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_outlineSomewhere in the middle of a weekly call with fellow entrepreneurs, the conversation unexpectedly turned to Valentine’s Day. Instead of the usual talk about scaling, strategy, and execution, we found ourselves reflecting on love, relationships, and why so many of us don’t really celebrate the Hallmark version of Valentine’s Day.
That sparked a memory for me. Years ago, my daughter asked why our family didn’t go all-in on Valentine’s Day. Yes, my wife does something sweet for the kids—a little basket of goodies—but when it comes to the roses, chocolates, and candlelit dinners, we don’t do it.
I told her: I don’t need to Hallmark Moments.
I don’t need a card company to tell me when to celebrate the people I love. I don’t need a calendar to dictate when to tell my wife she’s special, or when to tell my daughter I’m proud of her, or when to acknowledge the people who matter to me.
Beyond Hallmark: The Principle
Here’s what I told my daughter that day: there’s no limit on the number of times I can tell her mother how much I value her, how much I love her, how much I appreciate everything she does for our family. Why would I wait until one day in February when I can do it every single day?
This idea—No Hallmark Moments—isn’t just about love and family. It’s about leadership.
Too often as leaders, we “Hallmark” our appreciation. We save it up for the big moments: the company offsite, the annual review, the holiday bonus. But what about all the days in between? What about the ordinary Tuesdays when someone on your team shows up big, solves a problem, or just keeps pushing forward?
When we wait for the calendar, we miss the chance to celebrate people in real time.
What Came Up on the Call
On that entrepreneur call, we challenged each other to lean into this idea: don’t Hallmark your moments. Don’t wait until a special occasion to say thank you, to express gratitude, to acknowledge love.
Be attentive right now. With the people in front of you now. In your family, your friendships, your leadership, your teams.
That’s what creates trust. That’s what deepens connection. That’s what fuels momentum.
5 Key Takeaways
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Stop Waiting for Permission
Love and gratitude aren’t tied to a date. Don’t wait for February 14th, or December 25th, or an annual review. The right time to appreciate someone is right now.
Take Action: Tell someone today what they mean to you—don’t put it off.
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Celebrate the Everyday
Big celebrations matter, but real connection is built in the small, daily moments of presence and recognition.
Take Action: Build a habit of noticing and celebrating small wins—in your home and your business.
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Lead Without Hallmarking
Don’t save your recognition for year-end bonuses or company retreats. Acknowledge effort in the moment.
Take Action: End every meeting with at least one piece of recognition for your team.
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Presence is the Gift
More than flowers or chocolates, what your loved ones need is your full attention, right now.
Take Action: Put the phone down and look someone in the eye when you tell them they matter.
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Focus–Align–Act
This is the FAA loop in real life:
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Focus on where you’re waiting for the calendar.
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Align by reframing: I don’t need Hallmark Moments.
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Act by saying it now.
Take Action: Write “Say it now” on a sticky note where you’ll see it daily.
Closing Thought
The napkin sketch for this episode says it best: a calendar full of X’s and a speech bubble that reads, I love you. Underneath: “No Hallmark Moments.”
Don’t wait. Don’t save it. Say it now.
So here’s my challenge to you: before today ends, pick someone—your spouse, your child, a teammate, a friend—and give them their flowers now. Don’t Hallmark it. Don’t wait for the perfect occasion. Do it today.
And when you do, share your own napkin thought. Post it, tag me, and use the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because the smallest sketches carry the biggest wisdom—small enough to fit on a napkin, big enough to change your life.