Assumptions Kill… Literally (Just look at McDonald’s)

    By Jeff Moore

    As Samuel Jackson’s character said in the movie, “A Long Kiss Goodnight” with Geena Davis…


    “When you make assumptions, you make an ass out of you and Upmtion.” 🙂


    In real life, when we assume, it can guide us to horrible things… even kill us.


    Take the McDonald’s E. coli contamination.


    Did you assume, like me, that it was the meat? If you were around in the early 90s, you would remember that terrible outbreak at Jack In The Box that killed people… even a child.


    That was a dangerous assumption.


    This assumption would likely have us make different dining decisions… let’s go to Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC… or any number of restaurants in your area… as long as we aren’t eating ground beef with that dirty “poo poo” bacteria.


    However, if we dug deeper, we would find it wasn’t the ground beef. It was the onions!


    In fact, it was traced back to Taylor Farms, a major produce distributor that sells onions to McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, and US Foods, the second largest distributor of restaurants in the USA. 


    If you talked to subject matter experts, you would also find that after the JIB outbreak in the early 90s, stringent quality assurance policies were put in place that made it almost impossible for E.coli to be consumed through ground beef… not withstanding beef packer negligence, or breaking the law.


    Assumptions can kill us, but they can also do other things that are not so lethal…


    • Cause unnecessary arguments
    • Create unsuccessful marketing campaigns
    • Cause unnecessary stress of all kinds


    The list is long


    Here is a strategy to avoid the Assumption Monster…


    Every time you see yourself starting to assume, make sure the next five sentences end with a question mark.


    1. Where did they discover the E.coli?
    2. What are the most likely culprits that can carry E.coli?
    3. What were the common elements among the people who contracted E. coli?
    4. Was the E.coli breakout exclusive to McDonald’s?
    5. Have they discovered the origin of the E.coli?


    I am going to start a series of articles like this about practical impact questions intended to help you discover more than just a simple answer. These questions are designed to help you forge a deeper level of understanding, elevate your learning, help guide more informed decisions, skyrocket your impact in the world, and ultimately become your healthiest and wealthiest self.


    Are you good with that?


    I am eager to share.


    Be back soon!