Paper Napkin Wisdom
Paper Napkin Wisdom with Govindh Jayaraman The biggest breakthroughs don’t always come from boardrooms, textbooks, or endless strategy decks. More often, they’re sparked in simple moments—captured on the back of a napkin. That’s the heart of Paper Napkin Wisdom. Each week, host Govindh Jayaraman sits down with entrepreneurs, leaders, athletes, artists, and difference-makers who distill their most powerful insight into one napkin-sized idea. These aren’t abstract theories. They’re lived lessons—the kind that shift how you see the world and give you tools you can use immediately. From billion-dollar founders and bestselling authors to under-the-radar innovators changing their industries, every guest shares a perspective that challenges assumptions and invites you to loosen your grip on “the way things are.” You’ll discover how simple reframes can spark growth, how clarity emerges from constraint, and how wisdom becomes powerful only when it’s put into action. Expect conversations that are raw, practical, and deeply human. You’ll leave each episode not only seeing reality differently, but also knowing exactly what you can try today—in your business, your leadership, or your life. If you’re ready for small shifts that lead to big results, this is your place. Grab a napkin, listen in, and share your takeaway with #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because wisdom isn’t meant to sit on the page—it’s meant to move you forward.
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Cut the Anchor: Why Your Most Powerful Resolution for 2026 Might Be a STOP List - Edge of the Napkin Series #18
12/28/2025
Cut the Anchor: Why Your Most Powerful Resolution for 2026 Might Be a STOP List - Edge of the Napkin Series #18
This time of year, something familiar happens. We turn the page on the calendar and feel the pull to do something different. We reach for a word like resolution and instinctively pair it with action. More discipline. More consistency. More output. More effort. Most resolutions are framed as additions — new habits, new systems, new rules we promise ourselves we’ll finally follow. But what if the most powerful move forward isn’t about what you start doing? What if real momentum comes from what you’re willing to stop? Growth Isn’t Always About More We’ve been taught that progress is cumulative. That success comes from stacking behaviors, strategies, and systems. But clarity doesn’t work that way. Focus doesn’t work that way. Energy doesn’t work that way. The leaders and entrepreneurs who move with conviction instead of exhaustion aren’t doing more. They’re carrying less. They’ve learned that growth is often subtraction — and that the fastest way forward is removing what no longer belongs. Why Most Resolutions Don’t Stick Most resolutions fail for a simple reason: They ask you to become someone new without letting go of who you’ve been. You try to build a new future on top of old beliefs, habits, and emotional patterns — patterns that were never designed to support where you’re going next. That creates friction. You don’t need more motivation. You need fewer anchors. A Parable: The Boat That Wouldn’t Move A seasoned sailor couldn’t understand why his boat felt heavy. The wind was strong. The sails were raised. The destination was clear. So he worked harder. Adjusted the sails. Studied the charts. Still, the boat barely moved. An old shipwright finally took a look. He didn’t touch the sails. He leaned over the side and pointed. “You’re dragging anchors.” Plural. Old anchors. Forgotten anchors. Anchors from earlier journeys that once made sense — but no longer did. “But I never dropped anchor,” the sailor said. “No,” the shipwright replied. “But you never stopped carrying them.” Leadership works the same way. You don’t need more wind. You need to cut what no longer belongs. The STOP List: A New Kind of Resolution If growth is subtraction, then the most powerful resolution you can make is a STOP list. Not aspirational. Not performative. Practical. Honest. Personal. Here are some anchors leaders and entrepreneurs commonly drag. Stop second-guessing yourself Second-guessing masquerades as responsibility, but it fractures momentum. Certainty doesn’t mean being right — it means not abandoning yourself mid-decision. Stop playing small to make others comfortable Dimming your light doesn’t protect people. It deprives them. Leadership requires clarity, not contraction. Stop using belief in the wrong direction Belief shapes behavior. Behavior shapes results. If belief is aimed against your future, it becomes your most expensive anchor. Stop giving unsolicited advice Sometimes people don’t need fixing. They need safety. Presence often outperforms expertise. Stop playing devil’s advocate when encouragement is needed There’s a time for rigor — and a time to borrow belief to someone who’s still finding theirs. Certainty Is the Lens That Reveals What to Stop Certainty isn’t arrogance or rigidity. It’s clarity of direction. When you’re certain — even loosely — about where you’re heading, you gain a powerful filter. You see what doesn’t fit. You notice where energy leaks. You recognize what you’ve been tolerating. Certainty doesn’t make life easier. It makes decisions cleaner. A Personal Reflection I thought I was being generous by holding back. Being measured. Being considerate. But I realized I wasn’t being my full light. A friend reflected this back to me in a Christmas message: “You’re selfless with your love and advice to all of us lucky enough to have you in our lives.” It didn’t land as praise. It landed as a call to action. If that’s true, then holding back isn’t humility. It’s withholding. So my STOP list became clear: Stop dimming. Stop self-editing. Stop believing that being fully myself is “too much.” My commitment isn’t to do more. It’s to be more by stopping what isn’t aligned. 5 Key Takeaways (with Take Action) 1. Growth is often subtraction, not addition Take Action: Write a STOP list before you write a goal list. Identify one habit, belief, or behavior to remove before adding anything new. 2. Certainty reveals where energy is leaking Take Action: Ask yourself: “What am I tolerating that no longer fits where I’m going?” Circle one answer and act on it this week. 3. Second-guessing is an anchor disguised as humility Take Action: Make your next decision without polling others unless expertise is truly required. Practice trusting your first knowing. 4. Playing small is a form of withholding Take Action: Share one idea, truth, or conviction you’ve been holding back — publicly or privately — without over-editing it. 5. Belief must be aimed intentionally Take Action: Notice where you’re rehearsing what won’t work. Consciously redirect belief toward what you want to build instead. Your Edge of the Napkin Question If growth is subtraction… What’s on your STOP list for 2026? What belief, habit, or behavior is anchoring you to the past — and ready to be cut? Sometimes the most powerful move forward isn’t adding another habit. It’s cutting the anchor. One Napkin. One Insight. One Shift. This post is inspired by Episode 326 of the Paper Napkin Wisdom Podcast and Edge of the Napkin #18. For more leadership conversations, reflections, and napkin wisdom, visit: What will you stop — so you can finally move forward?
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People Come for the Work. They Stay for the Team. – Wintress Odom, CEO The Writers for Hire
12/25/2025
People Come for the Work. They Stay for the Team. – Wintress Odom, CEO The Writers for Hire
Wintress Odom is the Founder and CEO of The Writers For Hire, a company built on clarity, discipline, and consistently high-quality work. From the outside, it’s easy to assume the success came from systems, execution, and technical excellence alone. But on her paper napkin, Wintress wrote something deceptively simple: “People come for the work. They stay for the team.” That sentence didn’t come from a leadership book. It came from lived experience — from building a business, leading people, and learning (sometimes the hard way) what actually keeps a team engaged over time. This conversation is about a shift many leaders make too late… and how everything changes when they finally make it. The Napkin That Changed the Way She Led Early in her journey, Wintress did what many high-performing founders do: She optimized for output. She valued efficiency. She valued competence. She valued getting the work done — and getting it done well. What she didn’t value (at least at first) were the things that felt inefficient: Team time Small talk Recognition Emotional check-ins “Soft” leadership moments In her mind, the work was the reward. But that assumption quietly created distance. Not because the work wasn’t good — it was. Not because people weren’t capable — they were. But because not everyone is motivated by the same things. And leadership breaks down the moment we assume they are. The “Everyone Is Like Me” Trap One of the most important moments in this conversation is Wintress’s realization that she was leading from an unspoken belief: If the work matters to me, it should matter the same way to everyone else. That belief is subtle. And incredibly common. It shows up as: Silence instead of appreciation High standards without context Feedback only when something goes wrong A culture where results matter… but people don’t always feel seen What surprised Wintress wasn’t just that the team felt disconnected — it was that she didn’t see it coming. From her perspective, she was being fair. From theirs, she felt distant. That gap is where disengagement begins. Why “Doing the Work” Isn’t Enough One of the clearest insights from this episode is this: You can’t expect the work alone to carry the relationship. People may join because the work is meaningful. They may start because the role fits. But they stay because of how it feels to belong. Wintress didn’t change her standards. She didn’t lower expectations. What she changed was how she showed up between the work. She learned to: Say thank you Offer meaningful feedback Acknowledge effort, not just outcomes Create space for people to enjoy working together Those shifts didn’t slow the business down. They accelerated it. Culture Is Not a Perk — It’s a Multiplier As Wintress describes it, once she stopped leading by silent example and started leading with intentional connection, something unexpected happened: The team didn’t just feel better. They performed better. Trust increased. Engagement increased. Ownership increased. And the work — the very thing she had always prioritized — improved because of it. This is the paradox many leaders miss: When people feel respected and included, they give more — not less. Culture isn’t the opposite of productivity. It’s what sustains it. The Quiet Shift That Changed Everything What makes this wisdom so powerful is that it isn’t flashy. There’s no grand overhaul. No dramatic turnaround story. Just a leader willing to question a long-held assumption: What motivates me might not motivate everyone else. That awareness created room for: Mutual respect Real engagement A team people actually wanted to be part of And that’s what turned a group of capable individuals into a cohesive, loyal team. Five Key Takeaways from Episode 325 1. People don’t stay for the work alone. The work may attract them — the team keeps them. 2. Efficiency without connection creates distance. What feels “productive” to a leader can feel cold to a team. 3. Not everyone is motivated like you are. Assuming they are is one of leadership’s most expensive mistakes. 4. Appreciation is not inefficiency. It’s fuel. 5. Culture compounds results. When people feel respected and engaged, performance follows. More About the Guest Wintress Odom Founder & CEO, The Writers For Hire, Inc. Wintress Odom is the founder and CEO of The Writers For Hire, a professional writing firm known for clarity, consistency, and high standards. Her leadership journey reflects the evolution many founders experience — from task-driven excellence to people-centered impact. Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: @thewritersforhire One napkin. One idea. One shift. If this episode sparked something for you, grab a napkin and write down what your team needs more of — then share it with #PaperNapkinWisdom.
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Presence Over Presents: The Ultimate Gift You Can Give Yourself This Holiday
12/21/2025
Presence Over Presents: The Ultimate Gift You Can Give Yourself This Holiday
The holidays come wrapped in familiar language. Slow down. Rest. Be present. Unplug. It sounds right. It even sounds desirable. And yet, for many leaders and entrepreneurs, it doesn’t always land. If anything, the holidays can quietly amplify a tension that’s been humming all year. Because while the world appears to be pausing, something inside you may still be moving. Measuring. Reviewing. Assessing. For years, that’s where I lived. When the Holidays Became a Scorecard While others talked about rest, I found myself doing a very quiet audit. Not intentionally at first — just instinctively. I’d look back at the year and notice the ideas I didn’t follow. The projects that stalled. The results that didn’t show up the way I expected. Revenue targets. KPIs. Momentum. And without ever saying it out loud, my body would reach a conclusion: There’s a gap. So naturally, I wanted to fix it. Fill the gap. Drive the solution. Push forward. The problem wasn’t ambition. The problem was timing. Because that push showed up at the exact moment the rest of the world was letting go. Clients were offline. Teams were unplugging. Suppliers were closed. And suddenly, my internal urgency had nowhere to go. That misalignment — between my energy and the world’s rhythm — left me uneasy. Anxious. Off balance. Overcorrecting in the Wrong Direction Sometimes I tried to solve that discomfort by staying busy anyway. If I couldn’t push at work, I’d overperform at home. I’d pour myself into family time with intensity. I’d put pressure on moments to be meaningful. I’d try to manufacture presence. And when things didn’t go perfectly — when moods shifted or plans changed — I’d feel that same unease return. Because effort and presence aren’t the same thing. Trying to be present carries tension. Actually being present carries permission. For a long time, I didn’t know how to give myself that permission. A Quiet Shift This year feels different. And not because the year was perfect. What’s changed is where I’ve been placing my attention. For the first time in a long time — maybe since I was a kid — I feel aligned heading into the holidays. Not checked out. Not forcing calm. Not pretending everything’s fine. Aligned. I feel in tune with my family. I feel present. I feel ready for this season — not just the calendar version of it. And what surprised me most is that this shift didn’t come from doing more. It came from seeing something that was already there. The Vision That Was Waiting At some point, I started paying attention to a vision I’d carried for years. Not a business plan. Not a list of goals. A life vision. Whenever I pictured my future, my family was always there. Smiling. Content. Peaceful. Not rushed. No frantic energy. No sense of being pulled somewhere else. Just time. Time together. And when I really looked at that vision — like watching a movie — something became obvious. Time wasn’t a reward for success. Time was the success. That realization didn’t create urgency. It created gratitude. Because the vision didn’t feel distant. It felt familiar. Like something I’d been overlooking while chasing outcomes. The Treasure That Was Already Home There’s a timeless parable echoed in books like The Alchemist and The Greatest Salesman in the World. A man travels the world searching for treasure — crossing deserts, following signs, enduring hardship — only to discover that the treasure was buried beneath the place he started. The journey wasn’t wasted. It was necessary. Because without it, he wouldn’t have recognized the treasure even if it had been handed to him. That’s what this realization felt like. The striving. The pressure. The misaligned holidays. They weren’t mistakes. They were what made alignment visible. Presence > Presents So here’s the napkin wisdom at the center of this season: Presence > Presents Not as a rejection of gifts. Not as a rule or a moral statement. But as a reminder. The most meaningful gift you can give yourself — and the people you care about — isn’t something you buy. It’s something you inhabit. Presence isn’t passive. It’s practiced. And the gateway to it is vision. The Greatest Gift You Can Give Yourself The ultimate gift this holiday isn’t rest. It’s time to connect with your vision for the future. Not your goals. Not your metrics. Your life. Time to feel it — not analyze it. Time to write about it. Time to attach positive emotion to it. To animate it. Because vision without emotion stays abstract. And emotion without practice fades. But when you bring them together — deliberately — something shifts. A Simple Edge of the Napkin Process This doesn’t need complexity. It needs intention. Here’s a simple way to begin. 1. Name What You Want (Without Editing It) Forget practicality for a moment. What do you want your life to feel like? Who’s there? What’s the pace? What’s present — and what’s missing? Write it down without polishing it. Truth matters more than clarity. 2. Play the Movie Close your eyes and watch it. Not once — daily. Notice the energy. Notice the tempo. Notice how time behaves. This isn’t visualization for achievement. It’s rehearsal for being. 3. Attach Emotion on Purpose Gratitude. Peace. Contentment. Let your body feel it. Emotion is what turns imagination into orientation. 4. Practice Integration, Not Perfection Ask one question each day: What part of this can I live today? A slower meal. An unrushed conversation. A decision not to fill every gap. Small moments compound. 5. Protect the Vision Gently Not aggressively. Not defensively. When urgency shows up, check it against your vision. Does this move me toward it — or away from it? That question alone recalibrates everything. Coming Home for the Holidays This season, you don’t need to fix the gap. You don’t need to push harder. You don’t need to prove anything. You can give yourself something far more valuable: Permission to be in the story you’re already building. Because the future you want isn’t waiting for you to arrive. It’s quietly inviting you to notice where you already are. And that — more than anything wrapped under a tree — might be the gift that lasts. 5 Key Takeaways (with Take Action) Misalignment Creates Anxiety Take Action: Notice where your energy doesn’t match the season — without judgment. Time Is the True Currency of Fulfillment Take Action: Choose one moment each day to be unhurried on purpose. Vision Precedes Presence Take Action: Write one paragraph describing the life you want to live, not achieve. Emotion Activates Imagination Take Action: Attach gratitude or peace to your vision — feel it, don’t analyze it. Small Moments Create Big Alignment Take Action: Ask daily: What part of my future can I live today? If this resonated, take one idea from this post, write it on a paper napkin, and share it with someone you care about — or post it with #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because sometimes, the simplest reminders are the ones that bring us home.
