EP 172: Live an Extraordinary Life, So That Others Will – John DiJulius (founder, entrepreneur, author)
Release Date: 06/27/2018
EP 293 – Steven Rothberg: If a Customer Wants to Pay More, Let Them
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When you sit down with someone like Steven Rothberg, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of , you expect to hear insights about hiring, technology, and the future of work. What you might not expect is a napkin that sums up decades of wisdom in a sentence so straightforward it almost sounds too simple: “If a customer wants to give you more money, find a way of making that happen. $$$” At first glance, it feels like sales advice. But during our conversation, it became clear that Steven’s napkin is less about sales tactics and more about mindset. It’s about curiosity,...
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EP 292 - Edge of the Napkin #3: “Who’s the best partner you ever had? (Secret) … It’s you.”
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Partnership is one of the most powerful words in leadership and in life. We spend years searching for the right business partner, co-founder, or even life partner. But here’s the twist on this week’s Paper Napkin Wisdom: the greatest, most important partnership you’ll ever have is not with someone else—it’s with yourself. The napkin for Episode 292 asks the provocative question: “Who’s the best partner you ever had?” And then delivers the unexpected truth: (Secret)… it’s you. In this episode, Govindh dives deep into the nature of the...
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EP 291 – Jennifer McKenna - The Prosperity Formula: Familiar → Faith → Fulfillment
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Jennifer 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...
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EP 290 – Andrew Safnauer: Find Your Way Over the Wall
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In Episode 290 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Andrew Safnauer, a seasoned leader and executive with a wealth of experience in management, strategy, and innovation. Andrew has held leadership roles across diverse industries and today brings his insights into resilience, adaptability, and persistence. His wisdom is captured on a single napkin: “Find your way over the wall.” At first glance, it’s a simple metaphor. But as Andrew shares, this idea has been a recurring theme throughout his life and career, one that continues to guide him...
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EP 289 - The Edge of the Napkin: Friction vs. Flow
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In 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...
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EP 288 – Katy Spada: Build the World You Wish Existed
Paper Napkin Wisdom
When Katy Spada sat down with me on Paper Napkin Wisdom, she brought a napkin that was more than just words — it was a challenge: “Build the world you wish existed for your younger self, and for those who come next.” Katy isn’t just an entrepreneur. She’s a mother of two (ages 7 and 4), a storyteller, and the founder of , a lifestyle and apparel company that’s grounded in values of creativity, heritage, and intentional living. What makes her story remarkable is how deeply personal it is. As she says, she never set out to be an entrepreneur — she calls...
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EP 287 – Permission, Structure, and Social Media Success with Sam Toles
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman welcomes Sam Toles, a digital media pioneer and storyteller with decades of experience building audiences, brands, and communities. Sam is the CEO and co-founder of , a platform designed to transform civic engagement by helping communities and governments create stronger, more transparent conversations online. Sam’s career has spanned leadership roles at MGM, Vimeo, Bleacher Report, and Warner Bros., and throughout it all he has stayed focused on how creativity, structure, and permission come together to unlock growth. His...
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EP 286 - Introducing the Edge of the Napkin
Paper Napkin Wisdom
In this special episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I (Govindh Jayaraman) take a step back to reflect on the journey we’ve been on together — over 280 episodes filled with wisdom, stories, and lessons from incredible leaders, entrepreneurs, and difference makers. The napkin for this episode reads: “Introducing the Edge of the Napkin.” It’s a phrase that captures both a transition and an expansion. The napkin has always been a place for distilled wisdom — one sentence, one thought, one principle that could change everything if applied. But now, we’re venturing into...
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EP 285 – Kendra MacDonald: Building a Career That Grows With You
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Careers aren’t meant to be lived on repeat. In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we sit down with Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada’s Ocean Supercluster, a leader who has spent her career helping organizations innovate, adapt, and push boundaries. Kendra has been recognized for her work in transformation and leadership across industries, and she brings her wisdom to the napkin with a deceptively simple but powerful message. On her napkin, Kendra wrote: “Make sure your career is 25 years, not 1 year 25 times. What will you learn this year?” This phrase, first...
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EP 284 - Michael Walsh – Conclusion of The Freedom Series Part 16
Paper Napkin Wisdom
Introduction: A Journey Comes Full Circle Over the course of sixteen episodes, Michael Walsh has taken us on an extraordinary journey through what he calls the Freedom Framework. This framework has become a cornerstone for entrepreneurs who want to build businesses that don’t just survive but thrive – organizations that create value, empower people, and endure through change. Michael, founder of , has spent decades helping leaders shift from working in their businesses to working on them. His approach blends deep financial discipline, people-first development, and a...
info_outlineBest-selling author, world renowned customer service expert, founder of the DiJulius Group, business success – John DiJulius III has tapped into something special. On this podcast, John discusses applying his methodology beyond business, and why his life purpose is to “live an extraordinary life, so that others will.”
Stating your purpose isn’t enough. You have to deliver what you say and what you declare happen. “We all have seeds of potential,” John asserts, “and the seeds of potential that we don’t grow to their fullest potential...cheats all the people that are dependent on us.” Many people just say that they want to live an extraordinary life, but they don’t do the things that can get them there.
John reveals why he tells his employees, “I don’t want your best…,” while sharing inspirational tips and perspectives. “When each of us chose to be...a leader, we gave up the right to make excuses.” Their best is not needed. The only thing that is needed from an individual is to make a difference.
For John, his personal purpose statement is there “to remind me of my obligation,” in both his professional and personal life. Whether dealing with business colleagues or family and loved ones, it’s always important to remember those who work behind the scenes to help with a leader’s success, and to never run over them.