EP 314 - Believing Is Seeing (Edge of the Napkin Series #12)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
There’s a phrase we’ve all inherited without ever asking whether it serves us: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” It sounds reasonable. It sounds mature. It sounds like the responsible stance of someone who has been around long enough to be cautious. But anyone who has ever built something meaningful — a business, a team, a movement, or even a new version of themselves — knows the truth beneath that old saying: “Seeing” has never created belief. Belief is what creates the ability to see. That’s the heart of today’s napkin thought:...
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EP 313 - Listening & Learning with Shivani Dhamija
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman sits down with Shivani Dhamija, founder of Shivani’s Kitchen — a culinary brand rooted in authentic Indian flavors and fueled by a passion for empowering others through food. From her humble beginnings selling spice blends and sauces at local markets in Nova Scotia to building a thriving food-manufacturing business, Shivani’s journey is as flavorful as her recipes. At the heart of her success lies a simple napkin message: “Listening & learning.” Two small words that capture a massive truth about...
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EP 312 - Build for Value — Not for the Hype: How some AI Companies are Winning, and others aren't (Edge of the Napkin #11)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Edge of the Napkin #11 There’s a feeling that sweeps through every era of innovation — that electrifying sense of this is it. The next big wave. The one that’s going to change everything. In this episode of Edge of the Napkin, Govindh Jayaraman dives into what happens when high-expectation innovation collides with reality — when the future we bet on becomes today’s proving ground. The AI boom, once the unstoppable tide lifting every boat in sight, is now pulling back. Markets are correcting. The water is getting choppy. And what’s being revealed isn’t failure — it’s truth....
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EP 311 - Dr. Jenny Hoffmann: Open Up! Lead with Curiosity, Empathy, and Connection
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Today on Paper Napkin Wisdom, we welcome Dr. Jenny Hoffmann, a leader in health-tech innovation who currently serves as Executive Director at the New England Medical Innovation Center (NEMIC). With a rich background in healthcare strategy and technology deployment, Jenny has spent her career bridging clinical insight with entrepreneurial energy, helping organizations turn innovative ideas into meaningful patient-outcomes. In this episode, we dive deep into how leaders can lean into vulnerability, curiosity, empathy and connection — the key themes captured on her paper...
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EP 310 - Make Believe: The Stories Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (Edge of the Napkin #10)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Make Believe: The Stories Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (Edge of the Napkin #10) Every entrepreneur lives inside a story — the question is, who’s writing yours? If you’ve ever had a morning where nothing goes right — you stub your toe, drop your keys, spill coffee on your white shirt before 8 a.m. — you know the script that starts to play in your mind: “It’s gonna be one of those days.” And somehow, it is. Everything that follows seems to prove the story true. But the opposite happens too. You walk out the door feeling light, ...
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EP 309 - Jon Rosemberg — Survival Is Instinct, Thriving Is a Choice
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When you meet Jon Rosemberg, you immediately sense two things — depth and discipline. He’s a behavioral scientist, author, and executive coach who has spent years exploring how we, as humans, can move beyond mere survival into a state of thriving. His work combines neuroscience, psychology, and lived experience, and it’s reflected powerfully in his new book, A Guide to Thriving: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning. On his paper napkin, Jon wrote just seven words: “Survival is instinct, thriving is a choice.” At...
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EP 308 - Flexibility Is the Only True Hedge – Edge of the Napkin #9
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In a world where volatility has become the norm — prices swing, markets shake, politics polarize, and technology rewrites the rules daily — one question stands out for leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone simply trying to navigate life: How do we hedge against uncertainty? Not with gold. Not with cash. Not with control. But with flexibility. That’s the essence of this week’s Edge of the Napkin. On my napkin, a single word runs across the center: RISK. Below it — Rigidity → Fragility. Above it — Flexibility →...
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EP 307 - Simone Kelly - Build a Business You Love (But Not Your Hobby)
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When Simone Kelly first began helping families navigate the complexities of senior care, she didn’t just build a company—she built a movement. As the founder and CEO of Seniornicity, Simone’s mission is rooted in empathy, connection, and empowerment. Her company bridges the gap between older adults, families, and trusted care providers, making it easier for people to age well, together. But the napkin she brought to Paper Napkin Wisdom goes deeper than business strategy—it’s about protecting your passion and preserving your peace. “Build a business that you love,...
