Paper Napkin Wisdom - Podcast And Blog For Entrepreneurs, Leaders And Difference-makers

Dinah Chapman is not your average entrepreneur. A fierce advocate for bold living, Dinah’s energy is magnetic, and her insights are ignited by a lifetime of choosing purpose over pretense. She’s a keynote speaker, creative strategist, and self-described “disruptor with intention.” Her Paper Napkin packs a punch — literally:  "If it doesn’t set your f*cking soul on fire, it’s not worth it."  This is more than a quote — it’s a manifesto.  In episode 258 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Dinah invites us to challenge the safe path, to unlearn the behaviors that keep us small, and to say yes to what makes us burn with aliveness. Through unfiltered storytelling and a raw, soul-baring presence, she shares what it really means to show up in life and leadership without compromise.  “We’re not here to exist. We’re here to create impact. And you can’t do that pretending to be someone you’re not.”  From career pivots to deeply personal revelations, Dinah leads us through her journey of alignment. At each turn, her decision-making

In Episode 257 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Adam Olalde, entrepreneur and founder of the Xtreme Xperience, shares a piece of guidance that captures the heart of adaptive leadership in a fast-paced world: “Move fast and (try not to) break things.”  It’s a nuanced remix of the famous Silicon Valley adage, but with a leadership lens honed by experience. Adam’s journey is marked by transformation—both personal and professional. As someone who has led teams through disruptive growth, built multi-million-dollar ventures, and weathered industry shifts, Adam brings more than bravado to the conversation—he brings wisdom.  Throughout our conversation, Adam emphasized that speed is still essential, but not at the cost of stability. He explains that “breaking things” might look like innovation at first, but if you’re constantly rebuilding trust, systems, or culture—you’re not innovating, you’re surviving.  “I’ve learned that just moving fast isn’t enough. You need clarity on what shouldn’t break.”  This clarity, Adam notes,

In the sixth installment of the Freedom by Design series, Michael Walsh distills a transformative idea on a literal paper napkin: The Social Contract. It’s a powerful reframing of the unspoken expectations that define the relationship between companies and their employees. More than a list of responsibilities, it’s a shared agreement—designed not just for performance, but for mutual growth.  Michael, founder of Walsh Business Growth, has long championed the notion that businesses should be engines of human flourishing—not just economic engines. In this episode, he puts that belief into structure, separating the contributions of the owner/company and the individual employee, and then aligning them toward a greater shared purpose.  “You don’t build a business. You build people—and people build the business.” —Michael Walsh, Ep. 256  The left side of the napkin reflects the company’s obligations: generate individual and collective results, build a strong culture, and move meaningfully toward a larger purpose. T

In episode 255 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we’re joined by the brilliant Seema Dhanoa — a transformational coach, conscious leadership facilitator, and author of the powerful book The Path to Conscious Leadership. Seema’s work is rooted in helping people return to themselves and lead from a place of inner truth. Her napkin might be simple in form, but it holds an entire operating system for alignment, balance, and meaningful presence.  At the center of her napkin is a bright burst of awareness — a foundational concept that Seema explains is the key to unlocking our full capacity as leaders, parents, partners, and humans. What surrounds this awareness is a framework that connects mind, body, heart, and intuition. “When these four domains are in conversation with each other,” she explains, “that’s when true alignment and balance happen — not just in leadership, but in life.”  Her conversation with Govindh Jayaraman explores the dance between the inner state and the outer state. Seema emphasizes that most people att

In Episode 254 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman sits down with Rick Williams — board director, leadership coach, and author of Create the Future: For Your Company and Yourself. A man of strategic clarity and quiet conviction, Rick shares a deceptively simple yet profoundly powerful message: "Give Before Asking."  This phrase, written on a paper napkin, becomes the cornerstone of a conversation rich with wisdom about leadership, generosity, trust, and how real influence is built — not demanded.  Rick’s career spans decades of advising leaders through business transitions, boardroom dynamics, and personal evolution. As a frequent contributor to publications like the Harvard Business Review and CEOWorld, and someone who’s helped countless CEOs navigate defining moments, Rick knows what separates good leaders from great ones. Spoiler: it’s not charisma or vision — it’s how you show up for others first.  Leading with Contribution, Not Control  In the episode, Rick explains the deeper meaning behind “Give

