EP 299 – Kevin Barnicle: The Power of Doing the Opposite
Release Date: 09/25/2025
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_outlineWhen you meet Kevin Barnicle, you immediately sense his energy for challenging convention. He’s a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and business leader who has lived the entrepreneurial rollercoaster—leaving the security of corporate life, building companies from scratch, navigating competition with giants like Microsoft, and eventually selling his business. Along the way, Kevin built not just financial results but also a reputation for going against the grain.
His napkin is simple, direct, and deeply subversive:
“Look at what everyone else is doing, and do the opposite.”
That contrarian mindset has been Kevin’s compass since the beginning. While peers at his first job stayed put, clinging to the “safe” path, Kevin leaned into uncertainty. Everyone around him said don’t leave, yet he did—choosing risk, learning, and growth over predictability. That decision shaped his entrepreneurial DNA and continues to shape how he builds, leads, and invests today.
Why Doing the Opposite Works
Kevin’s wisdom doesn’t advocate rebellion for its own sake. It’s about pattern recognition. When the crowd rushes in one direction—whether in career moves, product design, or sales strategy—Kevin asks: What if the real opportunity lies in zigging where others zag?
He recalls moments when competition was fierce, deals were slipping, or the company hit a plateau. The instinct was to double down on what everyone else was already doing. Instead, Kevin went to the engineers, questioned assumptions, and tried the opposite approach. Time and again, that willingness to break from the herd opened doors competitors never saw.
As Kevin puts it: success isn’t just about copying someone else’s wheel; it’s about questioning whether you even need a wheel at all.
5 Key Takeaways from Kevin Barnicle
1. Don’t Follow the Herd
Most people stick to “safe” jobs or obvious strategies. The real growth often comes from stepping into the unknown.
👉 Take Action: Identify one area of your business where you’re doing what “everyone else” does. Ask: What would happen if I did the opposite?
2. Calculated Risk is Healthy
Kevin stresses that risk shouldn’t be reckless. But if you only play it safe, you’ll never break through.
👉 Take Action: Reframe failure as an experiment. Try one bold move this quarter that carries risk but also real learning potential.
3. Question Assumptions, Constantly
When things stall, don’t just grind harder. Step back and ask: What if our entire approach is wrong?
👉 Take Action: In your next team meeting, challenge everyone to propose an “opposite” idea to the current strategy.
4. Empower Others to Experiment
Kevin found that when leaders give permission to try—even if it fails—it builds stronger, more resilient teams.
👉 Take Action: Create space in your culture where people can test unconventional ideas without fear of blame.
5. Legacy is More Than Money
Kevin’s reflection goes beyond financial success. He speaks of humility, giving back, and sharing lessons learned. Doing the opposite isn’t just business strategy—it’s a way to live authentically.
👉 Take Action: Write down one contrarian decision you’ve made in your life. What did it teach you? How can you pass that lesson forward?
About Kevin Barnicle
Kevin Barnicle is an entrepreneur, investor, and author whose career spans technology, sales, and leadership. After starting at Dell, he launched his own company in a highly competitive space, grew it to millions in revenue, and successfully sold it. He continues to share his hard-earned lessons through writing and speaking, inspiring entrepreneurs to embrace risk, think differently, and lead boldly.
Final Thought
Kevin Barnicle’s napkin is a dare: don’t just follow. Don’t just blend in. Don’t just accept the rules. Instead, have the courage to step into the opposite lane—and see where it leads.
What about you? Take out a napkin, jot down the one place where you’ll “do the opposite,” and share it with the world using #PaperNapkinWisdom.