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Turn the Other Cheek, Smile — and Mean It – David Miller
12/18/2025
Turn the Other Cheek, Smile — and Mean It – David Miller
There’s a particular kind of wisdom that doesn’t shout. It doesn’t posture. It doesn’t try to win the room. It shows up quietly, often after experience has taken its toll, and says: this way works better. That’s the kind of wisdom David Miller brought to this conversation. On his paper napkin, David wrote a deceptively simple line: “Turn the other cheek, smile :) and mean it!” At first glance, it sounds like something we’ve all heard before — maybe even dismissed. Too soft. Too passive. Too idealistic for the real world of business, leadership, and pressure. But as David’s story unfolded, it became clear: this isn’t about avoidance or weakness. It’s about mastery. Emotional mastery. Leadership mastery. The discipline to respond instead of react. And that distinction matters more than ever. Where This Wisdom Comes From David’s perspective isn’t theoretical. It’s shaped by a life of movement, risk, intensity, and responsibility — from aviation and air sports to entrepreneurship and leadership. He’s spent years in environments where reactions are costly, composure is essential, and ego can get you hurt. Throughout the conversation, David keeps returning to one idea: how you respond when things don’t go your way defines who you are — and how far you can go. Turning the other cheek, in his framing, isn’t about letting people walk all over you. It’s about refusing to let someone else’s behavior hijack your internal state. Smiling — and meaning it — isn’t performative. It’s intentional. It’s a signal to yourself first: I’m choosing how this moment affects me. The Cost of Reaction One of the undercurrents of this episode is how often leaders sabotage themselves not through bad strategy, but through unmanaged emotion. A sharp comment. A perceived slight. A deal that doesn’t go as planned. A team member who disappoints. The instinctive response is to defend, correct, push back, or assert control. David’s lived experience suggests something different: Every reactive moment taxes your energy, clarity, and credibility. Reaction feels powerful in the moment. But it’s expensive over time. Turning the other cheek creates space. Space to see the bigger picture. Space to keep relationships intact. Space to remain aligned with who you want to be — not just what you want to win. Smiling — And Meaning It This is the hardest part of the napkin. Anyone can fake composure. Anyone can suppress frustration for a meeting or two. But David is talking about something deeper: genuine internal alignment. Smiling and meaning it requires you to let go of the need to be right. To let go of the need to score points. To let go of the story that says, “They shouldn’t have done that.” Instead, you choose a different internal posture: Curiosity over judgment Calm over control Long-term trust over short-term dominance That doesn’t mean you don’t address issues. It means you address them from a grounded place, not a triggered one. Leadership Isn’t Loud A quiet theme running through this episode is that true leadership rarely looks dramatic. It looks like restraint. It looks like patience. It looks like someone who doesn’t need to prove anything. David’s napkin challenges a common leadership myth — that strength requires confrontation, force, or constant assertion. In reality, the leaders people trust most are the ones who are hardest to knock off center. Turning the other cheek isn’t retreat. It’s choosing not to escalate. And over time, that choice compounds. Five Key Takeaways from the Conversation 1. Emotional Control Is a Leadership Skill Your ability to regulate your response under pressure directly impacts trust, culture, and outcomes. Take Action: Notice your first reaction this week — and pause before acting on it. Choose your response deliberately. 2. Not Every Moment Requires a Counterpunch Just because you can respond doesn’t mean you should. Take Action: Identify one recurring situation where you habitually push back. Experiment with restraint instead. 3. Strength Can Be Quiet Composure often communicates more authority than confrontation. Take Action: In your next tense interaction, focus on tone and presence rather than winning the point. 4. Internal Alignment Matters More Than External Optics Smiling only works if it’s genuine. Otherwise, the cost gets paid internally. Take Action: Ask yourself: What am I holding onto that’s preventing me from actually letting this go? 5. Long-Term Respect Beats Short-Term Satisfaction Turning the other cheek preserves relationships and momentum over time. Take Action: Make one decision this week based on long-term trust instead of immediate gratification. A Final Thought The napkin doesn’t say avoid conflict. It doesn’t say be passive. It says something far more demanding: Choose who you are — especially when it’s hard. Turning the other cheek is a discipline. Smiling and meaning it is a practice. And together, they form a leadership posture that doesn’t just get results — it earns respect.
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Seeds Grow in the Soil: Why the Most Important Progress Is Invisible (Yet)
12/14/2025
Seeds Grow in the Soil: Why the Most Important Progress Is Invisible (Yet)
There are seasons where doing the work feels strangely unrewarding. You’re showing up. You’re staying consistent. You’re doing what you said you would do. And yet — nothing obvious is happening. No external validation. No visible breakthrough. No clear sign that you’re “on track.” That’s usually when doubt starts whispering questions we don’t want to answer: Is this actually working? Am I wasting time? Shouldn’t I be further along by now? This Edge of the Napkin episode is about that exact season — the one where growth is real, but hidden. The phase where progress exists, just not where you’re looking for it. Because one of the hardest leadership lessons — in life and in business — is this: Seeds grow in the soil, not in the spotlight. The Cost of Misreading Silence We live in a world that celebrates what’s visible. If something can be measured, shared, or announced, we trust it. If it can’t, we question it. But growth doesn’t care about appearances. Growth cares about conditions. And when you don’t understand how growth actually works, you don’t just slow yourself down — you often sabotage the very thing you’re trying to build. Most people don’t quit because they lack discipline or intelligence. They quit because they misinterpret silence as failure. A Parable of Two Farmers Imagine two farmers working identical land with identical seeds. The first farmer prepares the soil carefully. He removes obvious rocks, plants the seeds, waters the field — and then waits. Not passively, but patiently. He understands the process. The second farmer does the same thing at first. But after a few days, he grows restless. Nothing is visible. So he digs. “Just checking,” he tells himself. He covers the seed back up. Waits a little longer. Digs again. Adjusts the seed. Adds water. Worries he’s added too much. Keeps checking. One farmer looks inactive. The other looks busy. Only one of them will harvest anything. Why? Because every time the impatient farmer digs, he destroys the fragile roots forming underground — the very roots that make growth possible. Growth requires stability before it earns visibility. Seeds Don’t Grow in Clean Places Seeds don’t grow in sterile environments. They grow in dirt. And dirt isn’t punishment. It’s nourishment. Pressure. Moisture. Time. Stillness. Ironically, these are the exact conditions most of us try to escape. We want reassurance before commitment. Proof before patience. But seeds don’t get reassurance. They get buried. And here’s the part most people overlook: soil grows weeds too. When Waiting Turns Into Planting the Wrong Things Many of us say we’re waiting — but what we’re really doing is planting. We plant doubt: Maybe this isn’t working. We plant fear: What if this fails? We plant comparison: They’re so much further ahead than I am. Weeds grow faster than seeds. Left unchecked, they steal oxygen from the soil and weaken what’s trying to grow. Later, when progress struggles to surface, we blame the seed — not the environment we allowed to form. We quit right when the roots are taking hold. The Invisible Phase Is Where Growth Is Decided Most real progress doesn’t feel like progress. It feels like: effort without feedback repetition without reward discipline without dopamine And that’s why so many people abandon good ideas, meaningful businesses, and strong leadership paths — not at the beginning, and not at the end, but right in the middle. Right when the roots are forming. The Seed Must Crack to Become What It’s Meant to Be Here’s the deeper truth most people never consider: A seed doesn’t become a better seed. It becomes something else entirely. Before anything can grow above the surface, the seed must crack. Split. Break apart. In every meaningful sense, the seed is destroyed. The shell that once protected it would suffocate it later. And this is where growth gets uncomfortable for us. We want expansion without loss. Success without surrender. Becoming without breaking. But growth doesn’t negotiate. Some versions of you must end so that something stronger can emerge. Looking for Progress in the Wrong Places Another trap we fall into is looking for progress where we expect to find it. More revenue. More confidence. More clarity. But often progress shows up sideways — in calmer reactions, stronger boundaries, better questions, or fewer emotional decisions. Because that progress isn’t flashy, we dismiss it. Meanwhile, everything is reorganizing beneath the surface. The Bamboo Lesson Bamboo is famous for a reason. For up to five years, nothing visible happens. No shoots. No stalks. No proof. But underground, an enormous root system is forming. Then suddenly, bamboo can grow several feet in a single day. Not because it rushed — but because it was ready. Bamboo bends without breaking. It survives storms. It lasts. That kind of strength can’t be rushed. What This Looks Like in Business and Leadership In business, this shows up when founders pivot too early. They’re learning, refining, building trust — but abandon the work before momentum compounds. In leadership, it shows up as hovering instead of trusting. Interrupting culture instead of letting it form. Digging instead of stabilizing the soil. Strong businesses and strong teams aren’t built in visible moments. They’re built quietly, long before results show up. How to Support Real Growth Real growth requires restraint. Less digging. Fewer fear-based decisions. More consistency. It means pulling weeds early — naming doubt, challenging fear, and refusing to rehearse failure. It means watering the soil with small, boring fundamentals done well over time. And it means giving growth intentional time, not infinite time. Final Thought Seeds don’t grow because they’re watched. They grow because the soil is right. So ask yourself: Where are you digging too often? What weeds are you letting grow? And what might already be forming — quietly — beneath the surface? You don’t need proof. You need patience. The soil is working. Even now. 5 Key Takeaways Silence doesn’t mean failure — it often means roots are forming. Take Action: Commit to staying with one meaningful effort one season longer than feels comfortable. Growth begins underground before it becomes visible. Take Action: Identify one habit you’ll continue even without feedback or validation. Doubt and fear are weeds that must be removed early. Take Action: Write down the doubts you’re rehearsing — then question their truth. The seed must crack to become something greater. Take Action: Name one outdated identity, role, or habit you may need to release. Strong growth is patient growth. Take Action: Shift your focus from results to tending the soil consistently. ✍️ Your Turn What are you growing right now — quietly, beneath the surface? Write it down on a napkin. Protect it. And when you’re ready, share it using #PaperNapkinWisdom.
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“Your Revenue Is Hiding in Plain Sight” — Sailynn Doyle on the 80/20 Shift That Changed Everything
12/11/2025
“Your Revenue Is Hiding in Plain Sight” — Sailynn Doyle on the 80/20 Shift That Changed Everything
There’s a moment in every entrepreneur’s journey when the hustle stops feeling heroic and starts feeling heavy. For Sailynn Doyle — business systems strategist, former home-care franchise owner, and founder of Passion • Purpose • Posture — that moment came sitting alone in her car at 9 AM on a Tuesday, exhausted and crying before another 12-hour day. From the outside, she was a success story: a million-dollar business by year three. On the inside, she was drowning in the weight of the work. Endless demands. Constant interruptions. Team members who depended on her for every answer. Growth that created more chaos instead of more freedom. But all of that began to change the day she uncovered a truth hiding in plain sight — a truth she captured on her Paper Napkin: “Your revenue is hiding in plain sight. Stop chasing everyone — go all-in on the 80% that actually matter.” — Sailynn Doyle It wasn’t just a clever saying. It was the key that transformed her business, her team, her time, and ultimately, her life. The Lesson That Changed Everything In 2012, during a quarterly planning meeting with two neighboring franchise owners, Sailynn and her partner Steven pulled up their referral database — a thousand potential sources. Up to that point, their salesperson was visiting everyone equally, spreading effort thin and hoping volume would carry the day. But when they finally examined the data, everything clicked. “When we dug into that information, there in plain sight that I did not realize for five years was that 80% of my revenue came from 20% of that list.” This wasn’t a small revelation — it was a seismic one. Thousands of hours had been spent courting people who were never going to make an impact. The system wasn’t broken — their focus was. And like many entrepreneurs, Sailynn had equated activity with progress. So they made the bold decision: Stop chasing everyone. Start going deeper with the people who already mattered. She remembers the moment vividly: “We both looked at each other like deer in the headlights, like… I hope this works.” It did. Quickly. By pouring their time into the top 200 referral sources — understanding their pain points, building real relationships, showing up consistently — the entire business shifted. Revenue accelerated. Referrals increased. Their salesperson stopped “running around like a chicken with her head cut off” and started making meaningful traction. But the real win? Sailynn got her life back. As she implemented systems, structured her team intentionally, and streamlined the business around what actually mattered, she eventually stepped away for 30 consecutive days — and the company ran without her. A milestone many entrepreneurs dream about but rarely reach. And she did it without burning out, scaling chaos, or losing herself. Because underneath the business strategy was a deeper truth Sailynn had learned through years working with seniors at the end of their lives: “No one ever said to me, ‘I wish I had worked more.’ They talked about regret. They wished they had better relationships. More presence. More time.” This became her mission: Helping women entrepreneurs build businesses that support their lives instead of consuming them. Her napkin isn’t just about revenue. It’s about clarity, boundaries, intentionality, and reclaiming the life your business was supposed to give you. Here are the five core ideas from her conversation — and how leaders can put them into action today. Five Key Takeaways (with Take Action Items) 1. Surface-Level Success Is a Trap So many entrepreneurs build impressive numbers… and miserable lives behind them. Sailynn looked successful on paper but was the bottleneck everywhere. Systems aren’t systems if they break the second you stop touching them. Take Action: Choose one system you’ve “checked the box” on — onboarding, scheduling, sales follow-up — and strengthen it to the point where someone else can run it without you. 2. The 80/20 Rule Is Sitting in Your Data Your most valuable opportunities aren’t new — they’re already in your business. For Sailynn, the top 20% of referral partners drove 80% of revenue. When she stopped spreading her team thin and started going deep, everything improved. Take Action: Pull one year of customer, client, or referral data. Identify the top 20% driving the majority of results. Build a nurturing plan exclusively for them for the next 30 days. 3. If People Come to You for Every Answer, You’re the Problem Sailynn calls this being a “teller.” When the entrepreneur answers every question, the team learns to stop thinking. True scale requires empowerment. “If you’re constantly being asked for answers, you have created a culture of dependency.” Take Action: When someone brings you a question this week, respond with: “Where could you find that?” Point them to the system. Do it consistently for 30 days. 4. Training Must Match the Way People Actually Learn Most entrepreneurs train people the way they learn — fast, verbal, minimal detail. But real empowerment requires layered training: visual, written, hands-on. Take Action: For your next training, create: A video walkthrough A step-by-step written guide One hands-on practice session Ask the trainee which one helped them most. 5. Your “Why” Determines Your Burnout or Your Breakthrough When Sailynn finally got clear about the life she wanted — relationships, health, presence — she realized her business needed to serve that vision, not sabotage it. Take Action: Write out your ideal day in detail. Not someday — today, if everything were aligned. Use this as the filter for every business decision you make in the next month. Conclusion: What’s Hiding in Plain Sight for You? Sailynn’s wisdom reminds us of a truth many entrepreneurs resist: Sometimes the biggest growth isn’t found in doing more — it’s found in noticing what’s already working and doing it with intention. Her story is a testament to clarity over chaos, depth over breadth, and purpose over busyness. So here’s the question she leaves us with: What revenue — what opportunity, what freedom — is already hiding in plain sight in your business? Write it down. Share it on a napkin. Use the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom so others can learn from your insight. Every big transformation starts with the courage to look at what’s right in front of you. Guest Links (URLs, not hyperlinks) Website: LinkedIn:
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Nothing to Prove. Everything to Be.
