What is the Herbie model?

The Herbie model is a metaphor discussed by Mike Maples on the The Knowledge Project. It originates from the book "The Goal" by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and revolves around the idea of identifying and dealing with the slowest part of a process to ensure smooth progress.

In the context of a hiking group, "Herbie" represents the slowest hiker. To maintain a steady pace and ensure the group stays together, you put Herbie at the front. If you can't move at the necessary pace, you have three choices: make Herbie go faster, redistribute his load, or accept a slower pace.

For startups, this metaphor emphasizes focusing on and resolving the most significant obstacle – the "Herbie" – in their path to success. For instance, if customer retention is weak, investing in sales and marketing is futile until that key issue is resolved. The objective is to progressively eliminate such obstacles until growth can occur smoothly and efficiently 1.