In the final installment of the Freedom by Design series, Michael Walsh brings us back to the heart of sustainable business growth: the core of your organization. His napkin, boldly titled “Rethink the Core,” offers a deceptively simple yet profoundly important shift in how entrepreneurs and leaders define what really drives performance.  On one side of the napkin: a traditional model where teams create results, leading to customer value and company profit. It's efficient. It's direct. But it's incomplete.  On the other side: a redesigned model. Teams don’t just deliver results—they grow. This growth is both the mechanism and measure of lasting success. Professional development is woven into the business engine, not treated as an afterthought. The result? Better outcomes, more resilient teams, and long-term value creation for both customers and the company.  “If your people are only delivering results but not growing, you’re creating fragility. But if they’re growing, you’re building the core strength of you

Christine McDannell is a serial entrepreneur, author of The Resilient Founder, and a passionate advocate for building businesses that align with long-term legacy and personal purpose. She’s launched and sold multiple companies, including a 7-figure exit, and now focuses her energy on guiding purpose-driven founders through her work at Kindred Quarters and Kndrd.io.  In Episode 252 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Christine shared a bold but essential truth that many leaders need to hear: “The customer is not always #1… your team is #1!” It's a deceptively simple statement scrawled on a paper napkin—but its implications for leadership, culture, and long-term success are massive.  “If you take care of your team, they will take care of your customers,” Christine said during our conversation. “But if you prioritize the customer at the expense of your team, eventually you’ll lose both.”  Christine’s leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in legacy thinking. She believes that what you build should matter long after you're g

In Part 4 of the Freedom by Design series, Michael Walsh — growth strategist and founder of Walsh Business Growth — returns to the Paper Napkin Wisdom podcast with another deceptively simple, powerfully transformational idea. This time, Michael outlines what he believes to be the four core driving influences of all human behavior: Survive, Thrive, Connect, and Adapt.  Michael's frameworks aren't about academic theory — they’re forged in the heat of real entrepreneurial fires. Having coached hundreds of founders and growth-minded leaders, Michael brings his deep understanding of what actually drives behavior — especially when stakes are high and the fog of uncertainty is thick.  “If you want to lead people, you have to understand what drives them. Every single decision we make is being influenced by one or more of these four things.”  Let’s unpack each of the four influences.    1. Survive  At our most fundamental level, we’re hardwired to protect ourselves — physically, emotionally, and financial

Heads up: this is a live recording, and the audio has some echo due to a tech glitch. Still, John’s wisdom shines through—and we think it’s worth it. Hope you agree. In this special final chapter of a three-part series, we return to Paper Napkin Wisdom with legendary entrepreneur John Sleeman, founder of Sleeman Breweries and Spring Mill Distillery. But this time, he’s not alone — John is joined by the next generation: his sons, Quinn, a cooper who crafts whiskey barrels, and Cooper, who leads sales and marketing at the distillery. Yes, the naming symmetry is as poetic as it is confusing — and quintessentially Sleeman.  What emerges in this conversation is a full-circle moment. Not just a hand-off from one generation to the next, but a creative expansion of a legacy that refuses to sit still. The napkin this time reads, “I need a new challenge.” And it couldn’t be more fitting.  From Gift to Growth to Grit  In episode one, John walked us through his early entrepreneurial roots. In part two, he unpacked what i

Heads up: this is a live recording, and the audio has some echo due to a tech glitch. Still, John’s wisdom shines through—and we think it’s worth it. Hope you agree. This episode marks the second chapter in a three-part journey through the life and legacy of John Sleeman, the iconic Canadian entrepreneur behind Sleeman Breweries. And in this moment, we move from the grind of building a business to something deeper—something almost mythic: a legacy rediscovered.  John’s story picks up with a surprise visit from his Aunt Florian. After a decade of no contact, she shows up with a gift she had been holding onto for 51 years: a handwritten recipe book from John’s grandfather—the original Sleeman brewer—and a vintage Sleeman beer bottle from the late 1800s.  “I’ve been waiting 51 years to give this to someone in the family who’s got an aptitude or an interest in the beer business... You’re the only one.”  That book didn’t just contain recipes—it held stories, history, and a call to action. And that moment became Jo

