EP 298 – Juan DeAngulo: True to Myself, Release the Outcome
Release Date: 09/23/2025
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_outlineOn this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I sat down with Juan DeAngulo, a veteran investor, entrepreneur, and systems thinker whose work bridges discipline and heart. Juan has scaled billion-dollar investment platforms, co-founded Inselligence—a fast-growing tech startup—and, just as importantly, learned to balance leadership with wellness after battling through years of personal struggle.
But his napkin is deceptively simple:
“I am true to myself and I release the outcome.”
Written on December 21, 2023, this phrase captures the essence of a leader who has lived both the cost and the gift of authenticity.
The Power of Truth to Self
Juan shares in the conversation that too often, leaders bend themselves to fit expectations—investors, clients, even their own self-imposed standards. The napkin reminds us that real clarity starts with aligning choices to who we are, not who we think others want us to be.
When you’re true to yourself, decisions become less about approval and more about alignment. As Juan puts it, that’s where courage begins: being willing to stand in your own truth, even if the path is uncertain.
Releasing the Outcome
The second part of Juan’s wisdom is just as critical. Once you’ve acted from a place of authenticity, you can’t cling to the result. He describes how early in his career he suffered from crippling anxiety and panic attacks—driven by an obsession with outcomes. Only when he learned to let go of the uncontrollable did he begin to reclaim peace and resilience.
“Release the outcome” isn’t resignation. It’s freedom. It’s choosing to focus on process, presence, and people—knowing the results will follow.
Five Key Takeaways
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Authenticity is the anchor.
Align with who you are before you align with strategy or market.
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Take Action: Write down one decision you’re facing and ask: is this truly aligned with who I am?
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Control the process, not the results.
You can own your effort and habits, but not the scoreboard.
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Take Action: Identify one area where you’re outcome-obsessed and reframe it into process goals.
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Anxiety comes from gripping too tightly.
Juan’s story of panic attacks shows how unsustainable it is to carry everything.
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Take Action: Create a daily ritual—meditation, journaling, or exercise—that helps you let go.
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Resilience is a practice, not a trait.
It’s built by repeatedly showing up, grounded in truth, even when results are uncertain.
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Take Action: Track your “resilience reps”—moments when you acted authentically despite fear.
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Leadership is human connection.
Systems and processes matter, but they’re only powerful when built on genuine human trust.
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Take Action: This week, check in with one teammate not about performance, but about how they’re doing as a person.
Why This Matters Today
In a world obsessed with metrics, hacks, and shortcuts, Juan’s napkin cuts through the noise. Leaders everywhere are tempted to measure themselves only by outcomes. But true transformation happens when you ground yourself in authenticity and trust the process.
About Juan DeAngulo
Juan DeAngulo is the co-founder and CEO of Inselligence, a platform bringing process intelligence to sales operations across three continents. He previously co-founded a real estate investment platform managing over $4 billion in assets. A graduate of Harvard Business School’s OPM program, Juan combines investment discipline with startup agility.
Beyond his professional achievements, Juan’s journey through debilitating anxiety and recovery through meditation, wellness, and holistic growth makes his leadership deeply human. Today, he is recognized as a culture architect—helping entrepreneurs and organizations design scalable systems, healthy cultures, and authentic leadership practices.
Connect with Juan on LinkedIn.
Your Turn
Juan’s napkin challenges us all: Are you being true to yourself? And if you are, can you release the outcome?
Grab a napkin, write down your answer, and share it with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom.
Because when we act from authenticity and let go of the rest, we discover freedom—and often, better results than we could have planned.