Are You The Problem

Puerperal Fever, also known as childbed fever, is a bacterial infection that can occur in women after childbirth.

In the mid 1800's Puerperal Fever turned into an epidemic, killing a large number of mothers...so many that it became known as The Black Death of Childbed.?

In some hospitals 70% of women who gave birth died!

But, this was the Renaissance...where 'men of science' would study the corpses of the deceased mothers to try and find a medical solution to this problem.

In the morning they would conduct autopsies on the mothers...and in the afternoon they would deliver babies.??

Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes (Father of Supreme Court Justice of the same name) realised that these doctors conducting the autopsies?in the morning were NOT WASHING THEIR HANDS before heading off to their rounds.?

Holmes pointed this out to his colleagues?and they ignored him...called him crazy...for 30 years!

Finally, 'science' caught up with what was going on and sterilization of tools and washing hands became the medical standard.?

The Black Death of Childbed disappeared.?

The Lesson: Sometimes in business and life you are the problem and you don't even realise it because of the norms you have accepted.?It is important to look for blind spots and have mentors.

Hat Tip: Simon Sinek