This episode is personal.  Just after college, I started a small business with my friend Matt Fox. We launched a student-focused magazine called Fingertips — hunting down wing nights and drink deals before smartphones made that easy. Money was tight. Hustle was everything. And our first cold call was to Sleeman Brewing in Guelph.  John Sleeman said yes.  That early “yes” stuck with me — and now, decades later, I’m sitting with him in this beautiful building, recording a full-circle episode for Paper Napkin Wisdom. But this story isn’t about the brewery. Not yet.  Because before John knew anything about his family’s brewing legacy… he had a napkin idea: “Start a Pub.”  “I realized in my late teens that I was almost unemployable,” he said. “I kept getting fired because I was always telling my bosses how to do things better.”  So he stopped trying to fit in — and started building his own future.  The Pub Was the Trojan Horse  John didn’t set out to become a beer mogul. In fact, in the beginning, he wasn’t even

Michael Walsh returns for part three of our special Freedom by Design series on Paper Napkin Wisdom, and this one might be the most visually striking yet. If you’re a fan of simple visuals that unlock big thinking, you’re going to love this napkin. It’s a 10x10 grid—just 100 dots—but what it represents could be the unlock for transformational leadership and next-level scale.  Michael is the founder of Walsh Business Growth and the author of Freedom by Design: The Established Business Owner’s Guide to Grow, Make an Impact and Find Joy Again. In this final part of our three-episode series, Michael draws our attention to a deceptively simple truth: relationships are the real force multipliers in any organization. And when you understand how one-to-one connections scale, you start designing differently.  “This napkin isn’t about how many people you can reach,” Michael says. “It’s about how many relationships you can build—and the ripple effects of each connection.”  On the napkin, Michael illustrates the growth

In Episode 246 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Govindh Jayaraman sits down with Ari Galper, the world’s leading authority on trust-based selling and the creator of the revolutionary “One Call Sale” method. With over 25 years of experience, Ari has completely flipped the traditional sales script. His approach isn’t about pressure, persuasion, or playing games—it’s about trust, truth, and transformation.  Ari’s method is especially relevant for high-trust, low-volume, high-margin businesses where chasing leads and long sales cycles create drag. His model is designed to remove the friction of multiple meetings and speed up decision-making—without sacrificing relationship or integrity. And he sketches it all out on a paper napkin with just four words and a powerful philosophy.  “The sale is lost not because you didn’t ‘close’ well… but because trust wasn’t built fast enough.”  The Four-Step Framework on Ari’s Napkin  At first glance, Ari’s napkin looks simple:  Dr.-Patient Mindset  Go Down the Iceberg  Show Your

Dustin Wells isn’t just an experienced tech entrepreneur — he’s a guide for leaders looking to rediscover purpose in the peaks and valleys of business and life. With over two decades in tech and a successful exit under his belt, Dustin has learned to measure success not only in valuations but in clarity, impact, and joy. In Episode 245 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Dustin shared a message written in bold blue ink: “Summit your current mountain.”  This deceptively simple statement holds transformative weight. It’s not just about climbing higher — it’s about finishing the climb you’re on. In a culture obsessed with constant reinvention and the next big thing, Dustin’s wisdom is a powerful reminder that what’s in front of you right now deserves your full attention, effort, and heart.  “I almost didn’t sell. I had no plans to sell,” Dustin says, recalling the unexpected opportunity to exit the company he founded. “But when I did, it was the first time in years I could hear myself think.”  That moment of clarity didn

Michael Walsh is no stranger to growth. As the founder of Walsh Business Growth, he’s spent years helping established business owners scale with intention, clarity, and impact. In this second installment of our Freedom Framework special on Paper Napkin Wisdom, Michael returns to reveal one of his most powerful visual tools for growth: The 4 Danger Zones.  Drawn on a simple napkin (as all great ideas are), Michael lays out the major inflection points — and hidden pitfalls — that business owners face as they scale from $1M to $20M and beyond. Each stage brings a new level of complexity, risk, and decision-making, and many businesses stall — or crash — when they hit these invisible ceilings.  “The danger zones don’t show up in your financials right away. They show up in your energy, your confidence, your ability to lead.” — Michael Walsh  Let’s break down why these zones matter — and how leaders can spot them before they become business breakers.  Stage 1: The $1M Hurdle — The Founder's Grind  Most business

