I bet you did not know

Over the years, I have kept some old material that might tickle your fancy. The title of the material is “Bet You Didn’t Know.”

Bet you didn’t know...

It is impossible to lick your elbow.

A crocodile can’t stick its tongue out.

A shrimp’s heart is in their head.

People say “Bless you” when you sneeze because your heart stops for a millisecond.

In a study of 200,000 ostriches over 80 years, no one reported a single case of an ostrich burying its head in the sand (or attempting to do so).

It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky.

Between 1937 and 1945, Heinz produced a version of Alphabet Spaghetti, especially for the German market, that consisted solely of little pasta swastikas.

More than 50% of the people in the world have never made or received a telephone call.

Rats and horses can’t vomit.

The “sixth sick sheik’s sixth sheep’s sick” is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.

If you sneeze too hard, you can fracture a rib. If you try to suppress a sneeze, you can rupture a blood vessel in your head or neck and die. If you keep your eyes open by force, they will pop out.

Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.

Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.

Suppose the government does not know about aliens. Why does Title 14, Section 1211 of the Code of Federal Regulations, implemented on July 16, 1969, make it illegal for U.S. citizens to have any contact with extraterrestrials or their vehicles?

Thirty-five percent of the people who use personal ads or dating are already married.

A duck’s quack doesn’t echo, and no one knows why.

Now, let’s move on to a more serious part of the conversation.

You might be surprised to learn that eight key warning signs of weak leadership can derail your business. T.M. Driscoll highlights these issues in his insights on leadership pitfalls:

1. Avoiding Difficult Decisions and Conversations: When leaders avoid these challenges, their credibility is weakened, and organizational growth is hindered.

2. Carrying the Emotional Weight of Others: Great leaders often become emotionally invested in their team members and extend that care to their families as well. The phrase “it’s just business, not personal” doesn’t hold up here—true leadership is always personal.

3. Taking on the Organization’s Entire Burden: Leaders who fail to build a strong team bear more of the workload than necessary. Effective leadership means delegating and spreading responsibilities across a capable team.

4. Constantly Trying to Stay Ahead of Competitors: In today’s competitive landscape, staying relevant is a relentless effort. No matter your success, someone constantly challenges your position, requiring continuous vigilance.

5. The “What Have You Done for Me Lately?” Syndrome: Success quickly becomes the new standard, leaving little room for celebration. Leaders often find themselves pressured to meet ever-increasing expectations with each milestone they achieve.

6. Overemphasis on Accomplishments: While the process and journey matter, people are usually driven by results. Most people focus on hitting goals and producing results.

7. The Relentless “What’s Next?” Mentality: There’s always another deadline or challenge just around the corner. Whether it’s the next quarter, payroll, or season, leadership demands can feel unending, leaving little time to appreciate victories.

8. Facing Economic Pressures: Economic conditions create constant financial strain, making it harder for leaders to maintain organizational stability and health.

When these factors converge, they can create a shaky foundation for leadership. Leaders, your role is too vital to let it deteriorate under pressure. Take proactive steps to reinforce your foundation and seek support before it’s too late.

Here are more things you did not know, apart from being unable to lick your elbow:

In the course of an average lifetime, you will, while sleeping, eat 70 assorted insects and ten spiders.

Most lipstick contains fish scales.

In every episode of *Seinfeld*, there is a Superman somewhere.

The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different.

And one last thing: I’ll bet you tried to lick your elbow, didn’t you?

Francis Kong’s “Inspiring Excellence” podcast is now available on Spotify, Apple, Google, or other podcast streaming platforms.