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Ep 239 - Don’t Just Build a Business—Build a Foundation: Wisdom from Darcel Dillard-Suite

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Release Date: 05/01/2025

EP 252 - The Customer Isn’t Always Right – Your Team Comes First: Wisdom from Christine McDannell show art 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...

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EP 251 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 4) | The Four Driving Influences of Human Behavior – Michael Walsh on What Really Moves Us show art EP 251 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 4) | The Four Driving Influences of Human Behavior – Michael Walsh on What Really Moves Us

Paper Napkin Wisdom

In Part 4 of the Freedom by Design series, Michael Walsh — growth strategist and founder of Walsh Business Growth — returns to the Paper Napkin Wisdom podcast with another deceptively simple, powerfully transformational idea. This time, Michael outlines what he believes to be the four core driving influences of all human behavior: Survive, Thrive, Connect, and Adapt.  Michael's frameworks aren't about academic theory — they’re forged in the heat of real entrepreneurial fires. Having coached hundreds of founders and growth-minded leaders, Michael brings his deep understanding of...

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EP 250 - John Sleeman Series (Part 3 of 3) | “I Need a New Challenge.” — John Sleeman’s Legacy, Reinvented show art EP 250 - John Sleeman Series (Part 3 of 3) | “I Need a New Challenge.” — John Sleeman’s Legacy, Reinvented

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Heads up: this is a live recording, and the audio has some echo due to a tech glitch. Still, John’s wisdom shines through—and we think it’s worth it. Hope you agree. In this special final chapter of a three-part series, we return to Paper Napkin Wisdom with legendary entrepreneur John Sleeman, founder of Sleeman Breweries and Spring Mill Distillery. But this time, he’s not alone — John is joined by the next generation: his sons, Quinn, a cooper who crafts whiskey barrels, and Cooper, who leads sales and marketing at the distillery. Yes, the naming symmetry is as poetic as...

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EP 249 – John Sleeman Series (Part 2 of 3) | You’ve Been Given a Gift — Now Do Something With It show art EP 249 – John Sleeman Series (Part 2 of 3) | You’ve Been Given a Gift — Now Do Something With It

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Heads up: this is a live recording, and the audio has some echo due to a tech glitch. Still, John’s wisdom shines through—and we think it’s worth it. Hope you agree. This episode marks the second chapter in a three-part journey through the life and legacy of John Sleeman, the iconic Canadian entrepreneur behind Sleeman Breweries. And in this moment, we move from the grind of building a business to something deeper—something almost mythic: a legacy rediscovered.  John’s story picks up with a surprise visit from his Aunt Florian. After a decade of no contact, she shows up with a...

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EP 248 - John Sleeman Series (Part 1 of 3) | Start a Pub: The Deal-Driven Origins of John Sleeman's Entrepreneurial Rise show art EP 248 - John Sleeman Series (Part 1 of 3) | Start a Pub: The Deal-Driven Origins of John Sleeman's Entrepreneurial Rise

Paper Napkin Wisdom

This episode is personal.  Just after college, I started a small business with my friend Matt Fox. We launched a student-focused magazine called Fingertips — hunting down wing nights and drink deals before smartphones made that easy. Money was tight. Hustle was everything. And our first cold call was to Sleeman Brewing in Guelph.  John Sleeman said yes.  That early “yes” stuck with me — and now, decades later, I’m sitting with him in this beautiful building, recording a full-circle episode for Paper Napkin Wisdom. But this story isn’t about the...

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EP 247 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 3) | The Exponential Power of Connection: A Napkin That Changes Everything - Michael Walsh show art EP 247 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 3) | The Exponential Power of Connection: A Napkin That Changes Everything - Michael Walsh

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Michael Walsh returns for part three of our special Freedom by Design series on Paper Napkin Wisdom, and this one might be the most visually striking yet. If you’re a fan of simple visuals that unlock big thinking, you’re going to love this napkin. It’s a 10x10 grid—just 100 dots—but what it represents could be the unlock for transformational leadership and next-level scale.  Michael is the founder of Walsh Business Growth and the author of Freedom by Design: The Established Business Owner’s Guide to Grow, Make an Impact and Find Joy Again. In this...

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EP 246 - The One Call Sale with Ari Galper: Transforming Sales Through Trust show art EP 246 - The One Call Sale with Ari Galper: Transforming Sales Through Trust

Paper Napkin Wisdom

In Episode 246 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman sits down with Ari Galper, the world’s leading authority on trust-based selling and the creator of the revolutionary “One Call Sale” method. With over 25 years of experience, Ari has completely flipped the traditional sales script. His approach isn’t about pressure, persuasion, or playing games—it’s about trust, truth, and transformation.  Ari’s method is especially relevant for high-trust, low-volume, high-margin businesses where chasing leads and long sales cycles create drag. His model is designed to...

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EP 245 - Summit Your Current Mountain: Dustin Wells on Focus, Fulfillment, and the Climb of Leadership show art EP 245 - Summit Your Current Mountain: Dustin Wells on Focus, Fulfillment, and the Climb of Leadership

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Dustin Wells isn’t just an experienced tech entrepreneur — he’s a guide for leaders looking to rediscover purpose in the peaks and valleys of business and life. With over two decades in tech and a successful exit under his belt, Dustin has learned to measure success not only in valuations but in clarity, impact, and joy. In Episode 245 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Dustin shared a message written in bold blue ink: “Summit your current mountain.”  This deceptively simple statement holds transformative weight. It’s not just about climbing higher — it’s about finishing...