12/07/2025
Nothing to Prove. Everything to Be.
There’s a moment in every leader’s life when they look around the “room” they’re in — not the physical room, but the emotional one, the psychological one, the internal one — and ask: “How much of who I am today was shaped by the right voices… and how much by the wrong ones?” For years, Govindh Jayaraman — founder of Paper Napkin Wisdom — sat in rooms filled with people who called themselves friends, collaborators, supporters. And many of them were exactly that. They challenged ideas. They sharpened thinking. They asked questions that helped build the early architecture of Govindh’s life work. But others? They shared something else entirely. Not truth. Not clarity. Not genuine care. But doubt. Subtle doubt. Delivered with a smile. “You’re not as strong as you think.” “You’re not that good of a leader.” “You’re not who you think you are.” The words didn’t critique the work — they critiqued the identity behind the work. And the most painful part? Govindh believed them. This blog explores the powerful insight behind his latest Edge of the Napkin episode — an insight about identity, doubt, proving yourself, and the freedom available the moment you finally set down the emotional backpack you never needed to carry in the first place. When Truth Helps You Grow — And When Doubt Makes You Small There’s a difference between a friend who looks at something you’re building and says: “It's not ready yet — but I see what you're doing, let’s make it stronger,” and a person who says: “You’re not who you think you are.” One speaks to the work. The other speaks to your worth. One helps you grow. The other keeps you small. And the tricky thing? Both voices can sit in the same room. Both voices can sound like support. Both voices can feel justified. But inside you, they do completely different things. Truth sharpens. Doubt shrinks. And when you’re not paying attention, you can start shaping your entire identity in reaction to someone else’s insecurity. The Era of Proving When Govindh believed the wrong voices, he didn’t argue. He didn’t push back. He didn’t reject the claims. Instead, he decided to prove them wrong. He dug deeper. He ran faster. He hustled harder. He climbed a mountain he didn’t choose. On the surface, it looked like resilience. Internally, it was something else entirely: A life built on someone else’s narrative. Because whether you’re surrendering to a limiting belief or rebelling against it, you’re still letting that belief steer the wheel. Proving is not leadership. Proving is not purpose. Proving is not becoming. Proving is bondage. And this is where the episode introduces a story — a parable — that reframes everything. The Parable of the Heavy Stone A young man once asked a monk: “Master, why is my life so heavy?” The monk told him: “Show me what you're carrying.” The young man insisted he was carrying nothing. The monk pointed to his chest: “You are carrying the belief that you’re not enough. And the proving? That is the strap you use to keep the stone with you.” He placed a small stone in the young man’s hand and told him to hold it. At first, it felt light. Then tolerable. Then uncomfortable. Then unbearable. When the monk finally told him to put it down, the relief washed over him instantly. The monk said: “The stone never owned you. You were always free to let it go.” This is the heart of the episode: The weight you feel isn’t the doubt. It’s your decision to keep carrying it. The Backpack on the Ground Govindh’s napkin sketch for this episode is beautifully simple: A stick figure standing tall. A backpack on the ground. Space between them. The message? You are allowed to put down the weight that was never yours. There is nothing to prove. There is everything to be. When you stop performing for an audience that never had your best interests at heart… When you stop reacting to voices that never deserved authority… When you curate your internal room with intention… You reclaim the ability to hear yourself again. And that is the beginning of becoming. 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS + TAKE ACTION (For Entrepreneurs & Leaders) 1. Curate Your Room Not every voice deserves a seat at the table of your identity. Take Action: List three people whose feedback sharpens you — and three whose doubt drains you. Adjust access accordingly. 2. Know the Difference Between Truth and Doubt Constructive truth improves the work. Doubt attacks the identity. Take Action: Before accepting feedback, ask: “Is this about the work… or about me?” 3. Stop Proving. Start Being. You can’t build a life while fighting someone else’s narrative of you. Take Action: Identify one area where you feel the need to prove something. This week, practice releasing the expectation — and observe what opens. 4. Put Down the Stone The weight is not the critique. It’s the belief that you must carry it. Take Action: Write down one belief that no longer serves you. Fold the paper. Throw it out. Symbolism matters. 5. Leadership Begins With Identity Your growth accelerates the moment you stop trying to be someone else’s version of you. Take Action: Ask yourself each morning this week: “Who am I choosing to be today, for me?” YOUR TURN — WRITE IT ON A NAPKIN Now it’s your move. ✏️ Grab a napkin. Write your version of this truth. Maybe it’s: “I choose being over proving.” or “I set it down.” or “The stone was never mine.” Then share it with me — and with the world — using #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because the moment you can articulate your wisdom simply… you can begin to live it deeply.
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Dan Perry & Michael Serapiglia – “If You Get Lost, Enjoy the View Around You”
12/04/2025
Dan Perry & Michael Serapiglia – “If You Get Lost, Enjoy the View Around You”
Some stories begin with a business plan. Others begin with a feeling — a deep, lived truth that travel isn’t just about going somewhere, but about finally being somewhere without fear. That’s the story behind Toto Tours. When founder Dan Ware launched the company in 1990, LGBTQ+ travelers faced a world far less welcoming than it is today. Travel was often an act of courage. Safety wasn’t guaranteed. Connection wasn’t a given. And yet Dan believed something radical: that the world belonged to everyone, and that queer people deserved to explore it without shrinking, hiding, or apologizing. That early mission — to create safe, joyful, life-changing journeys — set the foundation for one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ tour companies in the world. Today, that legacy is being carried forward by Dan Perry and Michael Serapiglia, two leaders who bring heart, artistry, and intentional strategy to the next era of Toto Tours. Michael’s background alone is a reminder that great careers rarely follow straight lines. A Broadway dancer in productions like Annie Get Your Gun and Aida, an Emmy®-nominated makeup artist, and a lifelong student of people and culture, Michael brings a performer’s attention to detail and a creative’s sense of wonder to everything he touches. That energy is written all over Toto’s new vision — a company designed not just to take people places, but to orchestrate experiences. Dan, meanwhile, is rooted, thoughtful, and anchored in the operational heartbeat of the business. As co-owner and steward of the brand’s legacy, his leadership ensures that the company’s emotional mission is matched with real-world execution: logistics handled with precision, safety prioritized above all else, and every traveler supported as a deeply valued guest. Together, they are scaling Toto Tours for the next generation — bringing structure to creativity, growth to mission, and clarity to chaos. That blend shows up beautifully in their napkin: “Remember… if you get lost, enjoy the view around you.” It’s playful. Light. But also quietly profound. Because travel does involve getting lost. Entrepreneurship definitely involves getting lost. And navigating identity, belonging, and community? That’s a lifelong journey with no perfect map. What makes Toto Tours powerful — and what makes Dan and Michael’s leadership so compelling — is how they embrace that “lostness” with intention. They’ve built a business around creating psychological safety in unfamiliar places. They design tours where vulnerability isn’t a risk, but a pathway to connection. And they do it in a way that proves something important: When your business is built on empathy and authenticity, growth becomes a natural outcome — not the goal. In our conversation, they talked about inheriting a business that has meant something real to thousands of travelers. They shared the challenges of honoring a 35-year legacy while modernizing every aspect of the customer experience. They spoke openly about the responsibility that comes with being stewards of a community, not just operators of a company. And what stood out most was this: Their success is rooted in the courage to stay human in an industry that often forgets to be. Their stories ranged from navigating international travel logistics to deeply personal moments on tour — when someone feels seen for the first time, or finally gets to show up as their full self after years of holding back. This is not a commodity business. This is not “selling vacations.” This is transformational work disguised as travel. And Dan and Michael are the right leaders at the right moment — blending heart, craft, psychological safety, and strategic growth in a way that honors the past while confidently shaping the future. 5 Key Takeaways (with Take Action steps) 1. Empathy is a business strategy, not a soft skill. Toto Tours was built on understanding the emotional experience of the traveler. That core value is still their competitive advantage. Take Action: Identify one customer anxiety or emotional need you haven’t been addressing — and build a process or moment that solves it. 2. Legacy is something you steward, not something you own. Dan and Michael inherited a 35-year mission. Their role is not to change the soul of the company, but to carry it forward. Take Action: If you lead a team or a business, ask: What part of our legacy must remain untouched? What part needs to evolve right now? 3. Safety creates the conditions for joy. Their tours work because people feel safe — emotionally, physically, and socially. Safety unlocks curiosity and connection. Take Action: Audit how your team experiences psychological safety. Identify one area where people still “armor up.” 4. Creativity and structure don’t compete — they complete each other. Michael brings artistry. Dan brings operational consistency. Together, they create magic. Take Action: Look at your own leadership style. What’s your opposite energy — and who could you partner with to balance your approach? 5. Getting lost is part of the journey — but meaning comes from how you respond. Their napkin says it best: if you’re lost, enjoy the view. Trust the moment you’re in. Take Action: Ask yourself: Where do I feel lost right now? Instead of fixing it, what can I appreciate about this moment? About the Guests Dan Perry & Michael Serapiglia – Co-Owners, Toto Tours Toto Tours began in 1990 when founder Dan Ware envisioned safe, joyful global travel for LGBTQ+ explorers. The company has grown into a trusted international leader rooted in community, inclusion, and curiosity. Today, Dan Perry and Broadway-performer-turned-Emmy-nominated-makeup-artist Michael Serapiglia carry the torch, expanding Toto’s impact while honoring its spirit. Their work blends purpose, creativity, and operational excellence — proving that meaningful business growth begins with humanity. Links website: www.tototours.com
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Be the Man in Someone’s Corner
11/30/2025
Be the Man in Someone’s Corner
There are times in life when wisdom doesn’t show up quietly. It doesn’t whisper. It doesn’t tap you gently on the shoulder. Sometimes it arrives like a jolt — like your heart recognizing something before your brain can process it. That’s how this episode began. If you’ve been following along, you know it’s been a hard season in our home. Stacey’s father — my father-in-law — has been moving through the final stages of his cancer journey. And while there is an entire conversation to be had about the health, the living, and the complexity of that experience… this message isn’t about that part. This one is about emotion. The kind that sits heavy and deep. The kind that reshapes you quietly. It started with a simple clip of Steve Harvey telling a story about his dad. In it, he said something that froze me in place: “Your father is the only man who truly wants you to be better than him. The only one who can say ‘I’m proud of you’ without competition.” And as he said it, he broke — emotionally — because when his father died, he knew he’d never hear those words again. That landed in me with a weight I wasn’t expecting. Not because of loss. Not because of fear. But because of truth. Over the last few months, I’ve been having deep conversations about masculinity — real masculinity. Not the loud, performative kind. Not the kind wrapped in bravado or posturing. I’m talking about the lived kind. The grounded kind. The kind that holds space for vulnerability, accountability, tenderness, and strength all at once. And I’ve been doing this in community with other men — real, honest conversations where ego takes a back seat and presence takes the lead. So when I heard Harvey’s words… they sparked something. Because I’m lucky. I have a father who calls me to remind me of who I can be. A father who tells me he’s proud. A father who truly wants me to be better than he was. That is a rare gift. One I don’t take lightly. And then it hit me — I feel the exact same way about my children. I want my sons to be better than me. I want my daughter to be better than me. Not in the way the world measures “better,” but in depth of character, in presence, in courage, in self-trust. And it goes further still: I realized I want this for my friends too. Not just that they succeed… but that they surpass their own expectations. That they rise higher. That they win. That they become the absolute best versions of themselves. It’s strange to say this out loud, because men aren’t really taught to cheer for each other that way. We’re taught competition, comparison, stoicism, silence. But silence has been doing a lot of damage. So a few weeks ago, I made a small — but life-shifting — decision: I would no longer be the silent man in the corner. I would be the active one. The one who sends the message. The one who checks in. The one who says the thing out loud instead of assuming they know. The one who tells his friends he’s proud of them. The one who reminds them they matter. Every week now, I’ve been sending short notes to the men in my life. Notes like: “I believe in you.” “I’m proud of you.” “You’re doing better than you think.” “You matter to me.” And the responses reveal something profound: Men don’t hear this often. Sometimes not at all. In a world full of noise, what’s missing is something incredibly simple — active encouragement. Not advice. Not fixing. Not lecturing. Encouragement. And in the middle of all this reflection — the emotional weight of watching my father-in-law’s final chapter, the Steve Harvey moment, the conversations with other men — a parable emerged. THE CORNERMAN — A PARABLE There was once a young fighter named Sam. Talented. Strong. Smart. But he couldn’t win. Not once. Every fight ended the same way. He’d enter the ring hopeful… and leave defeated. After one especially tough loss, Sam sat in the change room, crushed. A retired fighter — an older man sweeping the hallway — wandered in and said, “Rough night.” Sam nodded. “You’ve got talent,” the man said, “but that’s not your problem.” Sam looked up. “Kid… you’re losing because you don’t have a corner.” Sam frowned. His coach was right there. But the old man shook his head. “I didn’t say a coach. I said a corner. A corner is the place you go when you’re hurt. The place where someone wipes the blood from your face. Where no one judges you. Where someone speaks truth into you, not doubt. A fighter without a corner doesn’t lose because he’s weak… He loses because he’s alone.” That one idea changed Sam’s entire career — and his life. He didn’t just learn how to fight. He learned what it means to be supported. And eventually, he became that man for others. Because we all need someone in our corner. And we all have the ability — and responsibility — to be a corner for someone else. 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS (For Entrepreneurs & Leaders) 1. Encouragement Is a Leadership Skill Most leaders underestimate the power of saying, “I’m proud of you.” Encouragement is not soft — it is strategic. Take Action: This week, tell one person on your team something specific you’re proud of. Name it. Say it. 2. Don’t Wait for People to Ask Most people won’t ask for support. Initiation is what separates real leadership from passive friendship. Take Action: Send one check-in message today without being prompted. 3. Men Need Active Support, Not Silent Approval Silence leaves too much room for doubt. Active encouragement builds identity and confidence. Take Action: Choose one man in your life and tell him something you admire about him. 4. Strength Isn’t Stoicism — It’s Presence Real masculinity isn’t about withholding emotion; it’s about holding space. Take Action: Practice one moment of emotional presence today — with your partner, a friend, or your child. 5. Become the Corner You Needed We all needed someone at some point. Leadership is becoming that person for the next generation. Take Action: Make encouraging one person per week a non-negotiable ritual. THE NAPKIN IDEA If everything in this message could fit on one napkin, it would say: “Be the man in someone’s corner.” (Say it out loud.) Because no one wins alone. And the man who shows up for others becomes a man others trust, follow, and grow because of. CALL TO ACTION I want you to take this idea and make it real. Write down the name of one person — just one — who needs to hear something today. Then write your message on a paper napkin (yes, literally). Take a photo. Post it. Tag it with #PaperNapkinWisdom. Let’s normalize active encouragement. Let’s show the world what leadership looks like in real life. 🌐 Website www.papernapkinwisdom.com ▶️ YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@papernapkinwisdom 🎧 Podcast Links Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paper-napkin-wisdom/id735345903 Spotify:
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Noah Ellis — Do The Thing
