Ep 238 - Challenges Are Teachers: James Kaveney on Facing Adversity with an Unlimited Heart
Release Date: 04/29/2025
EP 261 - Build, Don’t Burnout: How Ross Albers Learned to Lead by Working ON, Not IN, His Business
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When Ross Albers found himself fired just two weeks before his wedding, most people would have panicked. Instead, Ross did something remarkable: he founded his own law firm. What started as a necessity quickly became a proving ground for building a business with intention—and more importantly, with vision. In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Ross shares a powerful lesson written on a napkin: “You have to work ON your business instead of IN it. From there, you can HIRE, ACQUIRE, and INSPIRE.” This isn’t just a play on words. It’s a strategic mindset...
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EP 260 - Toni Harrison on Building R.E.A.L. Resilience: How to Stay Grounded and Grow Through the Grind
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In Episode 260 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we sit down with Toni Harrison, the powerhouse CEO of , a nationally recognized communications firm. Toni brings not only decades of experience in high-stakes PR and crisis management, but also a deeply personal and refreshingly honest take on what it means to be resilient in business and life. Her napkin reads: “Toni’s 4 Pillars of RESILIENCE (being R.E.A.L.): Taking on the (R)igor (E)mbrace experience Discovering how to be (A)daptable Employing (L)evel-setting goals throughout your professional...
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EP 259 - Michael Walsh - Part 7 of the Freedom by Design Series - Hire Smart for Your Expertise-Based Business
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Michael Walsh is no stranger to the Paper Napkin Wisdom podcast. As a seasoned leadership strategist, business growth expert, and founder of , Michael returns with another powerful idea that challenges how we think about hiring in today’s knowledge-driven economy. In part 7 of our Freedom by Design series, we dive into the human side of performance—and Michael’s handwritten napkin drives home one essential truth: Hiring right is half the game. But what does hiring right actually mean in a business world increasingly driven by expertise, not just execution? ...
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EP 258 - If It Doesn’t Set Your Soul on Fire, It’s Not Worth It — Dinah Chapman on the Courage to Live Unapologetically
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Dinah Chapman is not your average entrepreneur. A fierce advocate for bold living, Dinah’s energy is magnetic, and her insights are ignited by a lifetime of choosing purpose over pretense. She’s a keynote speaker, creative strategist, and self-described “disruptor with intention.” Her Paper Napkin packs a punch — literally: "If it doesn’t set your f*cking soul on fire, it’s not worth it." This is more than a quote — it’s a manifesto. In episode 258 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Dinah invites us to challenge the safe path, to unlearn the behaviors that...
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EP 257 - Move Fast (But Don’t Break It All): Adam Olalde’s Refined Formula for Bold Leadership
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In Episode 257 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Adam Olalde, entrepreneur and founder of the Xtreme Xperience, shares a piece of guidance that captures the heart of adaptive leadership in a fast-paced world: “Move fast and (try not to) break things.” It’s a nuanced remix of the famous Silicon Valley adage, but with a leadership lens honed by experience. Adam’s journey is marked by transformation—both personal and professional. As someone who has led teams through disruptive growth, built multi-million-dollar ventures, and weathered industry shifts, Adam brings more than...
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EP 256 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 6) | The Social Contract: Rethinking the Balance Between Owners and Employees Michael Walsh
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In the sixth installment of the Freedom by Design series, Michael Walsh distills a transformative idea on a literal paper napkin: The Social Contract. It’s a powerful reframing of the unspoken expectations that define the relationship between companies and their employees. More than a list of responsibilities, it’s a shared agreement—designed not just for performance, but for mutual growth. Michael, founder of Walsh Business Growth, has long championed the notion that businesses should be engines of human flourishing—not just economic engines. In this...
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EP 255 – Awareness Is the Gateway: Rethinking Inner and Outer States with Seema Dhanoa
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In episode 255 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we’re joined by the brilliant Seema Dhanoa — a transformational coach, conscious leadership facilitator, and author of the powerful book The Path to Conscious Leadership. Seema’s work is rooted in helping people return to themselves and lead from a place of inner truth. Her napkin might be simple in form, but it holds an entire operating system for alignment, balance, and meaningful presence. At the center of her napkin is a bright burst of awareness — a foundational concept that Seema explains is the key to unlocking our full...
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EP 254 - Give Before Asking: A Simple Shift That Transforms Leadership - Featuring Rick Williams
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In Episode 254 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman sits down with Rick Williams — board director, leadership coach, and author of Create the Future: For Your Company and Yourself. A man of strategic clarity and quiet conviction, Rick shares a deceptively simple yet profoundly powerful message: "Give Before Asking." This phrase, written on a paper napkin, becomes the cornerstone of a conversation rich with wisdom about leadership, generosity, trust, and how real influence is built — not demanded. Rick’s career spans decades of advising leaders through business...