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EP 244 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 2) | The 4 Danger Zones Every Business Must Navigate - Michael Walsh show art EP 244 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 2) | The 4 Danger Zones Every Business Must Navigate - Michael Walsh

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Michael Walsh is no stranger to growth. As the founder of , he’s spent years helping established business owners scale with intention, clarity, and impact. In this second installment of our Freedom Framework special on Paper Napkin Wisdom, Michael returns to reveal one of his most powerful visual tools for growth: The 4 Danger Zones.  Drawn on a simple napkin (as all great ideas are), Michael lays out the major inflection points — and hidden pitfalls — that business owners face as they scale from $1M to $20M and beyond. Each stage brings a new level of complexity, risk,...

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EP 243 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 1): How Michael Walsh Redefines the Entrepreneur's Journey show art EP 243 - Freedom by Design Series (Part 1): How Michael Walsh Redefines the Entrepreneur's Journey

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Freedom. It’s a word thrown around a lot in entrepreneurial circles. For some, it’s about time. For others, money. But in Episode 243 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Michael Walsh challenges all of us to look deeper. With his napkin reading, “Freedom is not a selfish act,” he invites established business owners to consider a profound shift in how they view growth and fulfillment.  Michael Walsh isn’t just another business coach. He’s a skilled strategist with decades of experience guiding entrepreneurs who have already built something successful—but feel stuck,...

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More Episodes

In Episode 240 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we’re joined by Darcel Dillard-Suite, a powerhouse entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and co-founder of Full Circle Health. With nearly three decades of entrepreneurial experience, Darcel has built a thriving business alongside her husband, a psychiatrist, focused on holistic mental wellness and support for underrepresented communities. Her impact has been far-reaching, not just as a business leader, but as a mentor and motivator helping others rise through the challenges of entrepreneurship. 

Her napkin is a blueprint for success that every entrepreneur should take to heart: 

“Diversify, Stay Determined, Develop Strong Financial Advisors.” 

These aren’t just words—they’re lessons hard-won through years of navigating the entrepreneurial grind. And each of them holds a story that could change the way you build your business. 

Diversify or Die Trying 

"I learned the hard way that if I didn’t diversify this business and get income coming from other directions...we’re not going to make it," Darcel says. She and her husband took the leap to stop working for others and go all-in on their dream—but that dream needed legs to stand on. 

Early on, they realized that relying on just one stream of income wasn’t sustainable. So they built multiple revenue pathways, creatively expanding their offerings to weather industry changes and market shifts. In today’s economy, this wisdom is more relevant than ever. 

Stay Determined (Even When It’s Not Easy) 

“It gets frustrating. It really does,” Darcel admits. Entrepreneurship can be brutal. But Darcel reminds us that perseverance is what separates those who build legacy businesses from those who burn out. 

Her message is clear: grit matters. Building something that lasts means pushing through the tough moments, even when your dream feels distant. 

Don’t DIY Your Finances 

If there’s one thing Darcel wishes she knew earlier, it’s this: “Develop strong financial advisors.” 

She reflects on how she and her husband funded their early business ventures—by loaning themselves money from their mortgage. “We did all sorts of creative things,” she says. But what they lacked was financial strategy and structure. 

She’s transparent about how much smoother their growth could have been if they’d partnered with the right advisors from the start. The lesson? Don’t wait until you’re in a bind to bring in financial guidance. Build your bench early. 

 

5 Key Takeaways from Darcel Dillard-Suite 

1. Diversification Is Non-Negotiable 

“Just doing it this way isn't going to cut it.” 

Take Action: Audit your revenue streams—can your business survive if one dries up? If not, it's time to expand. 

2. Determination Is a Skill, Not a Trait 

“It gets frustrating...you can easily get discouraged.” 

Take Action: Schedule a weekly check-in with yourself or your team to reconnect with your “why.” 

3. Your Financial Advisors Should Be as Strong as Your Vision 

“I wish I had a financial advisor earlier on to teach me some things I learned later.” 

Take Action: Seek out a financial advisor who specializes in small businesses or startups and schedule a strategy session this quarter. 

4. Learn from the Hustle, But Don’t Get Stuck There 

Darcel and her husband bootstrapped creatively, but it came at a cost. 

Take Action: Reassess your funding strategies. Are they sustainable, or are you just surviving? 

5. Turn Experience Into Impact 

Now that Darcel has learned these lessons, she’s paying it forward. 

Take Action: Share your biggest business mistake with a mentee. Help someone else avoid your pitfalls. 

 

Darcel Dillard-Suite’s episode is a masterclass in real-talk entrepreneurship. It’s not about the highlight reel—it’s about the long-haul journey of building something meaningful, sustainable, and transformative. 

📝 What part of Darcel’s wisdom resonated with you the most? 

Post your takeaway on a napkin and share it with us using #PaperNapkinWisdom

Connect with Darcel Dillard-Suite: