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John Candy’s quiet line—“I like me”—is more than a movie moment. It’s a leadership lesson. Entrepreneurs often feel pressure to fit a mold, but real impact comes from identity, not image. When you like who you are, you lead with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Identity > Image.

In this episode, Juan DeAngulo shares his napkin: “I am true to myself and I release the outcome.” He talks about scaling billion-dollar platforms, battling anxiety, and learning that real leadership comes from authenticity, presence, and human connection—freedom begins when we let go.

On Paper Napkin Wisdom, Jennifer McKenna shares her *Prosperity Formula*: **Familiar → Faith → Fulfillment**. She explains that while the Familiar feels safe, it often traps us in comfort and stalls growth. The breakthrough comes with Faith — intentional trust in yourself and the process — which bridges the gap to Fulfillment, where success is measured in joy, purpose, and alignment. Prosperity, she reminds us, isn’t accidental; it’s a courageous choice to move forward.

On Paper Napkin Wisdom, Katy Spada shares her challenge: “Build the world you wish existed for your younger self, and for those who come next.” An “accidental entrepreneur,” mother, and founder of Arya + Maan, Katy blends creativity, heritage, and intentional living into her work. Her story is about legacy over revenue, courage over permission, and creating impact that her children — and community — can inherit.

In Episode 286 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, host Govindh Jayaraman reflects on the journey so far and introduces “The Edge of the Napkin” — the space where wisdom meets action. The napkin has always captured powerful, simple ideas; now it’s about living them out, testing, and expanding them. This evolution takes Paper Napkin Wisdom from spark to execution, building clarity, community, and courage for leaders and entrepreneurs.

Here’s a version under 500 characters: Michael Walsh closes the Freedom Series with a powerful reminder: “You’ve got to rethink the core.” Profit alone isn’t enough—the true core is people, systems, and the freedom to thrive. His final insights stress hiring smart, relentlessly developing teams, focusing on people before customers, and building leaders who can adapt to change. Freedom in business means creating organizations that endure and outlast the entrepreneur.

In Episode 283 of *Paper Napkin Wisdom*, Michael Walsh returns with part fifteen of the Freedom Series to tackle one constant in business: change. While shifts are inevitable, their timing is unpredictable. Walsh stresses that freedom comes not from resisting change but preparing managers, systems, and teams to adapt. Strong middle leadership and resilient structures transform unexpected challenges into opportunities, preserving the entrepreneur’s ultimate goal—freedom.

Pete Olander, founder of Happie and Natural Recovery Greens, thrives in regulated, fast-moving markets by staying close to customer needs and building for real-life use. His approach: make the right choice the easy one, design for volatility, and keep product-market fit moving with the market. Leaders can learn from his clarity, speed, and optimism under constraints—turning challenges into stepping stones for sustainable success.

EP 280 of *Freedom by Design* with Michael Walsh drives home one truth: scale comes from developing leaders, not just individuals. Leaders rally people toward a brighter future, while managers turn talent into performance—both are vital, but different. When you grow leaders who grow managers who grow people, capacity multiplies. If your results feel capped, stop sprinting solo—build an ecosystem of leaders who create leaders.

“Nearly all decisions are driven by emotions,” says Darren Hickman, former Disney exec and master of emotional branding. In Episode 266 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Darren reveals why logic justifies but emotion decides — and how leaders can harness storytelling, vulnerability, and authenticity to truly connect, build trust, and influence action in any business setting.

Train & Grow Your People (Part 2) dives into making people development the engine of profit and customer value. Michael Walsh shows how to build training into daily work so growth isn’t extra—it’s essential. Align your team’s development with business goals, create clarity, and design growth plans that drive real results. Freedom isn’t stepping back from your team—it’s investing in them so results become integrated and lasting.

Todd Palmer returns to Paper Napkin Wisdom with a transformative mantra: “Everything happens 4 me, NOT 2 me.” As a coach and former CEO who rebuilt from near-bankruptcy, Todd shows how this shift from victim to creator empowers leaders to face adversity with intention. By asking “What’s the gift here?” and owning our thoughts, we move from reactive to proactive. His message: rewrite your story, live in the present, and find growth in every challenge. Life isn’t against us—it’

David Herle, in episode 263 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, delivers a bold truth: “Power is never given away. If you want it, you have to take it.” Real leadership isn’t about waiting for permission — it’s about stepping up, owning responsibility, and acting with conviction. Power comes to those who claim it, not those who wait. Leadership, David reminds us, must be visible and intentional. If you believe you can make a difference, don’t wait — show up and take it.

Build, Don’t Burnout: When Ross Albers was fired two weeks before his wedding, he launched his own law firm with nothing but a desk. In Episode 261 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Ross shares how shifting from working in the business to on it helped him hire, acquire, and inspire. His lesson? Leadership is leverage—and real growth starts when you step back, build systems, and lead with vision.

Toni Harrison, CEO of Etched Communication, shares her R.E.A.L. framework for resilience on Paper Napkin Wisdom. Through Rigor, Experience, Adaptability, and Level-setting goals, she redefines resilience as a choice, not a trait. Her message: growth comes from embracing challenges and showing up authentically. This episode is a powerful guide to grounded leadership and personal grit.

Hiring right is half the game. Michael Walsh reveals 6 traits every leader should hire for in today's expertise-driven world. Mindset scales - ego doesn’t.

“If it doesn’t set your soul on fire, it’s not worth it.” — Dinah Chapman on bold choices, raw truth, and unapologetic leadership.

Move fast and (try not to) break things.” — Adam Olalde on leading with speed, clarity, and care in Episode 257 of Paper Napkin Wisdom.

You don’t build a business. You build people—and people build the business.

Awareness is the gateway to conscious leadership — Seema Dhanoa shares how inner alignment shapes outer impact.