Freedom. It’s a word thrown around a lot in entrepreneurial circles. For some, it’s about time. For others, money. But in Episode 243 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Michael Walsh challenges all of us to look deeper. With his napkin reading, “Freedom is not a selfish act,” he invites established business owners to consider a profound shift in how they view growth and fulfillment.  Michael Walsh isn’t just another business coach. He’s a skilled strategist with decades of experience guiding entrepreneurs who have already built something successful—but feel stuck, exhausted, or unsure of what’s next. His new book, Freedom by Design, is a guide for those who want to reconnect with purpose and build a life (and business) that serves them—not the other way around.  In our conversation, Michael explains that many business owners start out seeking autonomy—not wealth. “A lot of people think that entrepreneurs are about the money,” he says. “What I find typically is they’re not. They’re about the autonomy they can gain by

“Self-care isn’t selfish… it’s essential.”  That’s the simple but deeply powerful message that Karen Kossow chose to write on her napkin for this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom. And it’s a message that comes from lived experience.  Karen is a devoted parent of two autistic children and a tireless advocate for those navigating complex family dynamics. As a life coach and speaker, she specializes in helping caregivers, especially mothers, shift their mindset from burnout and guilt to empowerment and sustainability.  In our conversation, Karen shares how self-care transformed her parenting, her marriage, and her impact as a coach. “I see firsthand in my own life, and with the clients that I work with, what happens when people in stressful situations that they can’t get out of don’t take care of themselves,” she says. It’s not just about spa days or bubble baths—it’s about survival, and more importantly, about thriving.  She challenges the narrative that taking time for yourself is a luxury or an indulgence. In

In Episode 241 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, I reconnect with someone whose growth journey I’ve witnessed firsthand—Marina Byezhanova. She’s not just a remarkable entrepreneur and thought leader; she’s also someone I’ve had the privilege to coach during her early years in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Accelerator program. Today, she’s the co-founder of Brand of a Leader, a global personal branding agency that helps CEOs and founders show up powerfully and authentically in a noisy world.  Marina's journey is one of identity, courage, and clarity. Born in Ukraine, she immigrated to Canada as a teenager, carrying the weight of reinvention on her shoulders. Her story isn't just about entrepreneurship—it's about the transformation that happens when we stop hiding and start standing in our truth.  Her Paper Napkin Wisdom is handwritten and bold: "Stand out. Speak up. Be radically authentic." At the top, she’s penned “BOAL”—the acronym for her company, Brand of a Leader—a testament to how deeply this message is woven

There’s something really honest about a message that stops you cold, makes you sit up straighter, and asks you: What are you really doing with your time?  That’s exactly what happened when I sat down (for the second time!) with Borzou Azabdaftari, founder of NickelBronx, a bold and authentic brand identity firm based in Washington, D.C. Our first recording got lost to the digital ether—but honestly, the second take felt even more powerful. And that’s a lesson in itself.  Borzou came to Paper Napkin Wisdom with this message scrawled on a napkin: “The time will pass regardless.”  At first glance, it might seem simple. But simple doesn’t mean small. In fact, the best wisdom often hides in plain sight.  “In two years, you could be further along… or not. But the time’s going to pass either way,” he said.  That landed hard for me. And I know it will for you too.  As entrepreneurs, leaders, creatives—we obsess over the right time, the right setup, the perfect conditions. But Borzou challenges all of that. He i

In Episode 240 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, we’re joined by Darcel Dillard-Suite, a powerhouse entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and co-founder of Full Circle Health. With nearly three decades of entrepreneurial experience, Darcel has built a thriving business alongside her husband, a psychiatrist, focused on holistic mental wellness and support for underrepresented communities. Her impact has been far-reaching, not just as a business leader, but as a mentor and motivator helping others rise through the challenges of entrepreneurship.  Her napkin is a blueprint for success that every entrepreneur should take to heart:  “Diversify, Stay Determined, Develop Strong Financial Advisors.”  These aren’t just words—they’re lessons hard-won through years of navigating the entrepreneurial grind. And each of them holds a story that could change the way you build your business.  Diversify or Die Trying  "I learned the hard way that if I didn’t diversify this business and get income coming from other directions...we’r