11/27/2025
Noah Ellis — Do The Thing
There’s a moment in every entrepreneur’s life when the universe stops whispering and starts shouting. A moment where the next level isn’t waiting behind brilliance or luck or timing — it’s sitting directly behind the one thing we don’t want to do. For Noah Ellis, founder of Ofland and a hospitality leader who’s spent his life building concepts, teams, and experiences, that moment became a clarity-inducing mantra so important that he didn’t just write it down… he tattooed on his body: Do the thing. Noah’s wisdom is the kind that doesn’t land with theory — it lands with truth. It’s lived. It’s earned. It’s carved out one uncomfortable step at a time. Over the past decade, he’s discovered a pattern that every leader secretly recognizes: everything you want is on the other side of something you'd rather avoid. That avoidance isn’t the same for all of us. For some, “the thing” is the grind — doing operations, building processes, cleaning up details no one applauds. For others, it's stepping into conversations, making asks, building relationships, or being seen. And for a few, the hard thing is the exact opposite of what they’ve been praised for their whole lives: slowing down, waiting, letting things unfold instead of forcing outcomes. This episode digs deep into that idea — not as a slogan, but as a leadership operating system. The Story Behind the Napkin A simple brown napkin, thick black marker, one sentence: Do the thing. Underlined. Period at the end. Nothing decorative. Nothing softened. This wasn’t drawn for branding or aesthetic. It was drawn because this is the thing Noah wants leaders to wrestle with: the simplicity of the truth and the difficulty of the application. Noah realized over the last ten years that every major breakthrough sits behind an internal barrier — and those barriers are different for everyone. He explains: “Everything you want (in both business and life) is on the other side of something you don’t want to do.” In the hospitality world Noah came from, he and a former partner represented two very different strengths. His partner was a dreamer — the type who could conjure ideas, gather money, win partners, wrangle contractors, build energy, keep momentum. Noah, on the other hand, could take a permitted building and money and turn it into a functioning, profitable operation. They each admired what the other could do. But the real lesson didn’t emerge until Noah noticed that many of the “dreamer-built” projects started to falter right after opening. The shiny part was fun. But sustainability? That came from the grind — from patience, discipline, humility, and daily, unsexy decisions. Noah realized it wasn’t enough to stay in his lane or admire his partner’s strengths from afar. His next level required him to do the thing he resisted: developing the same social and strategic abilities his partner possessed. And his partner’s success-long-term required something equally uncomfortable for him: building patience, structure, and commitment to the long game. “Sometimes the thing you don’t want to do is short term and physically uncomfortable… Sometimes, it’s much longer term and emotionally taxing.” This is the heart of Noah’s napkin: not everything hard is the same for everyone. Your thing is your thing. What Happens When You Actually Do the Thing Noah’s life changed when he stopped assuming that problems required immediate action. For years, he believed decisive leadership meant moving now. Fixing now. Addressing now. Jumping in now. But that instinct — while useful in some contexts — was also his crutch. “Even though I wanted to jump in, I needed to develop some patience and let things play out.” Waiting wasn’t passive. It was strategic. In that space, he collected more information, made smaller but smarter decisions, and began choosing sustainability over perfectionism. He had to temper his instinct to control outcomes and refine details beyond what mattered. Perfection in one area was often creating imbalance in others. That’s when Noah realized this wasn’t a motivational poster idea — it was a leadership truth: Doing the thing you avoid changes who you become. Sometimes that’s learning discipline. Sometimes that’s learning patience. Sometimes it’s saying yes. Sometimes it’s saying no. Sometimes it’s stepping forward. Sometimes it’s stepping back. But it always involves stepping. Why This Matters to Leaders Everywhere Noah calls out something profound and rare: success isn’t about working hard at what you’re good at — it’s about working hard at the thing you avoid. As he notes: “We gravitate toward leaders who support our worldview… but the real growth is in doing the opposite.” For the Jocko-style hard chargers, the work might be softness, breathwork, patience, and presence. For the quiet creative thinkers, the work might be decisive action, uncomfortable conversations, or stepping into visibility. Noah’s wisdom asks leaders to look directly at the asymmetry in their strengths and decide to grow on purpose — not default. This is why his message matters. Because leadership is never one-dimensional. Because excellence requires contradiction. Because growth hides behind friction. Because your thing might be the only obstacle between who you are and who you’re becoming. 5 Key Takeaways & Take Action Items 1. Your Biggest Breakthrough Is Behind Your Biggest Avoidance Take Action: Identify the one thing you’ve been postponing for weeks or months. Do it today. Not all of it — the first step. 2. Your “Thing” Is Unique to You Take Action: Compare the tasks you love with the tasks you resist. Write down the patterns. This becomes your personal leadership map. 3. Patience Is a Skill, Not a Personality Trait Take Action: Before reacting to an issue, impose a 24-hour pause. Track what changes inside that space. 4. Perfectionism Is a Crutch When It Prevents Progress Take Action: Choose one area where you’re over-optimizing. Set a “good enough” line and move on. 5. Opposites Build Balance Take Action: Follow one leader, thinker, or creator whose style contradicts your natural wiring. Let it stretch you. About Noah Ellis Noah Ellis is a hospitality operator, concept creator, and founder of Ofland — a company known for developing and operating unforgettable food and hospitality experiences. With a background that blends creativity, operational excellence, and deep understanding of the guest experience, Noah has built a career around bringing ideas from concept to reality and ensuring they can thrive long-term. More about Noah: Website: LinkedIn: Your Turn — What’s Your Thing? Every Paper Napkin Wisdom episode ends with one challenge: take the wisdom off the napkin and into your life. So grab a real napkin. Write down: What’s the thing you’ve been avoiding that you know would change everything? Post it with #PaperNapkinWisdom — I’d love to see your version of Noah’s idea.
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I Like Me — An Identity-Level Lesson from John Candy
11/23/2025
I Like Me — An Identity-Level Lesson from John Candy
Every so often, a line in a movie sneaks past your defenses and lands directly in the center of your chest. Not because it’s poetic. Not because it’s profound. But because it is absolutely, undeniably true. That’s exactly what happened the first time I heard John Candy say three simple words in Planes, Trains and Automobiles: “I like me.” If you know the scene, you can probably feel it already. Steve Martin’s character lashes out, attacks Candy’s character—Del Griffith—on every level: his personality, his quirks, his energy, the way he moves through the world. It’s the kind of attack you can only deliver when you’re stressed, frustrated, disconnected, and trying to control everything except your own emotional state. Candy doesn’t fight back. He doesn’t crumble. He doesn’t apologize for existing. He just breathes, feels the sting, and answers: “I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. Because I’m the real deal.” And in that moment… the entire movie shifts. But something inside us shifts too. Because somewhere deep down, every entrepreneur and every leader knows what it feels like to be judged for who they naturally are. To feel “too much” or “not enough.” To feel pressure to fit into a mold that was never designed for them in the first place. And yet here is John Candy—the ultimate “unlikely” star—not fitting into anything. Except himself. John Candy: The Unlikely Icon Who Never Tried to Fit the Mold Hollywood had a type. And John Candy wasn’t it. He didn’t have the chiselled jawline or the cover-ready look. He wasn’t the leading-man archetype studios chased. They tried to box him into “the big guy,” the sidekick, the comic relief. But he brought something else—something stronger than image. He brought identity. He brought heart, empathy, warmth, and a kind of emotional honesty you can’t fake. And because he brought that, we didn’t just watch him… we loved him. He wasn’t a star because he fit in. He was a star because he didn’t. And in that lesson lies a truth most leaders and entrepreneurs take far too long to learn: People don’t follow the image of a leader. They follow the identity behind it. Entrepreneurs Carry an Invisible Pressure No One Talks About Let’s be honest. Most entrepreneurs—no matter how confident they look—carry a quiet question: “Am I enough?” Am I skilled enough? Disciplined enough? Polished enough? Ready enough? Worthy enough? That pressure shows up in subtle ways: overexplaining overcommitting overdelivering grinding harder than necessary shrinking in the presence of bigger personalities questioning your own instincts trying to “look the part” rather than be the part It becomes a trap. A cage made of other people’s expectations. John Candy’s line cuts right through the bars: “I like me.” Not because he’s perfect. Not because he’s winning. Not because he fits. But because he recognizes the truth: Identity > Image. That’s the napkin for this episode—and a reminder every leader needs to carry. Why “I Like Me” Is a Leadership Strategy When you like yourself: You make clearer decisions. You negotiate with confidence. You set boundaries without guilt. You attract the right customers. You build teams that trust you. You communicate without fear. You step into vision instead of validation. Self-acceptance isn’t fluff. It’s leadership infrastructure. And when you don’t like yourself enough? You chase approval. You contort your identity to fit expectations. You build a business that drains you instead of expressing you. The game changes—immediately—when you anchor into identity instead of performance. Your Napkin: Identity > Image Your napkin sketch says it simply and perfectly: A hand-drawn mirror. Three words in the center: I LIKE ME. Underneath it: Identity > Image Because leadership isn’t about appearing impressive. It’s about being anchored. The people who matter—your team, your family, your customers—are drawn to the real you, not the “corrected” version of you. 5 Key Takeaways (with Take Action Steps) 1. Identity is a leadership superpower. People follow leaders who know who they are. Take Action: Write one sentence on a napkin right now: “I like me because…” Finish it honestly. 2. Authenticity is more valuable than polish. John Candy didn’t fit the Hollywood mold—and that’s what made him magnetic. Take Action: Identify one area in your business where you’re performing instead of being. Remove the performance layer. 3. Self-acceptance creates clarity. When you like yourself, decisions become easier and direction becomes obvious. Take Action: Before your next major decision, pause and ask: “What would I choose if I trusted myself completely?” 4. Identity builds trust effortlessly. Customers feel who you are long before they evaluate what you do. Take Action: Record a 60-second voice memo explaining “why I care” about your mission. Share it with your team. 5. Confidence is not a mood—it's an identity choice. You don’t wait to become confident. You choose to like you, now. Take Action: For the next three mornings, look in the mirror and say out loud: “I like me. I’m the real deal.” Say it until you feel it. Final Thought John Candy didn’t ask permission to be himself. He didn’t wait to fit in. He didn’t shrink when someone attacked him. He simply held the one truth that matters: “I like me. The people who matter like me. Because I’m the real deal.” And you? You’re the real deal too. Write it on a napkin. Carry it with you. Build from that place. Links Website: Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paper-napkin-wisdom/id735345903 Spotify: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@papernapkinwisdom
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Brandon Bagley: WE ME — Stronger Together
11/20/2025
Brandon Bagley: WE ME — Stronger Together
Entrepreneurs often try to win alone. We push, grind, and carry the weight of the business on our shoulders. But every once in a while, someone shows up with a piece of wisdom that reframes the entire game. In Episode 315 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Brandon Bagley brings that shift in the simplest and most powerful way possible: a blue-ink message on a napkin that reads “WE > ME — Stronger Together.” Brandon is a leader who has built people-centered cultures for years, especially through his work with AlphaGraphics Chandler, where collaboration is not a slogan — it’s a system. His background in athletics, leadership, and now the world of print, design, and communication has given him a front-row seat to how teams transform when the focus shifts from individual achievement to collective strength. The napkin he brought is not a clever motto. It’s a lived belief. And in this conversation, Brandon walks us through what it looks like when leaders commit to building a culture where we really does matter more than me — and how everything changes when that becomes the foundation. The Power of “We” in Action From the very first moments of the conversation, Brandon returns to one theme: people want to belong to something meaningful. Entrepreneurship is hard enough without trying to do it alone — and yet so many leaders instinctively isolate themselves. Brandon has seen the opposite work better every time. He shares stories from the shop floor to client relationships, illustrating how collaboration isn’t just a feel-good principle — it’s a performance multiplier. In one segment of the transcript, he talks about how the team rallies when challenges arise: “When people know you're in it with them, they show up differently — not because they have to, but because they want to.” That’s the heart of WE > ME. It’s not about distributing tasks. It’s about shared ownership. And shared ownership, as Brandon says, “changes the energy of every room.” He describes moments where team members stepped into leadership without being asked, clients leaned in more deeply because the rapport felt like partnership, and the business grew not because of a single hero but because everyone contributed to the win. Creating Environments Where “We” Thrives Throughout the episode, Brandon keeps returning to a pattern: People contribute more when they feel seen. People trust more when they feel supported. People stretch more when they know they won’t be punished for trying. His napkin isn’t a motivational poster — it’s a blueprint. He shares a piece in the transcript where he reflects on team communication: “If your people don’t feel safe telling you what they see, you’ll never actually know what’s going on inside your business.” And later: “The best ideas in any organization almost never come from the top.” Brandon’s leadership emphasis is simple and powerful: Build a team where ideas flow freely, feedback is welcomed, and success is genuinely shared — and you’ll always outperform the organizations built around a single dominant personality. Entrepreneurship Without Isolation One of the standout themes from the transcript is Brandon’s honesty about how lonely entrepreneurship can be. Even leaders with teams often cut themselves off emotionally, believing they have to carry the burden alone. He challenges that directly: “Why would we choose to be alone when being together is both easier and better?” This isn’t theoretical. He describes periods where collaboration literally changed the trajectory of the business — where the strength of the team covered gaps, generated momentum, and turned challenges into opportunities. “Stronger Together” isn’t a tagline. It’s a survival strategy. And it’s a growth strategy. When he talks about the environments he tries to build inside AlphaGraphics Chandler, everything revolves around this idea: empowered teams are unstoppable teams. 5 Key Takeaways from Brandon Bagley (Each with a Take Action item for entrepreneurs and leaders) 1. WE > ME is a strategic advantage, not just a belief. Teams outperform individuals — consistently and predictably. Take Action: Identify one area in your business where you’ve been operating alone. Invite your team into that process this week. 2. Psychological safety fuels innovation. People won’t share ideas if they fear being judged or dismissed. Take Action: Ask your team: “What’s one thing you see that I don’t?” Then listen without interruption. 3. Shared ownership creates shared momentum. When the wins belong to everyone, the effort comes from everyone. Take Action: Celebrate one team-driven win publicly — emphasize the collective effort. 4. Leadership is a relationship, not a role. Influence grows through connection, not authority. Take Action: Have one non-transactional conversation with a team member this week — no agenda, just connection. 5. Collaboration must be intentional. “Stronger Together” happens by design, not by accident. Take Action: Choose one system, meeting, or workflow and redesign it to include more voices. About Brandon Bagley Brandon Bagley is a seasoned leader known for building collaborative cultures and helping organizations unlock the potential of their people. He is part of the leadership at AlphaGraphics Chandler, a high-performing Arizona-based print, design, and marketing communications center known for delivering exceptional client experiences through team-driven execution. You can learn more about him here: linkedin: website: Call to Action Brandon’s napkin is an invitation: look at your business, your team, and your leadership — and notice where “me” is still winning over “we.” Then shift it. Strengthen it. Open it up. And when you capture your insight, write it on a napkin, snap a picture, and share it with the world using #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because we really are stronger together.