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EP 253 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 5) | Rethink the Core: Why Real Growth Starts Within - Michael Walsh | Freedom by Design, Part 4
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In the next installment of the Freedom by Design series, Michael Walsh brings us back to the heart of sustainable business growth: the core of your organization. His napkin, boldly titled “Rethink the Core,” offers a deceptively simple yet profoundly important shift in how entrepreneurs and leaders define what really drives performance. On one side of the napkin: a traditional model where teams create results, leading to customer value and company profit. It's efficient. It's direct. But it's incomplete. On the other side: a redesigned model....
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EP 252 - The Customer Isn’t Always Right – Your Team Comes First: Wisdom from Christine McDannell
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Christine McDannell is a serial entrepreneur, author of The Resilient Founder, and a passionate advocate for building businesses that align with long-term legacy and personal purpose. She’s launched and sold multiple companies, including a 7-figure exit, and now focuses her energy on guiding purpose-driven founders through her work at Kindred Quarters and . In Episode 252 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Christine shared a bold but essential truth that many leaders need to hear: “The customer is not always #1… your team is #1!” It's a deceptively simple statement...
info_outlineIn Episode 238 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we sit down with James Kaveney, founder of Unlimited Heart, a transformative platform rooted in helping people lead with courage, connection, and clarity. James is a speaker, coach, and facilitator who draws deeply from personal experience, emotional intelligence, and heart-centered living to guide individuals and leaders toward lives of greater purpose and peace.
He’s someone who doesn’t just speak about resilience—he lives it. Through the course of his journey, James has faced down some of life’s hardest challenges and turned them into tools for impact. His Paper Napkin captures this transformational spirit in a handwritten truth that hits with soul-deep simplicity:
“Challenges are teachers. Your greatest challenges are your greatest teachers. Transform pain into purpose — seize the day, and embrace the truth of your mortality. An unlimited heart fuels a life well-lived.”
In the conversation, James opens up about what it means to truly live with an "unlimited heart." That doesn’t mean ignoring pain or putting on a mask of positivity—it means leaning into the discomfort, extracting the lesson, and choosing purpose over paralysis.
When Pain Becomes Purpose
At the core of James’ message is the idea that pain isn’t something to run from, it’s something to listen to. “I spent a long time thinking my pain disqualified me,” he shares. “But it turns out it was the portal. Once I stopped trying to numb it and started trying to understand it, that’s when things shifted.”
He walks us through a pivotal moment in his life when things fell apart—and how, instead of running from it, he asked a better question: “What is this trying to teach me?” That question reframed his reality and unlocked a new path forward.
A Philosophy for Mortality and Meaning
James doesn’t shy away from the hard truths. In fact, he suggests that acknowledging our mortality is one of the most powerful steps we can take toward living fully. “When we live like we have forever, we wait. But when we remember we don’t, we act.”
His napkin urges us to “seize the day” not in a cliché way, but with reverence. He reminds us that each day is a chance to move with intentionality—toward service, self-acceptance, and soul-aligned action.
Courage is a Practice
Throughout the episode, James returns to the concept of courageous presence. “Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s presence in the face of it.” Whether it’s stepping onto a stage, into a tough conversation, or toward our own buried emotions, James models what it looks like to keep showing up.
For leaders and entrepreneurs, this resonates deeply. You can’t outsource inner work. If you want to lead others with clarity, you’ve got to lead yourself with compassion first.
Leading With an Unlimited Heart
So what does it mean to have an “unlimited heart”? For James, it’s about removing the restrictions we’ve placed on love, worth, and belonging. It’s a shift from transactional leadership to transformational leadership—where empathy becomes strength, not a liability.
And it’s not just about leadership in business. James invites us to lead in our families, our communities, and our own lives—by remembering what matters most.
“You don’t have to earn your worth,” James says. “You are inherently valuable. Start living like that.”
5 Key Takeaways from Episode 238 with James Kaveney
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Challenges are your greatest teachers Don’t rush to escape discomfort—sit with it, learn from it, and let it shape you.
👉 Take Action: Journal about a recent challenge and list three things it taught you.
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Transform pain into purpose Pain has the power to refine your mission—if you listen to it with curiosity instead of resistance.
👉 Take Action: Identify one area where you’ve felt stuck or hurt and ask, “How can I use this to serve others?”
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Embrace your mortality to activate your life Remembering that your time is limited can sharpen your focus and ignite meaningful action.
👉 Take Action: Write a “legacy letter” to your future self, describing the life you want to be remembered for.
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Presence is greater than perfection You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to show up—especially for yourself.
👉 Take Action: Practice one moment of mindfulness today during a stressful moment. Breathe. Notice. Be.
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An unlimited heart fuels a life well-lived Leading from love is the most sustainable and scalable strategy you’ll ever find.
👉 Take Action: Reach out to someone you care about and tell them something you’ve never said but always felt.
James Kaveney’s napkin isn’t just a quote—it’s a compass. If you’re navigating challenges, if you’re wondering how to turn breakdown into breakthrough, or if you’re just ready to live more fully—this episode is for you.
What’s your takeaway? Grab a napkin, write it down, and share it using #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because a small idea, written with heart, can lead to a life well-lived.
Ready for the next episode? Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Learn more about James at UnlimitedHeart.co and connect with him on LinkedIn.