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As someone fascinated by the history of innovation, I was struck by the fascinating origins of something we all use every day - 𝘁𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿. Did you know that the humble roll of toilet paper has a history as rich and layered as its two-ply sheets? Let’s take a quick dive into the evolution of this everyday essential. The earliest recorded use of toilet paper dates back to 6th-century China, where scholar 𝗬𝗮𝗻 𝗭𝗵𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗶 famously warned against using paper with philosophical quotes for, well, 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀. Yan Zhitui once said, “Paper on which there are... the names of sages, I dare not use for toilet purposes.” Wise words, Yan. Wise words. 📜 By the 14th century, the Chinese were producing over 700,000 sheets of aromatic toilet paper annually for the Imperial court - talk about luxury! 🌸 Meanwhile, the rest of the world was still figuring things out. 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀 used rosewater and wool, 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘀 relied on corncobs and old almanacs, and 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘀 wiped with lace and hemp. (Yes, you read that right - lace.) Even sailors in the 17th and 18th centuries resorted to the ends of old anchor cables. 🚢 Fast forward to 1857, when 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗚𝗮𝘆𝗲𝘁𝘁𝘆 introduced the first commercially packaged, pre-moistened toilet paper. But it wasn’t until 1890 that the 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 rolled out the first toilet paper on a roll. And in 1935, 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆 made a splash by advertising “splinter-free” paper - because apparently, splinters were a real concern. 😬 By 1942, the world was introduced to softer, two-ply toilet paper, and the rest is history. So, the next time you reach for that roll, take a moment to appreciate the centuries of innovation (and occasional splinters) that brought us this modern marvel. 🧻✨ #History #Innovation #ToiletPaper #Hygiene #FunFacts #

𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. In the early 1800s, 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿, a Scottish soldier and adventurer, returned to London with an incredible tale. He claimed to be the Cazique (prince) of 𝗣𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗶𝘀, a lush, resource-rich paradise on the coast of Central America. He described it as a land of 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆: fertile soil, gold mines, and a capital city already under construction. Investors and settlers alike were captivated. 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗼𝗿 was a master storyteller. He published pamphlets, forged maps, and even hosted Poyais-themed balls. He sold land grants, government bonds, and shares in this fictional utopia. By the time he was done, he had 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 in today’s money. Hundreds of settlers boarded ships to start new lives in Poyais. But when they arrived, they found nothing but a mosquito-infested swamp. There was no city, no gold, no fertile land - just disease and despair. Over 80% of the settlers died. Meanwhile, MacGregor had already 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵. And here’s the kicker: he tried the same scam again in France. This story is a stark reminder of the dangers of 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. MacGregor was a brilliant marketer, but his “vision” was built on lies. It’s a cautionary tale for both founders and investors: 1️⃣ 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: A persuasive pitch is essential, but it must be rooted in reality. Overpromising might get you funding, but it will destroy trust - and lives - when the truth comes out. 2️⃣ 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: Due diligence is non-negotiable. Flashy presentations and grand promises can blind even some of the sharpest minds. At Broad Capital Advisory (𝗕𝗖𝗔), we help founders and investors avoid these pitfalls. We work with businesses to 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. And we help investors 𝗰𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲. If you’re looking to raise capital or an investor looking to sharpen your edge, let’s talk. cal.com/meetbca #InvestmentReadiness #CapitalRaising #DueDiligence #Startups #VC #LessonsFromHistory