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Believing Is Seeing (Edge of the Napkin Series #12)
11/16/2025
Believing Is Seeing (Edge of the Napkin Series #12)
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: Believing Is Seeing. And if you let it in, this shift can alter the way you make decisions, lead others, spot opportunities, and move toward the version of your life you’re meant to live. Most of us were trained to trust what is visible. Data. Proof. Safety. Certainty. Security. We internalized the idea that confidence comes after evidence. That clarity arrives before commitment. That movement follows permission. But growth — real growth — never begins outside of us. It begins in what we cannot see yet. It begins in the unseen. As I shared in the episode: “Results are lagging indicators. By the time you see the change, the real transformation has already happened inside.” Entrepreneurs don’t innovate by responding to what’s already visible. Leaders don’t serve by waiting for permission. People don’t level up by demanding certainty before taking action. We grow through a different path — an internal shift first, external proof second. You’ve experienced this before: the moment where you decided to believe in an idea before the market validated it… the moment you trusted a teammate before they performed at that level… the moment you committed to something bigger before you had any evidence that you could pull it off. Every breakthrough you’ve ever had required belief before visibility. That’s why the work is inside-out. Always has been. Growth Happens in the Unseen Think of a seed. The first sign of life doesn’t happen above ground. It happens in darkness, in the unseen, in the place nobody notices until much later. Your identity works the same way. Before you behave differently, you believe differently. Before you see differently, your internal world shifts. Before your results expand, your sense of who you are expands. One of the most powerful lines from this Edge of the Napkin episode was this: “You aren’t becoming someone new. You are remembering who you already are.” This is not motivation. It’s mechanics. Your belief determines what you notice. Your belief determines what you move toward. Your belief determines which opportunities filter through your awareness and which ones slide by unnoticed. Once you believe something deeply — that you can grow, that you can lead, that you can build something extraordinary — the world reorganizes itself around that belief. Not magically… but mechanically. You move differently. You decide differently. You persevere differently. You show up differently. And suddenly you begin to see what was always there but invisible to you when you were looking through a smaller frame. The Parable: The Sculptor and the Stone In the episode, I shared a short parable that captures this perfectly. A young apprentice watched a master sculptor work on a block of marble. After days of chiseling, he finally asked: “How do you know what to carve? How do you know there’s something inside worth finding?” The master smiled and said: “Every block of stone has a statue inside. I don’t create it. I simply remove everything that isn’t it.” When the apprentice grew older, he understood the truth: He had never created a masterpiece. He had revealed one. It had always been there. And so are you. You don’t have to push yourself into a new identity. You simply have to believe in the truth that’s been waiting inside you. Believing is not about forcing confidence. Believing is about remembering. 5 Key Takeaways — and How to Take Action 1. Belief Shapes Perception Your mind filters the world through what you expect to find. Shift your belief and you shift your vision. Take Action: Ask yourself daily: “If I already believed this was possible, what would I notice today?” 2. Growth Begins Long Before Results Appear The visible is always the last part. Real change happens internally first. Take Action: Track internal wins, not just external ones: decisions, courage, awareness, alignment. 3. Leaders Expand What Others Can See Your belief becomes the lens your team uses to view possibility. Take Action: Tell someone on your team this week: “Here’s what I see in you.” Watch what happens. 4. Entrepreneurs Create Evidence Instead of Waiting For It Waiting for proof kills momentum. Belief fuels action, and action generates proof. Take Action: Move one step this week before you feel ready. Evidence will follow. 5. You Are Not Becoming — You Are Remembering Your next level isn’t a new invention. It’s a revelation. Take Action: Finish this sentence: “If I stopped resisting who I really am, I would…” Write the first three things that show up. A Call to the Builders, Leaders, and Difference-Makers If this message resonated with you — if something inside felt like it opened or relaxed or clarified — then take a moment. Grab a napkin. Write the phrase: Believing Is Seeing. And then add your insight, your reflection, or your reminder. Share it on social with #PaperNapkinWisdom. You never know who may need exactly what you have to say today. And if you want more episodes like this — tools, insights, and stories to help you grow from the inside out — you can find the podcast here: Paper Napkin Wisdom Website: www.PaperNapkinWisdom.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@papernapkinwisdom Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paper-napkin-wisdom/id735345903 Spotify: Because you’re not waiting for proof. You’re remembering your power. And when you believe deeply enough… you finally begin to see.
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Listening & Learning with Shivani Dhamija
11/13/2025
Listening & Learning with Shivani Dhamija
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 leadership, growth, and entrepreneurship. The Power of “Listening & Learning” When Shivani first began sharing her spice blends, she wasn’t just selling a product — she was listening to people’s stories. Every market conversation, every customer review, every “you should try this” became a lesson. She explains that listening isn’t passive; it’s an act of connection. And learning isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about staying humble enough to realize you never do. Shivani’s insight is deeply entrepreneurial. Leaders who stop listening lose touch with the people they serve. Entrepreneurs who stop learning lose the adaptability that keeps them alive. As she puts it, “Every interaction — whether it’s a happy customer or a tough critic — is an opportunity to grow stronger.” Her napkin reminds us that progress doesn’t come from constant talking or defending ideas. It comes from being open — to feedback, to failure, to the world changing faster than we expect. Listening as a Leadership Skill Shivani’s story highlights something that many leaders overlook: listening is strategic. She built her business by tuning into what customers really wanted — convenience without compromise. In a world flooded with fast food, she heard a quiet craving for authentic home-style cooking made simple. That insight led to her signature ready-to-use sauces and spice blends. In leadership, listening also means hearing the unspoken — what your team isn’t saying, what your market isn’t yet demanding, and what your own intuition is whispering. Shivani’s example shows that great leaders hear beyond words; they listen for intent, emotion, and opportunity. Learning as a Way of Being For Shivani, learning never stops. She admits that when she first started, she didn’t know the language of manufacturing, retail supply chains, or business finance. But she learned by doing — by seeking mentors, asking better questions, and experimenting without fear of failure. Her approach reframes what “failure” means. Every misstep became a feedback loop, not a full stop. As she says, “If you’re learning, you’re never losing.” That mindset — curiosity over perfection — is what allows an entrepreneur to evolve. It’s also what transforms a local business into a lasting brand. 5 Key Takeaways from Shivani Dhamija’s Napkin 1️⃣ Listen with Intent, Not Ego When you’re building something, people will tell you what they love and what they don’t. Take Action: Next time you receive feedback, don’t defend — document. Write down what you hear, reflect overnight, and find the truth in it. 2️⃣ Be a Lifelong Learner Every entrepreneur starts as a student. The difference between success and stagnation is how fast you keep learning. Take Action: Commit to learning something new each week — a system, a trend, a story from your customers. Growth compounds when curiosity becomes habit. 3️⃣ Turn Conversations into Strategy Shivani’s business evolved through real-world listening — she let her customers co-write her roadmap. Take Action: Identify three recurring themes you’ve heard from your market or team. Translate them into one actionable improvement this quarter. 4️⃣ Stay Grounded in Gratitude Listening isn’t just about business — it’s about connection. Shivani talks about the joy of serving people and the gratitude that keeps her motivated through long hours. Take Action: Before every major decision, pause and ask: “Who does this serve?” Gratitude keeps strategy human. 5️⃣ Teach What You Learn True learning becomes mastery when it’s shared. Shivani now mentors other entrepreneurs and collaborates with local producers to help them scale. Take Action: Host a 15-minute “teach-back” session with your team or peers each month. Share one lesson you’ve learned — and invite others to do the same. Bringing It All Together Listening & learning isn’t just a recipe for leadership — it’s a rhythm for life. Shivani Dhamija embodies what happens when you combine cultural authenticity with curiosity and humility. She’s proof that when we listen more deeply and learn more intentionally, our work — and our impact — expand exponentially. So grab a napkin, write down what you’re hearing and what you’re learning, and share your wisdom with the world using #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because every big idea starts small — sometimes just two words at a time. About Shivani Dhamija: Shivani Dhamija is the founder of Shivani’s Kitchen, a Nova Scotia-based company creating authentic Indian spice blends, sauces, and ready-to-cook meals that make real flavor accessible to everyone. Her products are now distributed across major retailers in Canada, and she continues to champion entrepreneurship, inclusion, and cultural connection through food. Website: Instagram: Facebook: LinkedIn: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paper-napkin-wisdom/id735345903 Spotify: YouTube:
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Build for Value — Not for the Hype: How some AI Companies are Winning, and others aren't (Edge of the Napkin #11)
11/09/2025
Build for Value — Not for the Hype: How some AI Companies are Winning, and others aren't (Edge of the Napkin #11)
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. Because in every correction, there’s clarity. And clarity always comes back to one simple principle: Build for value — not for the hype. When the Rising Tide Turns A rising tide, they say, lifts all boats. But when the tide goes out, you see who built on sand. For years, AI was the tide. Money poured in. Startups ballooned overnight. Everyone rebranded themselves with a shiny “AI-powered” tagline, believing that being in the space was enough. The energy was intoxicating — the gold rush mentality that said, “Just show up, and you’ll win.” But hype, like all waves, always breaks. Now, as markets tighten and investors demand results, reality has set in. The companies that were built to chase attention are scrambling. The ones that were built to create real value are rising. Because when the water recedes, what’s left standing is what was anchored well. From Hype to Heart There’s a rhythm to entrepreneurship — expansion, contraction, recalibration. When everyone’s sprinting forward, it’s easy to get swept up in the rush. Easy to mistake momentum for mastery. But that’s not leadership. That’s reaction. Leadership happens when the story changes. When “growth at all costs” becomes “growth with purpose.” When we stop asking, How big can we get? and start asking, How deep can we go? Because business isn’t just numbers — it’s emotion. It’s how you feel about what you do. It’s how your team feels showing up every day. It’s how your customers feel when they interact with your brand. Those feelings — that energy — are what drive value. And when hype fades, that’s the energy that remains. The entrepreneurs who are still standing today? They’re not the ones who shouted the loudest. They’re the ones who listened the hardest. The AI Lesson for Everyone AI is not the villain of this story. It’s the mirror. It shows us what happens when excitement outruns execution, when vision leaps ahead of value. Most of the companies that faltered weren’t wrong about AI’s potential — they were wrong about how fast value compounds. They extracted before they contributed. They optimized before they empathized. They sold the sizzle before they built the steak. And that’s the real takeaway here — innovation is not about invention alone. It’s about integration. It’s about how well your innovation serves people. Because profit doesn’t follow hype. Profit follows contribution. 5 Key Takeaways (and How to Take Action) 1. Value Is the Foundation The companies that last are the ones that start with contribution, not extraction. Hype builds momentum; value builds endurance. Take Action: Revisit your business model. For every revenue line, write down what human problem it actually solves. If you can’t find one, refine it until you can. 2. Simplicity Wins When Times Get Complex When markets get noisy, the message that cuts through is the one that’s clear. Complexity repels. Simplicity attracts. Take Action: Ask yourself, If I had to explain what I do in one sentence, could I? Practice until your purpose fits on a napkin — literally. 3. Energy Shapes Outcomes The emotional tone of your team, your clients, and your leadership ripples through everything you build. When that energy is aligned, momentum becomes effortless. Take Action: Start every meeting with one question: How are we feeling about what we’re doing? You’ll be amazed at what surfaces — and what shifts when people feel seen. 4. Execution Is the Antidote to Illusion Vision without action is imagination. Execution turns imagination into impact. The companies that rise after correction are the ones that turn talk into traction. Take Action: Review your “someday” list and move one idea into action today. Momentum comes not from motion — but from completion. 5. Profit Follows Contribution It’s not magic. It’s alignment. When your focus is on serving — deeply, meaningfully — the results take care of themselves. Take Action: Create a metric for contribution. Track not just what you make, but how much value you add. The simplest way to attract success is to deserve it. The Proving Ground Is a Gift Every hype cycle ends with a lesson — not a loss. This correction, this cooling-off period in AI, is not a collapse. It’s a cleansing. It’s a collective return to what really matters: helping people. And when you zoom out, that’s the story of entrepreneurship itself. We fall in love with possibility. We overreach. We get humbled. Then we build again — this time, wiser. So if your tide feels like it’s pulling back right now… good. It means you’re getting the chance to see what’s real. And if you choose to re-anchor in value — in simplicity, in contribution — you’ll build something that doesn’t just rise with the wave… it stands when the water retreats. The Napkin “Build for value — not for the hype.” Underneath that truth lives every great turnaround story. Every comeback. Every leader who’s weathered the storm and found their center again. Because the proving ground isn’t punishment — it’s practice. It’s where hype burns off and integrity begins. It’s where we remember that success isn’t about how loud we are, but how much light we bring. Listen to Episode 312 – Edge of the Napkin #11: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paper-napkin-wisdom/id735345903 Spotify: YouTube: Final Thought When your future bet becomes today’s proving ground, take a breath. Step back. Ask: Am I building for value… or chasing the hype? And if you find yourself off-center, that’s okay — it just means the tide has gone out. Now you get to see the foundation. Now you get to build again — this time, for real.
