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Ep 242 - Self-Care Isn’t Selfish — It’s Essential: Karen Kossow on Redefining Responsibility

Paper Napkin Wisdom

Release Date: 05/13/2025

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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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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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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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“Self-care isn’t selfish… it’s essential.” 

That’s the simple but deeply powerful message that Karen Kossow chose to write on her napkin for this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom. And it’s a message that comes from lived experience. 

Karen is a devoted parent of two autistic children and a tireless advocate for those navigating complex family dynamics. As a life coach and speaker, she specializes in helping caregivers, especially mothers, shift their mindset from burnout and guilt to empowerment and sustainability. 

In our conversation, Karen shares how self-care transformed her parenting, her marriage, and her impact as a coach. “I see firsthand in my own life, and with the clients that I work with, what happens when people in stressful situations that they can’t get out of don’t take care of themselves,” she says. It’s not just about spa days or bubble baths—it’s about survival, and more importantly, about thriving. 

She challenges the narrative that taking time for yourself is a luxury or an indulgence. Instead, she reframes it as a leadership act—one that sets the tone for families, teams, and communities. “We’ve somehow linked value to self-sacrifice, and that’s broken us,” Karen says. “Self-care isn’t the thing you do when everything else is done—it’s the thing you do so you can do everything else.” 

Throughout the episode, Karen brings clarity and compassion to what self-care actually means. She’s not asking us to abandon responsibility—but rather to redefine it. If your fuel tank is empty, you can’t drive anyone anywhere. 

Her wisdom is especially vital for entrepreneurs, caregivers, and change-makers who often put themselves last. As Karen reminds us, “If you go down, the whole system collapses. You matter.” 

This episode is an invitation to pause, reflect, and reframe how you show up for yourself—because that’s the key to showing up fully for others. 

 

5 Key Takeaways from Karen Kossow 

  1. Self-care is leadership, not luxury Taking care of yourself isn’t optional—it’s the foundation for being able to care for others and lead effectively. 

    Take Action: Block out 15 non-negotiable minutes each day just for yourself—recharge, journal, breathe, walk. 

  2. Guilt is the enemy of growth Many caregivers and high performers struggle with guilt when they prioritize their needs. Karen calls this out as a harmful mindset. 

    Take Action: Replace guilt-driven thinking with a daily affirmation: “Taking care of myself benefits everyone I love.” 

  3. Burnout starts with self-neglect Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a warning sign. Karen emphasizes the long-term costs of pushing through. 

    Take Action: Start tracking your energy like a budget—notice what drains you and what fills your tank. 

  4. Caregiving requires sustainability Whether you’re parenting, leading a team, or supporting a partner, your care has to be sustainable to be effective. 

    Take Action: Identify one responsibility you can delegate or delay this week to protect your energy. 

  5. It’s a cultural mindset shift Karen believes we must unlearn the idea that martyrdom equals value. Thriving leaders model balance and boundaries. 

    Take Action: Share this episode with someone who needs permission to take a breath—and be that permission for yourself. 

 

Karen’s work is rooted in empathy, experience, and a fierce belief that no one should have to burn out to prove their worth. Her message is clear: self-care is not only essential—it’s revolutionary. 

💬 What does self-care look like in your life? Write it down on a napkin and share it with us using #PaperNapkinWisdom. 

 

🔗 Connect with Karen Kossow: Website: https://www.karenkossow.com