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Michael Walsh, founder of Walsh Business Growth Institute, believes great teams drive everything good in a company. In Paper Napkin Wisdom, he shares why most “people problems” are really design issues—and how deliberate team design, mentorship, and training can unlock freedom, growth, and culture that scales.

In this episode of Paper Napkin Wisdom, David Umansky, CEO and co-founder of Civic Builders, shares a deceptively simple but powerful message: "Be bold!" For David, boldness isn’t recklessness — it’s designing for transformation, removing barriers to equity, and listening deeply. Real change, he says, comes from building systems that scale good, staying calm in chaos, and turning feedback into fuel. Boldness isn’t a slogan — it’s purpose in action.

In Episode 269 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Derek Coburn, bestselling author and financial advisor, challenges the old idea of retirement. Instead of deferring joy for someday, he urges us to design lives rich with purpose, presence, and micro-retirements now. Why wait to live fully?

In Episode 268 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, leadership expert Michael Walsh urges leaders to flip the script: create a career development growth plan that’s not about the business, but about your people. Focus on their 10-year vision, strengths and weaknesses, and map learning that supports who they want to become. When leaders invest in human flourishing—not just performance—they build teams ready to run through walls. True leadership isn’t extraction—it’s empowerment. #PaperNapk

Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann shares his simple yet powerful mantra: “Get up. Get dressed. Go to work. People are counting on you.” In Episode 267 of Paper Napkin Wisdom, Marc reveals how this mindset helped him rebuild after public failure. His story is a reminder that leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, even on the hardest days, because someone out there still needs you to.

“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.