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Dr. Jenny Hoffmann: Open Up! Lead with Curiosity, Empathy, and Connection
11/06/2025
Dr. Jenny Hoffmann: Open Up! Lead with Curiosity, Empathy, and Connection
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 napkin: “Open Up! Be vulnerable enough to lead with curiosity, empathy, and connection.” Story & Insight: The Napkin Unpacked Jenny’s succinct message on the napkin resonates like a simplified leadership creed: “Open Up!” At first glance it’s an invitation — but as Jenny unpacks in the conversation, it becomes a framework for how you show up in leading others. Vulnerability Jenny opens by reflecting on the myth of the infallible leader. She shares how in her earlier roles she felt the pressure to always “have the answer”, and how that posture created distance from her team. She realized that genuine connection begins when you stop pretending you’re perfect and risk showing your human side. That kind of vulnerability doesn’t show weakness — it signals trust, and invites others to bring their full selves. Curiosity From there Jenny shifts into curiosity. She recounts how when leading teams in health-tech innovation, the real breakthroughs didn’t come from already knowing the solution, but from asking “What do you think?”, “What are you missing?”, “What do we need to understand better?” Curiosity becomes a leadership superpower because it keeps you open to possibilities others may spot first. It also flips the script from “I must direct” to “We must discover together.” Empathy & Connection Jenny then emphasises empathy as more than a buzzword. She describes a moment when a project stalled because the clinical users felt unheard, the engineers felt under-pressure, and leadership insisted on timelines over dialogue. She intervened by organizing listening sessions, acknowledging the stress on all sides, and creating a space where people’s concerns were voiced. The result: renewed trust, smoother collaboration, and better outcomes. Empathy here is the bridge to connection — and connection is what transforms teams from groups of individuals into aligned, energized partners. Key Takeaways Here are five major takeaways from Jenny’s conversation and the napkin message — each followed by a practical “Take Action” for you, the leader. The power of showing your humanity Take Action: At your next team meeting, share one thing that didn’t go as planned this week and what you learned. Ask questions before giving answers Take Action: Replace one directive in the next 48 hours with a question like, “What do you think might work?” or “What are we missing?” Create spaces for listening and reflection Take Action: Schedule a 15-minute “open forum” in a future meeting where the agenda is simply: “What’s on your mind right now?” Lead from emotional insight, not just logical planning Take Action: Next time you’re setting a goal, pause and ask: “Who will this impact and how will they feel about it?” Write it down. Turn connection into coordination Take Action: After a joint project ends, hold a short “what went well / what could we improve” debrief—and emphasise not just what we did, but how we worked together. Guest Bio & Links Dr. Jenny Hoffmann is currently Executive Director at NEMIC, where she is ushering in a new era of health-tech innovation. Previously she held leadership roles in both provider and startup settings, specializing in translating clinical needs into scalable solutions. LinkedIn: About page: Conclusion Jenny’s napkin is deceptively simple—but her message is profound: Open up. When you lead with vulnerability, curiosity, empathy and connection, you don’t just manage your team — you mobilize it. Take a napkin. Write your version of “Open Up!” And then step into leadership with your full heart. Share your takeaway on social media with #PaperNapkinWisdom and let others in on the conversation.
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Make Believe: The Stories Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (Edge of the Napkin #10)
11/02/2025
Make Believe: The Stories Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (Edge of the Napkin #10)
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, confident, certain something good is about to happen. Suddenly, you find a forgotten twenty in your pocket, get the short line at security, and the world seems to smile back. The truth is: the world didn’t change. Your story did. The Invisible Script of Entrepreneurship As entrepreneurs, we tell ourselves stories all day long. About clients. About employees. About the market. About ourselves. “That customer doesn’t like me.” “My team’s not ready yet.” “This quarter’s going to be brutal.” But none of that is fact. It’s make-believe. We make up stories to explain the world — and then we believe them so deeply that they shape our reality. Our thoughts become things. Our stories become strategies. Our beliefs become behavior. So why not make up stories that work for us? The Hidden Power in “Make Believe” The phrase make believe is one of the most perfectly designed pieces of language for entrepreneurs. “Make.” “Believe.” It’s a two-step formula for creation. Make — imagine, construct, design the story you want. Believe — live it, commit to it, act as if it’s already true. Every innovation starts with make believe. Steve Jobs imagined a world where everyone could have a computer in their pocket. Wright brothers imagined humans flying. Kids do it every day — no hesitation, no proof, no fear. They believe the story so completely that it becomes real. Adults call it vision. Entrepreneurs call it leadership. But at its core, it’s just make-believe. Why We Forget How to Believe Somewhere between childhood and boardrooms, we stop believing before we make. We start saying things like: “I’m just being realistic.” “That’s not how it works.” “I can’t afford to think like that.” We stop being the author of our story and start acting like a character trapped inside it. And that’s dangerous — because if you don’t write your story, your fear will. As leaders, we have to reclaim our imagination. Not fantasy — intentional imagination. The kind that directs focus, aligns action, and creates reality. The Napkin: The Story Loop On the napkin for this episode, I drew a simple loop: Story → State → Action → Evidence → (back to Story) It’s the circle we all live in. Your story shapes your state (how you feel). Your state influences your action. Your action creates evidence. And that evidence reinforces your story. Most people are stuck in a negative loop — “I’m unlucky” → frustrated → hesitant → confirm failure → reinforce “I’m unlucky.” But if you flip the story, the whole loop changes — “I create my own luck” → energized → take initiative → see opportunities → reinforce “I’m capable.” The power lies in the center of that loop, where I wrote two words: MAKE BELIEVE. That’s where you choose which story to live. Three Ways to Make Better Stories 1. Use the Focus–Align–Act Loop Ask yourself: What story am I focused on right now? Does it align with what I actually want? What one action would prove a better story true? Every new belief needs proof — and your actions create it. 2. Flip the Script Catch yourself mid-story and rewrite it. Instead of saying “I’m overwhelmed,” try “I’m learning to prioritize what matters.” It’s not denial — it’s direction. You’re changing the movie playing in your head. 3. Make It Bad, Make It Better Perfection is the enemy of momentum. Your first version of any story will be messy — and that’s okay. Say it badly first. Then refine. “I’m not a good leader yet” becomes “I’m growing into the leader my team deserves.” Iteration isn’t just for products — it’s for beliefs, too. 5 Key Takeaways 1. Your Story Is Your Strategy The beliefs you hold are the systems you build. Every result in your business started as a thought you believed long enough to act on. Take Action: Identify one recurring thought that limits you. Rewrite it in a way that propels you forward. 2. Make-Believe Is the Entrepreneur’s Edge Imagination is the ultimate competitive advantage. If you can picture it and commit to it, you’ll see paths others can’t. Take Action: Spend five minutes daily visualizing your “impossible” goal as already achieved. Feel what it’s like. 3. Choose Stories That Serve You You can’t stop telling stories — but you can choose which ones to amplify. Take Action: Notice your language this week. Each time you say “I always” or “I never,” rewrite it with “I’m learning” or “I’m creating.” 4. Belief Changes Biology When you change your story, your energy, tone, and confidence change too. People feel it — and respond to it. Take Action: Before your next team meeting, tell yourself: “They’re lucky to have me leading them.” Notice how your posture and voice shift. 5. Make-Believe Like a Kid Again Children don’t need proof to believe. They go all in — and that’s the secret. Take Action: Pick one area in your business where you’ve been “realistic” for too long. Suspend disbelief for one week. Play full out. The Challenge: Author, Don’t Act You’re either writing your story or reacting to someone else’s. The entrepreneurs who win — the ones who grow movements, not just businesses — are the ones who never stopped making believe. They don’t wait for proof. They act on faith, backed by intention. And as they move, the world rearranges itself around that belief. So what story are you telling today? Because make-believe isn’t just for kids. It’s how entrepreneurs build reality — one thought, one choice, one action at a time. Listen to Episode 310 — Edge of the Napkin #10: “Make Believe — The Stories We Tell Ourselves” Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paper-napkin-wisdom/id735345903 Spotify: YouTube:
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Jon Rosemberg — Survival Is Instinct, Thriving Is a Choice
10/21/2025
Jon Rosemberg — Survival Is Instinct, Thriving Is a Choice
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 first glance, it seems like a motivational quote — something you’d find on a coffee mug or a gym wall. But when you listen to Jon unpack it, it becomes clear that this idea cuts much deeper. It’s not about positive thinking or grinding harder; it’s about reclaiming agency. It’s about recognizing that while your biology may be wired to survive, your mindset and daily choices are what allow you to thrive. From the Instinct to the Intention Jon began by reflecting on how our nervous system is designed for safety, not success. “The human brain evolved to protect us, not to make us happy,” he explained. “So when we operate from a place of fear, anxiety, or scarcity, we’re not broken — we’re just running old code.” That’s the heart of it. Survival isn’t bad; it’s just incomplete. It’s reactive. It keeps you from drowning but never teaches you to swim. Thriving, on the other hand, is intentional. It means rewriting the code — taking conscious ownership of your patterns, your responses, and ultimately your story. Jon shared moments in his own life where he caught himself defaulting to survival mode — overworking, overanalyzing, overcompensating. “I used to think thriving was about achievement,” he said. “Now I know it’s about alignment. It’s about living in harmony with your values, not just chasing outcomes.” Key Takeaway 1: Awareness Precedes Agency Before you can change, you have to see. Jon calls this “meta-awareness” — the ability to notice your own patterns without judgment. It’s the first step in reclaiming agency from the automatic survival system running in the background. Take Action: This week, observe one moment where you feel triggered or reactive. Pause and ask: “Is this survival or choice?” That single question begins the process of thriving. Key Takeaway 2: Thriving Requires Safety It may sound counterintuitive, but thriving starts with safety — both psychological and physiological. Jon points out that many leaders try to “thrive” without ever calming their nervous systems. They’re running at full speed in fight-or-flight mode, confusing momentum for mastery. Take Action: Build micro-moments of safety into your day. That could be a deep breath before a meeting, a brief walk without your phone, or ending the day with gratitude instead of to-do lists. Safety is the soil in which thriving grows. Key Takeaway 3: Rewrite the Old Story Survival keeps you stuck in the past — protecting the version of you that got hurt, failed, or feared rejection. Thriving means rewriting that narrative. Jon says, “When you choose to thrive, you stop defending who you were and start creating who you want to become.” Take Action: Write down one “old story” you keep repeating — something that starts with “I always…” or “I never…” Replace it with a new one: “I’m learning to…” That shift from identity to evolution is where growth begins. Key Takeaway 4: Choose Energy Over Effort In the survival mindset, effort is everything — grind, push, endure. But thriving requires energy management, not energy expenditure. Jon shared how leaders often deplete themselves trying to “perform” instead of “be.” When you shift from proving to presence, you conserve energy for what truly matters. Take Action: Ask yourself daily: “What gives me energy?” Do more of that. Cut or delegate what drains you. Thriving isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters with energy that sustains you. Key Takeaway 5: Thriving Is Contagious Perhaps the most powerful insight from Jon’s conversation was this — when you choose to thrive, you give others permission to do the same. Teams mirror their leaders. Families mirror their anchors. Organizations mirror their culture. When one person steps out of survival, it shifts the system. Take Action: Model thriving. Talk about rest, purpose, and meaning as much as you talk about results. Celebrate progress, not just outcomes. Your example will ripple farther than you can imagine. The Choice Before Us Jon’s napkin doesn’t promise ease — it promises evolution. Survival is baked into our DNA, but thriving is a decision we make daily. It’s a commitment to awareness, safety, story, energy, and influence. It’s a discipline of choosing growth when comfort whispers otherwise. So, the question Jon leaves us with is this: If survival is instinct, how will you choose to thrive today? About Jon Rosemberg: Jon Rosemberg is a behavioral scientist, executive coach, and author of A Guide to Thriving: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning. His work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and personal development to help individuals and organizations move from coping to creating. Website: LinkedIn: Book: A Guide to Thriving – available from Wiley.com Call to Action: Take a moment to write down your own definition of thriving — what it feels like, looks like, and sounds like in your life. Then, post your takeaway on a napkin and share it with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because thriving begins with one conscious choice — yours.
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Flexibility Is the Only True Hedge – Edge of the Napkin #9
10/19/2025
Flexibility Is the Only True Hedge – Edge of the Napkin #9
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 → Resilience. And an arrow curves between them, reminding us that the difference between collapse and adaptation isn’t conditions — it’s behavior. The Human Side of Risk Everyone understands risk now. You can feel it at the grocery store, at the gas pump, in the way your phone updates its own intelligence while you sleep. When life gets uncertain, our instinct is to tighten our grip — to control. But control is an illusion. The tighter we hold on, the more fragile we become. The truth is, rigidity is a form of denial. It says, “If I hold still long enough, maybe the world will stop moving.” But the world doesn’t stop moving. And those who survive — and thrive — are the ones who move with it. The Hedge That Money Can’t Buy In finance, a hedge is something you buy to protect against loss — a trade you make so you don’t get wiped out when markets turn. But in life and leadership, flexibility is the ultimate hedge. It’s not a financial instrument; it’s a behavioral one. It’s the capacity to say: “If the world changes, I can change too.” And that’s priceless. It doesn’t expire. It doesn’t require a broker. It compounds — every time you use it. Rigidity vs. Flexibility: The Everyday Test You see this dynamic every day. When a flight gets canceled, one traveler melts down, pacing and shouting at the counter. Another grabs a coffee, smiles, and says, “Well, let’s see what happens.” One loses a day; the other gains a story. Same event. Different behavior. One fragile, one resilient. Leaders experience the same thing. When plans fail, rigid leaders double down on control. Flexible leaders shift gears, find the lesson, and move forward stronger. That’s what separates companies that survive disruption from those that get buried by it. In Business: Rigidity Costs, Flexibility Pays Think of Kodak — rigid around film. Blockbuster — rigid around physical stores. Both had opportunities to evolve; both held too tight to “how we’ve always done it.” Contrast that with Toyota after Fukushima — flexible in the face of chaos, retooling factories and redistributing supply. Or Apple — constantly adjusting, learning, and reinventing even its own products before the market forces it to. The difference wasn’t money, talent, or technology. It was flexibility. Rigidity is expensive; flexibility pays dividends. Leadership: Whisper, Don’t Shout Flexibility isn’t just strategy — it’s communication. It’s the hallmark of leadership. Because great leaders don’t shout in their own language. They whisper in the language of their team, their customers, their audience. Rigidity shouts, “This is how we do things!” Flexibility listens and says, “Let’s meet where you are.” That whisper — that empathy in motion — builds trust. And trust is the strongest currency in uncertain times. Letting Go to Grow The paradox of flexibility is this: You don’t gain it by adding more — you gain it by letting go. We become rigid by holding on — to outdated plans, assumptions, and fears. We become flexible by clearing space — for learning, for movement, for new data to enter. Letting go is not weakness. It’s capacity creation. Ask yourself: What am I clinging to that keeps me rigid? What belief, process, or habit no longer serves who I’m becoming? What could I remove today to create more space to move tomorrow? Flexibility doesn’t come from control — it comes from clarity. The Napkin Wisdom So the next time you feel risk rising — in the market, in your relationships, or in your own emotions — remember that napkin line: RISK Below it: Rigidity → Fragility Above it: Flexibility → Resilience And the arrow in between? That’s the pivot — the one we each have to make. Because the world doesn’t reward rigidity anymore. It rewards responsiveness. It rewards curiosity. It rewards leaders who can hold their center while changing shape. The future belongs to those who can flex. 🎧 Listen to the Episode You can hear the full Edge of the Napkin #9 – Flexibility is the Only True Hedge conversation here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paper-napkin-wisdom/id735345903 Spotify: YouTube: 📝 Your Turn Draw it out. One line labeled RISK. Below: Rigidity → Fragility. Above: Flexibility → Resilience. And right there in the middle, write: “Flexibility is the only true hedge.” Then ask yourself: Where do I need to bend so I don’t break? When you have your answer, share it. Post your napkin with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom — and let’s keep the conversation going. Because the ideas small enough to fit on a napkin… are still the ones big enough to change your life.
