the monkey’s, “Beats me, that’s how it’s always been done,” then you could be sitting on an excellent opportunity for change. I worked for a company where you had to hand in your timecards two days before the end of the workweek. This obviously caused problems, because illness and other unforeseeable events often necessitated changing it after the fact. When a newcomer asked why we did this, especially since they didn’t start processing the timecards until THREE days after we turned them in, it turned out it was a holdover from a former employee who demanded it in case a surprise ended up in HER schedule. The process was changed and it saved time because it negated the need to adjust it later. I know, it’s so simple, but don’t laugh too much. We all do weird things just because it is the way everyone’s always done it. Take typing for example. Why do 99% of us type on the QWERTY keyboard? After all, it was actually designed to slow down typing speed. I’ve got a friend who questioned this and decided to learn the Dvorak keyboard. His typing speed went from 80 words per minute to 120! If you spend most of your day typing, imaging your productivity level if you could do it all 50% faster. Speaking of keyboards, here’s a post a couple of years ago where I learned I was using the spacebar wrong for decades. Never questioning, only assuming that everybody did it this way. And there are traditions we continue because most people don't question them. We make resolutions every January 1st. What, you can’t decide to improve your life in the middle of September? Go ahead. Try it. You aren’t breaking any laws. Making life changes are more effective when you get prompted and motivated instead of waiting after Christmas and settling on, “Oh, I could lose a few pounds. Let’s join a gym at the most expensive time to do it!” How often should you change your oil? If you said either 3,000 or 5,000 miles, you are most likely wrong. Have you looked at your owner’s manual? New cars can go multitudes of that without an oil change. Last time I changed my oil, my dealership said, “See ya’ in 10,000 miles.” That’s one maintenance that costs me a third of my time and money now. A year ago, I asked somebody why she commuted to work a certain way. “I don’t know, I’ve been going this route for nearly 8 years.” I encouraged her to try another route because a few new roads have opened up since she got her job. Ever since, she saves five minutes of driving each direction. That’s ten minutes of her life she gets back every time she goes to work. That’s nearly 2,500 minutes saved every year. And since she changes her oil every 3,000 miles, she can now go another week or so between oil changes. Can anybody make a suitable argument for learning cursive, especially in this day of (albeit QWERTY) keyboards and printers? In college, most of my professors wouldn’t accept homework in cursive. Imagine if we spent that class time learning something else instead. I’d be surprised if somebody actually said that learning cursive is more important than getting a little bit further in math, science, and reading comprehension. Have you seen kids with their status updates on social media sites? I’d love to see a few more spelling lessons! Did you have a best man at your wedding? Did you know that it’s a tradition where the groom had his strongest muscleman by his side to enforce the marriage if the bride got cold feet? We shake hands as a way to show we aren’t carrying a sword, yet people are more likely to die from the germs that are spread than a surprise beheading. I envy the oriental customs of bowing. I’m starting to fist-bump people more often now, I guess that’s better than a handshake from a germ perspective. Right? Well, baby steps. And don’t get me started on daylights saving time. What Should I Do About It? We all do some weird things without questioning it. Well, question it! Think outside the box. You might learn something new if there is a valid reason a process should remain unchanged. Most likely, you’ll find a way to improve a process. Talk to others about it. Some of my best group brainstorming experiences started with, “Hey, why…..?” Do this at work, at home, and in any organization you are a part of and you’ll start making your life easier, save money, and find extra nuggets of time to do the things you enjoy. Unrelated note: If you’re ever thrown into a cage with some rough-looking characters, a ladder, and a basket of fruit at the top, I’d probably start asking a few questions.

