EP 291 – Jennifer McKenna - The Prosperity Formula: Familiar → Faith → Fulfillment
Release Date: 09/04/2025
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_outlineJennifer McKenna, founder of JMac Consulting, is an accomplished business strategist, executive coach, and creator of The JMac Method. With decades of experience guiding leaders and organizations through transformation, Jennifer has built her reputation on blending practical business strategy with a deep commitment to values, authenticity, and growth. She has coached Fortune 500 executives, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to align who they are with what they do.
On Paper Napkin Wisdom, Jennifer shares her Prosperity Formula — a deceptively simple but powerful framework to help leaders and entrepreneurs move from what is familiar into a space of true fulfillment.
The Prosperity Formula
At first glance, Jennifer’s napkin sketch looks straightforward:
Familiar → Faith → Fulfillment
But the wisdom beneath it is transformative.
Jennifer explains that many of us stay trapped in the Familiar. It’s comfortable, predictable, and safe — but it’s also where growth stalls. Leaders often cling to familiar patterns, roles, or narratives because stepping out feels risky.
“Familiar feels safe,” Jennifer shared in our conversation, “but it’s also where dreams get stuck.”
The leap forward happens in the middle step: Faith. This is not blind optimism, but intentional trust — in yourself, in the process, in the possibility of something greater. Faith is the bridge between what you know and what you long for.
From there, the destination is Fulfillment. This isn’t just material success; it’s alignment, purpose, and prosperity that’s measured in joy and meaning as much as in results.
Key Takeaways
1. Familiar Is Comfortable, But Limiting
Staying in the familiar feels safe but can create stagnation. Leaders who cling to the old way risk missing the future.
Take Action: Audit where “familiar” shows up in your life and business. Ask: Am I holding onto this because it works, or because it’s just what I know?
2. Faith Is the Necessary Bridge
Faith isn’t passive. It’s the decision to trust and step forward when certainty isn’t available.
Take Action: Identify one decision you’ve delayed because of uncertainty. Commit to moving forward with faith, trusting the process.
3. Fulfillment Goes Beyond Achievement
True prosperity isn’t just about hitting goals — it’s about finding meaning and joy in the pursuit.
Take Action: Redefine success for yourself. Write down three elements of fulfillment that go beyond financial gain.
4. Prosperity Requires Courage
Jennifer reminds us that prosperity is not a formula for quick wins; it’s a formula for courageous living.
Take Action: Each week, take one step outside your comfort zone. Track the results not just in outcomes, but in personal growth.
5. The JMac Method: Prosperity as a Practice
Jennifer’s consulting practice uses this formula to guide leaders into alignment — where business growth and personal fulfillment go hand in hand.
Take Action: Share your Prosperity Formula moment. What’s one way you’re moving from Familiar, through Faith, toward Fulfillment this week?
About Jennifer McKenna
Jennifer McKenna is the founder and principal of JMac Consulting, where she helps businesses and leaders align their strategies, culture, and leadership practices for lasting impact. She is the creator of The JMac Method, a framework that integrates purpose-driven leadership with actionable business strategy.
Connect with Jennifer:
Final Thought
Jennifer’s Prosperity Formula challenges us to stop clinging to what is safe, and instead take the leap of faith that leads to true fulfillment.
Now it’s your turn: grab a napkin, jot down where you’re stuck in the Familiar, and write the step of Faith you need to take to move toward Fulfillment. Share it with us using #PaperNapkinWisdom.
Because prosperity isn’t an accident — it’s a choice.