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Simone Kelly - Build a Business You Love (But Not Your Hobby)
10/14/2025
Simone Kelly - Build a Business You Love (But Not Your Hobby)
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, but not your hobby. Because when you need to shut your brain off to your work, you won’t have your hobby to turn to.” Simone’s insight is simple, but it carries the kind of wisdom that only comes from lived experience. Entrepreneurs often start businesses around something they’re passionate about. But as Simone points out, when that passion becomes your full-time pursuit, it can consume everything—including the joy it once brought you. She shares in this conversation how running Seniornicity—though deeply aligned with her values—requires constant emotional investment. Supporting families through moments of transition takes heart, patience, and empathy. It’s rewarding work, but it’s also heavy. So Simone learned that she needed something outside of her purpose-driven business to recharge her creativity and spirit. That’s where the power of this napkin lives. Loving your business doesn’t mean making it your whole identity. In fact, the healthiest entrepreneurs draw energy from outside their enterprises. Simone and Govindh unpack how business owners blur the lines between “who I am” and “what I do,” and why that can lead to burnout, resentment, or even loss of self. It’s not about doing less—it’s about finding the balance between purpose and preservation. She tells stories of early challenges—moments where she tried to give 100% to everything and everyone, until there was nothing left for herself. Over time, Simone realized that when you build a business around your hobby, your outlet becomes your obligation. There’s no off switch. No mental reset. No safe space to retreat and rejuvenate. Instead, she encourages entrepreneurs to build businesses that light them up and to nurture hobbies that fill them up. The two don’t need to compete—they need to coexist. It’s a mindset shift that resonates across every industry: Your business can be your mission, but your hobby should remain your medicine. 5 Key Takeaways from Simone Kelly 1. Love the Work—But Don’t Let It Consume You Loving what you do doesn’t mean doing it all the time. Take Action: Schedule intentional “off-business” hours each week where you explore something purely for fun—with no ROI attached. 2. Purpose Without Boundaries Leads to Burnout Simone reminds us that passion must be paired with limits. Take Action: Set clear mental and emotional boundaries—decide when work thoughts stop and personal space begins. 3. Keep Your Hobby Sacred Your hobby is your reset button—it fuels creativity and restores perspective. Take Action: List three things that bring you joy outside your business and commit to one weekly. 4. Your Business Isn’t Your Identity When identity and business merge too tightly, failures feel personal. Take Action: Practice saying, “This challenge is happening in my business, not to me.” 5. Build a Life That Can Hold Both Passion and Peace The best leaders know when to engage and when to rest. Take Action: Create a “recovery ritual”—a consistent way to decompress after major pushes or emotional days. Simone Kelly’s message is a vital reminder that sustainability in entrepreneurship isn’t about working harder—it’s about designing your life so that your energy, joy, and purpose can thrive together. Build a business that matters. But also build a life that restores you. When your business lights you up and your hobbies ground you, you don’t just succeed—you stay whole. Now it’s your turn: What’s your takeaway? Write it on a napkin, share it, and tag #PaperNapkinWisdom. More about Simone Kelly and Seniornicity Website: LinkedIn: Company Page: Instagram: TikTok: Facebook:
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HOW? The Freedom to Create the Future - Edge of the Napkin #8
10/12/2025
HOW? The Freedom to Create the Future - Edge of the Napkin #8
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 — it didn’t work.” Every one of those sentences feels logical on the surface… but underneath, each one tightens the box around creativity, ownership, and freedom. That’s the danger of the old how — it limits. And that’s the invitation of the future how — it liberates. The Freedom of How The napkin for this episode says it all. Two circles. On the left, Old How — arrows pointing inward, closing in, trapping ideas. On the right, Future How — arrows bursting outward, full of energy, movement, and possibility. Between them: Freedom of How → That’s the bridge between constraint and creativity. When leaders define what success looks like and where we’re going, the Freedom of How empowers people to figure out the way. It shifts the role of leadership from command and control to clarity and trust. “If you know where you’re starting and where you’re going, you don’t need to dictate the how,” Govindh says in the episode. “You need to create the conditions for your team to discover it.” The Freedom of How creates ownership. It sparks learning. And it’s the foundation for the next evolution of your business — the Future How. The Future How “The things that got us here,” Govindh says, “won’t get us where we want to go.” That’s where the Future How comes in. It’s about letting go of the methods, systems, and beliefs that served you once — but no longer fit where you’re heading. Marshall Goldsmith calls it the trap of old success habits. The habits that built yesterday’s victories can easily become the barriers to tomorrow’s innovation. Maybe your old how was hustling harder than everyone else. Maybe it was saying yes to everything. Maybe it was doing it all yourself. Each of those “hows” worked once. But they won’t work forever. The Future How is about evolving those habits — trading effort for intention, speed for clarity, and control for trust. It’s about inventing the next way forward. Reframing Through Focus–Align–Act Like every Edge of the Napkin reflection, this one loops back to the core model — Focus, Align, Act. FOCUS gives direction: What outcome do we want? Where are we heading? ALIGN creates trust: Who are we? What values guide the journey? ACT generates momentum: What’s the next small, meaningful step? When these three are clear, “how” becomes flexible — not fixed. The team doesn’t need a map; they need a compass. And that compass is shared purpose. Freedom of How isn’t about chaos. It’s about clarity without control. 5 Key Takeaways + Take Action Steps 1. The Word “How” Isn’t Neutral Takeaway: Every time you use “how,” you’re either giving permission or taking it away. Take Action: Listen for the moments you say “how” this week. Replace control with curiosity — ask, “What outcomes are we aiming for?” instead of “How are you doing it?” 2. Freedom of How Begins with Clarity Takeaway: People can only own the “how” when they clearly understand the “where” and the “why.” Take Action: Revisit your team’s goals. Strip away jargon and make them unmistakably clear. Then, step back and let people find their way. 3. Let Go of the Old How Takeaway: Yesterday’s success can be tomorrow’s bottleneck. Take Action: Identify one habit, process, or system that once worked — but now limits you. Ask your team: “If we started today, how would we do this differently?” 4. Build the Bridge with Focus–Align–Act Takeaway: Freedom without structure is chaos. FAA provides the rhythm — clarity of destination, connection through values, and momentum through action. Take Action: Before giving direction, pause. Check: Do we have Focus? Are we Aligned? Are we ready to Act freely? 5. Encourage the Future How Takeaway: Your team’s next innovation won’t come from you — it’ll come from their freedom to explore. Take Action: Ask your people to bring you one “new how” this month — something that challenges the way it’s always been done. Listen without judging. The Napkin Thought “Freedom of How → Future How” It’s deceptively simple — just a shift in arrows, from inward to outward. But it represents the shift every great leader must make: From control to trust. From repetition to invention. From yesterday’s how… to tomorrow’s. Your Challenge Grab a napkin. Write the word “HOW?” at the top. Draw two circles — one with arrows in, one with arrows out. Ask yourself: Where am I still living in the Old How? What Future How is waiting to be created? Then, share your napkin online with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because how you lead today defines how your future unfolds. Episode: Edge of the Napkin #8 – “HOW?” Host: Govindh Jayaraman, founder of Paper Napkin Wisdom Learn more at: www.papernapkinwisdom.com
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Solve a Real Problem. Make It Beautiful. Care Like Hell. - With Nancy Johnston
10/09/2025
Solve a Real Problem. Make It Beautiful. Care Like Hell. - With Nancy Johnston
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 hell.” It’s a mantra that feels like the soul of great leadership — and as our conversation unfolded, it became clear that each line represents a pillar for building something that truly matters. Solve a Real Problem Nancy begins with a truth that too many entrepreneurs overlook: success starts with serving, not selling. “If you’re not solving something real,” she says, “you’re just creating noise.” Her journey with Truuce began by observing what people truly needed — not just what they said they wanted. The distinction matters. Real problems are felt, not fabricated. They emerge in the friction between how things are and how they should be. Nancy believes great leaders pay attention to that gap. They listen deeply, empathize honestly, and act decisively. Make It Beautiful Beauty, Nancy says, isn’t vanity — it’s integrity. “When something is beautiful,” she explains, “it just works. It makes sense. It feels right.” To her, beauty is about coherence — the alignment between purpose, experience, and design. Whether in a product, a team, or a relationship, beauty is found in thoughtfulness. It’s what happens when care is visible, when form meets function, and when details reflect intention. Nancy’s belief that beauty communicates care reframes how we think about business. Design isn’t just decoration — it’s empathy made visible. Care Like Hell This is the heartbeat of Nancy’s philosophy. To “care like hell” is to lead with conviction and compassion, even when it’s hard. “You can’t fake care,” she says. “People feel it in your tone, your timing, your touch.” In a world chasing automation and efficiency, Nancy insists that caring deeply is the ultimate differentiator. Whether it’s for your team, your customers, or your craft, genuine care shows up in the smallest acts — the follow-up call, the thoughtful design choice, the extra effort when no one’s watching. Make Purpose the Process Throughout our conversation, Nancy kept returning to the idea that purpose isn’t a statement on a wall — it’s the way you work. Each of her napkin’s lines connects to the next: solving a real problem gives your work meaning, making it beautiful gives it resonance, and caring like hell gives it soul. When combined, these principles transform leadership from performance into service. 5 Key Takeaways 1. Solve the Right Problem Real impact begins with empathy. Don’t chase trends — listen for pain points that matter. Take Action: Ask your clients or customers what keeps them up at night, not what features they want. 2. Simplicity is Beauty Great design isn’t just visual — it’s emotional clarity. Take Action: Remove one unnecessary step, process, or feature today. 3. Caring is Competitive Advantage Authentic care builds loyalty faster than any marketing strategy. Take Action: Find one way to surprise someone with thoughtfulness this week. 4. Integrity is Aesthetic Beauty is when your product, purpose, and process align seamlessly. Take Action: Audit one aspect of your business for alignment — does it reflect what you stand for? 5. Purpose Scales Better Than Hype Nancy reminds us: “Impact lasts longer than attention.” Take Action: Ask: Am I chasing visibility or value? Adjust accordingly. Closing Thoughts Nancy Johnston’s napkin — “Solve a real problem. Make it beautiful. Care like hell.” — reads like a manifesto for modern entrepreneurs and leaders. It’s a reminder that business, at its best, is an act of love disguised as innovation. The next time you feel stuck or overwhelmed, return to her three lines. They’re not just principles for leadership — they’re instructions for creating something meaningful and human. 📌 Your Turn: Take a napkin and write your own three-line manifesto. What problem will you solve? How will you make it beautiful? And how will you show that you care like hell? Share it with #PaperNapkinWisdom. Learn more about Nancy Johnston: LinkedIn: Website:
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Connection + Challenge = Change -- Dr. Malik Muhammad
10/07/2025
Connection + Challenge = Change -- Dr. Malik Muhammad
When you meet Dr. Malik Muhammad, you immediately feel the depth of his compassion paired with the weight of his conviction. He has built a global reputation for helping communities, leaders, and organizations transform through a unique blend of restorative practices, social-emotional learning, and courageous conversations. Dr. Muhammad is the founder of Transforming Lives Inc. and also works closely with Akoben LLC, both of which are devoted to empowering leaders and communities through equity, restorative leadership, and personal transformation. In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Dr. Malik shares a deceptively simple yet profoundly powerful formula scribbled on his napkin: Connection + Challenge = Change It’s the kind of wisdom that takes a lifetime of practice and reflection to fully appreciate. As our conversation unfolded, it became clear that this formula is not just a leadership principle — it’s a human one. Why Connection First? Dr. Malik explains that transformation cannot happen in isolation. “People don’t change because you tell them to — they change because they feel seen, valued, and understood,” he says. Without connection, challenge feels like criticism or confrontation. With connection, challenge becomes a bridge to growth. This resonates deeply in leadership, parenting, education, and relationships. If people don’t feel connected, they won’t lean into the discomfort of change. Connection creates the safety net that makes challenge survivable. The Role of Challenge But connection alone isn’t enough. “We don’t grow in our comfort zones,” Malik reminds us. Challenge disrupts the inertia of habit and forces us to wrestle with new perspectives, behaviors, and truths. He describes it as the catalyst that ignites transformation. The magic is in the combination. Too much challenge without connection leads to resistance and breakdown. Too much connection without challenge leads to complacency. Together, they create the conditions for meaningful, lasting change. Change as the Outcome “Connection and challenge are not the ends — they’re the means,” Malik emphasizes. The true outcome is change. Whether in a classroom, boardroom, or living room, the measure of leadership is whether you’ve created an environment where real transformation is possible. This isn’t about forcing change on others, but rather about walking beside them. As Malik puts it, “Change is not something we do to people, it’s something we co-create with them.” 5 Key Takeaways Connection is the Foundation Build trust before expecting growth. Without connection, challenge feels like attack. Take Action: Focus on listening more deeply this week — one conversation where you ask more than you speak. Challenge Unlocks Growth People only grow when nudged outside of their comfort zones. Take Action: Identify one area where you can challenge your team (or yourself) to stretch beyond “the usual.” Balance Creates Change The right mix of connection and challenge generates transformation. Take Action: Audit your leadership style — do you lean too heavy on comfort or on criticism? Adjust accordingly. Transformation is Co-Created Change is not imposed but built through relationship. Take Action: In your next leadership moment, invite collaboration instead of dictating the outcome. Leadership is Relational, Not Transactional Titles don’t change people, relationships do. Take Action: Reach out to someone you lead and ask how they’re really doing — then listen without agenda. Closing Thoughts Dr. Malik Muhammad’s napkin wisdom reminds us that leadership is not about authority or control — it’s about creating the conditions where people feel safe enough to be challenged and strong enough to embrace change. Connection without challenge is comfort. Challenge without connection is cruelty. But together, connection and challenge make change not only possible, but inevitable. Learn more about Dr. Malik Muhammad: LinkedIn: TLI Services: Akoben LLC: More about Malik: 📌 Your Turn: Grab a napkin and write your own equation for change. Post it with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom and join the conversation.
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No Hallmark Moments - Edge of the Napkin #7
10/05/2025
No Hallmark Moments - Edge of the Napkin #7
Somewhere 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 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. 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. 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. 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. Focus–Align–Act This is the FAA loop in real life: Focus on where you’re waiting for the calendar. Align by reframing: I don’t need Hallmark Moments. 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.
