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:...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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....
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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, ...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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 →...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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 Episode 289 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, host Govindh Jayaraman takes us deeper into the next evolution of his work: The Edge of the Napkin. This isn’t just about wisdom captured in simple strokes anymore — it’s about stepping into the tension between friction and flow, and understanding the rhythms of creativity and growth.
The napkin for this episode sets the stage: a stick figure caught between jagged lines of friction and the upward curve of flow, alongside two key modes — Seminal (Spark) and Gestational (Build). At its heart, the question posed is simple but powerful: Are you in Spark mode or Build mode?
The Tension Between Friction and Flow
Every leader, entrepreneur, and creator knows what it feels like to get stuck in friction — the drag, the obstacles, the resistance that makes progress feel like walking through mud. Yet, on the other side of that resistance lies flow — the state where energy aligns, momentum builds, and forward motion feels effortless.
Flow isn’t luck. It’s the result of awareness and alignment. By recognizing whether you’re fighting against resistance or leaning into momentum, you give yourself the power to shift. Friction tells us where the edges are; flow shows us where to go next.
Spark vs. Build: The Two Energies of Creation
The napkin highlights two distinct energies:
-
Seminal (Spark) – that flash of inspiration, the bold beginning, the lightning strike of an idea. Spark mode is raw energy, momentum igniting from nothing.
-
Gestational (Build) – the slower, steadier process of nurturing, developing, and bringing something into being. Build mode requires patience, resilience, and iteration.
Both are necessary. Too much spark without build leaves you scattered. Too much build without spark leaves you stagnant. Mastery is knowing which mode you’re in — and when to switch.
5 Key Takeaways from Episode 289
1. Friction Isn’t the Enemy — It’s the Signal
Friction often feels like failure, but it’s actually feedback. It shows us where growth is required.
Take Action: Ask yourself: What resistance am I facing right now? Is it a signal to push through, pivot, or pause?
2. Flow Emerges When Energy and Intention Align
Flow isn’t something you chase — it’s what happens when you bring clarity of intention to your actions.
Take Action: Each morning, set a micro-intention: What do I want to flow toward today?
3. Spark Mode Creates, Build Mode Sustains
Recognizing whether you’re in spark or build mode gives you a framework for your energy.
Take Action: Label your current project as either “spark” or “build.” Let that frame your next steps.
4. Energy Has Seasons, Just Like Growth
We can’t be in spark mode forever, nor can we only build. Sustainable growth requires cycling between both.
Take Action: Audit your calendar: does it allow room for both ideation (spark) and execution (build)?
5. The Edge Is Where Transformation Happens
The tension between friction and flow is the edge — the place where discomfort signals growth and flow confirms alignment.
Take Action: This week, write down one area where you feel friction and explore how reframing it could move you closer to flow.
Introducing The Edge of the Napkin
This episode is a launch point. The Edge of the Napkin is about living in that space where ideas meet resistance, where growth meets alignment, and where leadership requires both spark and build. It’s about noticing whether you’re operating in friction or flow — and intentionally shifting your energy to where it belongs.
The big question for you today: Are you in Spark mode or Build mode?
About Paper Napkin Wisdom
I’m Govindh Jayaraman, founder of Paper Napkin Wisdom. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from around the world to capture big ideas in small, simple ways. With The Edge of the Napkin, I’m exploring not just what wisdom is shared — but what it feels like to live at the edges of growth, creativity, and leadership.
Learn more, explore past episodes, and discover tools to put wisdom into action at www.papernapkinwisdom.com.
Your Turn
Grab a napkin. Write down your answer:
“Am I in Spark mode or Build mode today?”
Post it on social media with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom and share what it means for you.
Because wisdom only matters when we turn small ideas into big results.