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

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 understan