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The Choice of Leadership with Chris Thomson (Part 2 of 2)
10/02/2025
The Choice of Leadership with Chris Thomson (Part 2 of 2)
In this second half of our powerful conversation with Chris Thomson, we dive deeper into the mindset, discipline, and leadership lessons that have guided him through decades of transforming students into high-performing entrepreneurs. Chris is the Head Coach of the Student Works Management Program, a business that has trained thousands of young leaders across Canada. His story is one of building people, systems, and a culture that thrives on ownership and accountability. His wife, Helen Thomson, is his business partner and CEO of the Student Works Management Program and together they are among the most dynamic pairs of entrepreneurs in the country. Their program has likely help forge more Canadian entrepreneurs than any other program. He is also the host of the very popular Leaders of Tomorrow podcast where he features young and dedicated entrepreneurs on their journey to forge their own path in the world. Chris’ napkin for this episode reminds us that leadership is not about the title or the authority someone gives you—it’s about the intentional choice you make every day. This distinction is simple yet transformative. It forces us to confront whether we are showing up with the courage, responsibility, and consistency that leadership truly demands. Choosing Growth Over Comfort Chris points out that most people are wired to choose comfort—it’s the path of least resistance. But leadership requires choosing growth, even when it feels uncomfortable. Growth demands risk, vulnerability, and a willingness to fail forward. His message is clear: every great leader has to wrestle with the temptation of comfort, and the best ones consistently choose growth. Take Action: Next time you’re faced with a difficult decision, pause and ask yourself: Am I choosing growth, or am I defaulting to comfort? Write it down and commit to the growth path. Building a Culture of Accountability One of the strongest threads in Chris’ work is accountability. At Student Works, young leaders are taught not just to deliver results but to own their commitments fully. Chris emphasizes that accountability is the backbone of trust and performance. Without it, teams drift. With it, they thrive. Take Action: Introduce a simple accountability rhythm in your team this week. It could be a weekly check-in where everyone reports on one promise made and one promise kept. The Discipline of Consistency Chris makes it clear that success isn’t built on flashes of brilliance but on disciplined, consistent effort. Leaders set the tone by showing up every day, prepared, focused, and ready to do the hard things. That consistency compounds over time and creates the culture others can rely on. Take Action: Identify one leadership behavior you want to model consistently for your team (e.g., starting meetings on time, always closing the loop on commitments). Practice it relentlessly for the next 30 days. Mentorship as Multiplication A powerful insight Chris shares is the multiplier effect of mentorship. When a leader invests deeply in someone else’s growth, that impact ripples outward exponentially. The students Chris has mentored are now leaders who are mentoring others—creating a legacy of growth and excellence. Take Action: Identify one person in your world who has potential but needs encouragement. Reach out, invest time, and open a door for them. Owning Your Leadership Journey At the core of Chris’ message is ownership. Leaders don’t wait for permission to step up—they own their journey, their choices, and their impact. Leadership is not a someday aspiration. It’s a today decision. Take Action: Write down your personal leadership commitment on a napkin. What is the one sentence that captures the leader you want to be? Post it where you’ll see it daily. About Chris Thomson Chris Thomson is the Head Coach and Leader of the Student Works Management Program, an organization dedicated to building the next generation of entrepreneurs through hands-on business experience. Over decades, Chris has coached thousands of university students to run their own businesses, building a legacy of leaders across Canada. and follow the for more insights. Follow the as well. At Paper Napkin Wisdom, we believe small ideas can spark big change. What’s your biggest takeaway from Chris’ wisdom? Grab a napkin, write it down, and share it with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom. Your next big shift might just start with one small choice.
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Cancer is a Journey - Chris Thomson (Part 1 of 2)
09/30/2025
Cancer is a Journey - Chris Thomson (Part 1 of 2)
Introduction In this very personal and powerful episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I sit down with one of my oldest friends, Chris Thomson, Head Coach of the . Chris has spent decades shaping young leaders, building more entrepreneurs in Canada than perhaps anyone else. His story has always been one of creating opportunity and pushing boundaries—but today, his napkin is not about business. His wife, Helen Thomson, is his business partner and CEO of the Student Works Management Program and together they are among the most dynamic pairs of entrepreneurs in the country. Their program has likely help forge more Canadian entrepreneurs than any other program. He is also the host of the very popular Leaders of Tomorrow podcast where he features young and dedicated entrepreneurs on their journey to forge their own path in the world. Chris brings forward a message that is raw, human, and deeply resonant: “Cancer is a journey.” After being diagnosed three years ago, Chris has learned to see this experience not just as a challenge but as a pathway filled with lessons, clarity, and growth. This is part one of a two-part conversation where Chris shares not just his fight with cancer, but the wisdom he’s drawing from it—wisdom that will change how you see your own challenges. The Napkin: Cancer is a Journey When Chris chose those words for his napkin, he wasn’t sugarcoating the reality. He acknowledged the fear, the uncertainty, and the deep personal impact of living with cancer. But he framed it in a way that shifts perspective: instead of a battle to be fought or a curse to be endured, it’s a journey—one with lessons along the way. He explains how friends and mentors encouraged him to share his experience, and how openness helped him overcome the fear of other people’s opinions. That fear, he says, doesn’t disappear just because you’ve achieved success. It lingers until you confront it directly. Lessons from the Journey Through this conversation, Chris highlights a few themes that entrepreneurs and leaders can apply far beyond the context of illness: Openness Creates Connection By sharing his cancer journey publicly, Chris found a new depth of support, love, and community. Leaders often think they must project strength at all times, but true strength is often in vulnerability. Take Action: Start small. Share one struggle you’ve been carrying alone with someone you trust. Notice the connection it creates. Fear of Opinions Is Universal Chris notes that even people at the top—CEOs, entrepreneurs, public figures—still wrestle with the fear of how others perceive them. That fear doesn’t vanish with success; it must be challenged intentionally. Take Action: Write down one opinion you’ve been afraid to face. Ask yourself: “What if it didn’t matter?” Then act as though it doesn’t. Challenges Are Teachers Cancer, as devastating as it is, has been a teacher for Chris. It forced him to slow down, reframe priorities, and find meaning in places he might have overlooked before. Take Action: Reframe your current obstacle as a teacher. What lesson is it offering you right now? Gratitude in the Face of Hardship Chris repeatedly emphasizes gratitude—gratitude for support, for medical care, and even for the perspective the journey brings. Gratitude doesn’t deny difficulty; it reshapes how we meet it. Take Action: Each night, write down three things you’re grateful for—even on your hardest days. Legacy Is Built in Real Time For Chris, the Student Works program has always been about creating leaders who impact the world. His cancer journey has deepened that sense of legacy. What you do today—how you treat people, how you face challenges—is the legacy you’re already leaving. Take Action: Ask yourself, “What will people remember about me from this season of my life?” Adjust accordingly. About Chris Thomson Chris Thomson is the Head Coach and Leader of the Student Works Management Program, an organization dedicated to building the next generation of entrepreneurs through hands-on business experience. Over decades, Chris has coached thousands of university students to run their own businesses, building a legacy of leaders across Canada. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn () and follow the Student Works Management Program () for more insights. Follow the Leaders of Tomorrow Podcast () as well. Final Thoughts This is not an easy conversation. Talking about cancer never is. But Chris reminds us that even the hardest realities can carry wisdom if we’re willing to see them differently. His napkin—“Cancer is a journey”—is a challenge to every leader and entrepreneur: don’t just endure your obstacles, learn from them. Now, it’s your turn. Grab a napkin and write down your takeaway from Chris’s story. What lesson can you draw from your own challenges? Post it on social media with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom and join the conversation. Because small ideas—like words on a napkin—can lead to big shifts.
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The Mountain Path of Focus–Align–Act - Edge of the Napkin #6
09/28/2025
The Mountain Path of Focus–Align–Act - Edge of the Napkin #6
Episode 300 is a milestone — and fittingly, it circles back to the single most important lesson Govindh Jayaraman has learned over the past decade. This Edge of the Napkin moment distills years of hard-earned wisdom into a deceptively simple sketch: a mountain path labeled Focus, Align, Act. At first glance, it looks like a winding road up a peak. But listen closely and you’ll hear it’s really a life framework. This napkin isn’t about theory — it’s about how Govindh has lived, stumbled, re-centered, and climbed. Focus: See It Clearly The summit begins with clarity. As Govindh recalls sitting at breakfast with his wife Stacey and Sam Horn in Athens back in 2014, he realized the trap of drifting without a sharp lens. Focus means naming the mountain you’re climbing — not “a mountain,” but your mountain. When you see it clearly, distractions fall away. The right actions and right people come into view. Without this clarity, every detour feels like progress but takes you off-course. Align: Re-Center Daily The winding path on the napkin isn’t accidental — it’s real life. Nobody walks in a perfectly straight line toward their goals. Alignment is the daily act of re-centering. It’s not about perfection; it’s about the reset. As Govindh shares in the episode, alignment has to be constant, because life has a way of pulling you sideways. You don’t need to beat yourself up for drifting — you just need to notice, re-center, and realign. This is where discipline becomes grace. Act: All-In! At the base of the mountain is the stick figure — you, ready to move. Action matters. Not tentative, hesitant action, but all-in action. Govindh calls this the single hardest part: when you know the path, you still need the courage to walk it. Without action, focus is just a dream, and alignment is just talk. Action is what gives both meaning. 5 Key Takeaways Clarity Before Climb You can’t climb every mountain. Choose your mountain. Take Action: Write down your one big focus for this quarter. Just one. Drift is Normal Nobody stays perfectly aligned all the time. Expect detours. Take Action: Build a five-minute daily ritual to check your alignment. Grace in Re-Centering Alignment isn’t about judgment, it’s about return. Take Action: When you catch yourself off-track, reframe it as a win: you noticed, now realign. All-In Action Wins Half-hearted effort guarantees half-hearted results. Take Action: Pick one action today and commit to going 100% in. The Mountain is Daily Focus–Align–Act isn’t a one-time project, it’s an ongoing climb. Take Action: Map your day against the FAA model each morning. Why This Matters Episode 300 isn’t just a milestone number. It’s a reminder that Paper Napkin Wisdom has always been about turning simple sketches into profound shifts. The napkin shows that success is not a straight line — it’s a winding climb, one you re-center on every single day. So the question for you is: What’s the mountain you’re climbing right now? Grab a napkin, write it down, sketch your own Focus–Align–Act path, and share it with the world using #PaperNapkinWisdom.
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Kevin Barnicle: The Power of Doing the Opposite
09/25/2025
Kevin Barnicle: The Power of Doing the Opposite
When 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.
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Juan DeAngulo: True to Myself, Release the Outcome
09/23/2025
Juan DeAngulo: True to Myself, Release the Outcome
On 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 Authenticity is the anchor. Align with who you are before you align with strategy or market. Take Action: Write down one decision you’re facing and ask: is this truly aligned with who I am? Control the process, not the results. You can own your effort and habits, but not the scoreboard. Take Action: Identify one area where you’re outcome-obsessed and reframe it into process goals. Anxiety comes from gripping too tightly. Juan’s story of panic attacks shows how unsustainable it is to carry everything. Take Action: Create a daily ritual—meditation, journaling, or exercise—that helps you let go. Resilience is a practice, not a trait. It’s built by repeatedly showing up, grounded in truth, even when results are uncertain. Take Action: Track your “resilience reps”—moments when you acted authentically despite fear. Leadership is human connection. Systems and processes matter, but they’re only powerful when built on genuine human trust. 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 , 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 . 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.
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Edge of the Napkin #5 Growth or Comfort … Pick One
09/21/2025
Edge of the Napkin #5 Growth or Comfort … Pick One
This is an uncomfortable conversation. Every single day, we make choices — most of them so routine that we barely notice. How do you like your steak cooked — rare, medium, or well-done? At Thanksgiving, do you reach for the light meat or the dark? Keto or paleo? Lean muscle or bulk? Strong coffee or a lighter roast? They’re little decisions about taste, texture, preference. About comfort. But it doesn’t stop there. We choose friends who do what we do. We find partners who share our interests. We build identities around playlists, sports teams, and streaming choices. And in leadership? We double down. We read Start With Why. We define core values. We tell ourselves we’ll only hire people who “fit.” That isn’t wrong — but it’s dangerously easy to confuse alignment with values for simple agreement with me. And that’s where the trap lies: we like what feels like us. We choose sameness. We surround ourselves with comfort. Comfort feels good. Comfort feels safe. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: comfort is rarely where growth lives. Growth or Comfort … Pick One On this week’s napkin, the choice is stark. On one side: Comfort. A soft armchair, with a little “Zzz” floating above it. Safe. Restful. Easy. On the other side: Growth. A stick figure climbing a ladder up a mountain peak. Hard. Demanding. Stretching. The napkin says it plainly: Growth or Comfort … Pick One. You can’t sit in the chair and climb the mountain at the same time. The Three Frames The Kimmel suspension story that dominated headlines this week is a real-world example of how we fall into comfort instead of growth. Depending on which frame you live in, the same event looks entirely different. The Right-Wing Frame (Fox, Breitbart): Kimmel crossed a line. Affiliates and ABC did the right thing. FCC Chair Brendan Carr wasn’t censoring; he was enforcing standards and protecting the public interest. Comfort here comes from order and accountability. The Moderate Frame (Guardian, Variety, PBS): The unusual part wasn’t the joke but the FCC Chair’s public threats. Affiliates pulled the show first, ABC followed. The story is about pressure, timing, and precedent. Comfort here comes from process and balance. The Left/Press-Freedom Frame (ACLU, WaPo, late-night peers): This was censorship by pressure. Carr’s threats created a chilling effect on free speech. Comfort here comes from defending openness and dissent. Three frames. Three comforts. Same facts, filtered differently. But here’s the thing: if we only live in the frame that feels good to us, we miss the full picture. Comfort makes us blind to growth. What Leaders Must Do As leaders, we face this choice every day: comfort or growth. Notice the trap. Am I making this decision because it’s true, or because it feels like me? Separate values from preferences. Integrity is a value. Steak rare vs. well-done? That’s preference. Don’t mistake taste for truth. Invite friction. Healthy teams require dissent. Innovation comes from difference. If everyone nods in agreement, ask: What are we missing? Expand your lens. Just as your media diet needs more than one frame, your leadership needs more than one perspective. Comfort preserves the present. Growth creates the future. Your Call to Action This napkin asks something hard of all of us: Growth or Comfort … Pick One. Where in your life are you choosing the armchair when you know you should be climbing the ladder? Where in your leadership are you mistaking agreement for alignment, preference for principle? Growth doesn’t come from what feels good. It comes from what stretches you. So here’s your challenge: grab a napkin, write down one place where you’ve been choosing comfort over growth, and then post it with the hashtag #PaperNapkinWisdom. Because the truth is — every leader, every entrepreneur, every difference-maker faces this choice. Growth or comfort. You can’t have both.
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