Transform Your Video Chatting: 5 Monkey App Secrets! Transform Your Video Chatting: 5 Monkey App Secrets!Transform Your Video Chatting

So usually we feature just 1 item per post here at Silodrome, today we have 5. Although if you combine the weight of them

Rudy is living on some unknown island away from his friends. He there along with his parents because his brother Dylan needs the magic enki fish to eat to help get better with the cystic fibrosis. Rudy is the only teenager on the island it seems. He finds out that this is girl too. Diana hardly ever comes out of her house , and everything she has learned from has been from books. Rudy saves a merman on the beach , and rescues him. Rudy then starts seeing the fishboy more often around the island. Rudy also is unable to swim. Rudy starts making friends with Fishboy( Teeth). While getting to know Diana and a Teeth , he learns that this island has many secrets on it. He is attracted to Diana and they make out a couple times. I don't to give any more away but this book was rich and complex . It dealt with many types of love, and relationships. It also dealt with physical illness , that you can see affects everyone. This was a comtempory fairy tale . There were so many times I wanted to hug Teeth , and there were times I wanted to slap him at times. There was also mention of many books through out it from Harry Potter to Runaway Bunny. I was lucky for this privilege to read this book. This is also my first time reading this author. In this short book , there were many twists and turns. I thought I could guess what was coming, but I was wrong. I loved this book. The cover fits this book perfectly. I could go on and on with my love of this book , but I won't. There was bad language, and information for more mature adults. Best Line : The closet I can get to anyone outside my family is apparently a grip on the shoulder from fortune-teller girl, a girl with my mom's name, and a series of piercing screams that may or may not be the wind. And Fishboy on a rock. Rudy I am locked in my tower, awaiting your rescue. But I'll meet you at the door. My mother typically cries in the bathroom most Tuesday nights, on the opposite end of the house. For your peace of mind. Perpetually , Diana Book Review: A Thanks to Simon Pulse for letting me read this book and this my Honest Review this comes out next month

So usually we feature just 1 item per post here at Silodrome, today we have 5. Although if you combine the weight of them

So usually we feature just 1 item per post here at Silodrome, today we have 5. Although if you combine the weight of them

So usually we feature just 1 item per post here at Silodrome, today we have 5. Although if you combine the weight of them

Focus pour le nouveau projet « Word Animals » par le graphiste et designer australien Dan Fleming. Un rendu original et un impressionnant travail typographi

I used to have another blog all about birthday parties. But then this blog took off and then the domain of the birthday blog was stolen so I shut it down. And I decided to transfer the cake tutorials posts here :) The Monkey Cake My baby turned one today! It is hard to believe....Read More

custom cakes, cupcakes, cakeballs and cookies serving the Dallas/Ft. Worth area

Cute Animal Figurine. Safari, Jungle Wild Animals. Set of 4 Animals. Dimensions: Lion 2.5"×3.5" Elephant 2.5"×3.5" Monkey 2.5"×3" Giraffe 2.5"×4" For more please check my website www.martharoz.co.uk and follow my Instagram @cutecake_creations

5 Monkeys In A Bed Fondant Cake (Dec 2014) I Loved making this cake. So cute. :D Made everything from Fondant/Gumpaste. The headboard is...

So usually we feature just 1 item per post here at Silodrome, today we have 5. Although if you combine the weight of them

Animals were weird in days gone by.

Chocolate cake with strawberry buttercream. fondant and gumpaste decorations. My daughter's design. This was for her best friend who loves monkeys. BTW, the monkeys were inspired by Lorraine's monkey topper. www.flickr.com/photos/extra-icing/2293213685/

So usually we feature just 1 item per post here at Silodrome, today we have 5. Although if you combine the weight of them

"Find the Design Toscano 12.5\" Monkey Business Jungle Welcome Statue at Michaels. com. Guests will know you're not \"monkeying around\" when you position this wild welcome to playfully usher them into your home or garden! Guests will know you're not \"monkeying around\" when you position this wild welcome to playfully usher them into your home or garden! This Design Toscano-exclusive chimpanzee sculpture holds your warm greeting high in his furry hands. Details: Black and brown 12\" x 8\" x 12.5\" Resin For indoor or outdoor use | Design Toscano 12.5\" Monkey Business Jungle Welcome Statue | 12\" x 8\" x 12.5\" | Michaels®"

So usually we feature just 1 item per post here at Silodrome, today we have 5. Although if you combine the weight of them

So usually we feature just 1 item per post here at Silodrome, today we have 5. Although if you combine the weight of them