Even Monkeys Fall from Trees
Japanese Proverb
2 Min Read
It’s a helpful reminder. We all know perfection isn’t attainable, and yet I often talk with clients who still wrestle with it.
Getting things right all the time isn’t just impossible—it’s not fun. Challenge gives us life. It gives us the opportunity to try new skills, stretch ourselves, and find different ways to approach situations.
The problem is that we rarely start with that mindset. We assume we won’t “fall out of the tree,” and when we do, it’s a much harder fall. How could that happen? I’ve done this so many times before. How could it fail this time? We always beat that team.
I want to challenge those of you who struggle with perfectionism to keep this proverb in mind when you’re feeling stuck. Monkeys make a great analogy—they don’t sit on the ground, replaying what went wrong, or stew over how unfair it was. They get back up, take note of what happened, and use what they’ve learned to find stronger branches next time.
When we can frame mistakes and setbacks as part of the process, we build resilience. We start to expect that falling is part of climbing, not proof that we don’t belong in the tree.
We have to break the myth that monkeys never fall—because they do.
I’m not saying we should expect failure or seek it out. But we should embrace that perfection in anything—work, leadership, sports—is rarely attainable and hardly ever worth the mental energy it demands.
As leaders, our job is to create environments where people can fall and know there’s a cushion waiting when they do—not a message that says, you better not fall again, or else. Like monkeys, when our people fall, it doesn’t diminish their expertise or skill. It helps them become more adaptable, resilient, and self-aware.
And the best way to build that kind of culture? Role model it yourself. Let others see you climb, fall, and climb again. And reassure them that it is all part of a healthy process.
Because, like most things worth doing, it’s about the journey through the jungle, not just staying in the trees.
Steve