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EP 306 - HOW? The Freedom to Create the Future - Edge of the Napkin #8
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Sometimes, the smallest words hold the biggest weight. In this episode of Edge of the Napkin, Govindh Jayaraman dives deep into one of the most overused — and misunderstood — words in leadership: “How.” We use it constantly. We think it’s helpful. But as Govindh reveals, how can be both the key to progress — and the invisible wall that keeps us from growing. We say things like: “That’s not how it’s done.” “That’s not how we do things here.” “Let me show you how I want that done.” “We tried that how before...
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EP 305 - Solve a Real Problem. Make It Beautiful. Care Like Hell. - With Nancy Johnston
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When you meet Nancy Johnston, you can immediately sense the combination of depth and purpose behind everything she touches. She’s the founder and CEO of Truuce, a company built around reimagining human connection, well-being, and design in the modern world. Her leadership bridges the emotional and the practical — weaving care, creativity, and clarity into every solution she creates. In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Nancy shares a simple but transformative philosophy written on her napkin: “Solve a real problem. Make it beautiful. Care like...
info_outlineIn this special episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I (Govindh Jayaraman) take a step back to reflect on the journey we’ve been on together — over 280 episodes filled with wisdom, stories, and lessons from incredible leaders, entrepreneurs, and difference makers.
The napkin for this episode reads: “Introducing the Edge of the Napkin.”
It’s a phrase that captures both a transition and an expansion. The napkin has always been a place for distilled wisdom — one sentence, one thought, one principle that could change everything if applied. But now, we’re venturing into what I call the edge of the napkin: the space where those ideas meet action, where wisdom isn’t just written down but lived, tested, and expanded.
From Napkin to Edge
On this podcast, we’ve heard wisdom from global thinkers and doers — people like James Clear, Tom Bilyeu, and Brian Scudamore — and yet, what’s always struck me is how simple ideas transform into exponential results when leaders commit to them.
The edge of the napkin is where theory meets practice. It’s where entrepreneurs pick up the pen, write down their vision, and then choose to live it out. It’s where clarity sharpens, alignment deepens, and action compounds.
Why This Shift Matters
In the conversation (yes, with myself this time), I unpack how Paper Napkin Wisdom is evolving:
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Beyond ideas into frameworks. The napkin is no longer just the insight — it’s the starting point for building focus, aligning teams, and taking consistent action.
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A community of difference makers. We’re not just sharing wisdom anymore; we’re building a vault of tools, firestarters, and conversations to help entrepreneurs and leaders apply what they learn.
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Courage to experiment. On the edge of the napkin is the courage to try, to make it bad and make it better, and to move forward imperfectly.
This isn’t a departure from the heart of Paper Napkin Wisdom. It’s an evolution.
5 Key Takeaways from Episode 286
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The napkin is the spark, not the fire.
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Take Action: Don’t stop at capturing wisdom; ask yourself what the first small action is that brings it to life today.
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The edge is where wisdom and execution meet.
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Take Action: Choose one napkin idea you’ve saved and build a micro-plan: What’s the first step? Who needs to know? When will it be done?
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Clarity creates movement.
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Take Action: Write your idea in one sentence. If you can’t explain it simply, refine it until you can.
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Communities multiply wisdom.
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Take Action: Share your napkin thought with someone who can challenge, refine, or amplify it. Wisdom grows when it’s tested in dialogue.
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Iteration is leadership.
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Take Action: Instead of waiting for the perfect solution, commit to making it bad, then making it better. That’s how leaders stay ahead.
About Paper Napkin Wisdom
Paper Napkin Wisdom has been home to leaders, entrepreneurs, and creators who share one distilled piece of wisdom that shaped their journey. From bestselling authors to CEOs to everyday heroes, the show proves that small ideas — captured on a napkin — can spark massive change.
You can explore past episodes, dive into our Firestarter Vault, and join the community at papernapkinwisdom.com.
Your Turn
The napkin for this episode says: “Introducing the Edge of the Napkin.”
What does the edge of the napkin mean for you? Where are you standing at the boundary between idea and action in your own life?
Grab a napkin, jot down your thought, and share it with us using the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom.
Because wisdom doesn’t just live on the napkin — it lives in how you bring it to life.