Day 9: The Consequences of a Simple Choice: How One Decision Led to a Devastating Disaster in History
Mao Zedong wanted to save his people from famine.
Knowing that Sparrows eat a lot of grain seeds, a precious resource to feed his people, he ordered their extinction.
The decision he had made, ended up causing the death of milions
What Mao didn’t anticipate, is that the Sparrows also ate a lot of insects. Sparrows no more, locust population increased and yields plunged in China.
This is the tragic story of the Great Chinese Famine.
# Decisions have hidden Consequences
Every decision has consequences. There are ones that you can prevent, ones that you can anticipate, but also those that you cannot foresee. These are the real deal.
When making decisions, keep this in mind:
- Every Decisions comes with trade offs
- Your Assumptions are Fragile, don’t rely on them
- Consider the ripple effects caused by your actions
- Be open to new information and steer in a new direction
First published on Typeshare