Algorithms, Illusions, and the Death of Truth
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Did you know that purple doesn’t actually exist? Your eyes don’t see it—your brain creates it by filling in the absence of yellow. Wild, right? What feels so real is actually a construction. And it made me wonder: if something as simple as color is invented in our heads, what else are we mistaking for truth?
This week, after the tragic death of Charlie Kirk, I saw people on both sides do the same thing: grab the clips and comments that confirmed their perspective and ignore the rest. Each group created their own “truth” about who he was. It made me realize—our perception isn’t reality. It’s just a slice of it. The question is, what do we do about that?
The Edge of the Napkin is now live. We're still making some upgrades to Paper Napkin Wisdom ... so there are limited previews for now. Stay tuned for more!
In this week's Paper Napkin Wisdom Weekly:
- Paper Napkin Wisdom Preview
- When Purple Isn’t Purple: Perception vs Reality in a Fractured World
- Focus–Align–Act: Perception vs Reality
- Week in Review
🧠 TL;DR – When Purple Isn’t Purple
🧭 FOCUS
Our brains don’t just see reality—they invent parts of it. Purple isn’t a color “out there”; it’s our brain filling in the absence of yellow. We do the same with world events and people.
🔹 Key Question: What parts of my “truth” are actually just gaps I’ve filled in?
🔹 Napkin Thought: My slice of reality isn’t the whole pie.
🎯 ALIGN
If I know perception is partial, I can hold it lightly. Charlie Kirk’s death showed how both sides grabbed clips that confirmed their view—creating two different “truths.”
🔹 Reframe: My truth is not the truth—it’s one angle.
🔹 Mantra:I see a slice, not the whole.
🚀 ACT
To stretch beyond my filters:
- Seek multiple sources—even uncomfortable ones.
- Ask what’s missing, not just what’s shown.
- Pause before judging: fact or framing?
- Listen to perspectives I’d usually reject.
🔁 REMEMBER:
Purple feels real, but it’s invented. So is much of what I call “truth.” When I step past my slice, I build a mosaic that looks more like reality.
Paper Napkin Wisdom Podcast Preview
This is the only place where we give you a sneak peek into what's coming up on Paper Napkin Wisdom. Remember to share this with anyone who needs to hear these messages.
🎙️ This week on Paper Napkin Wisdom we’re opening the archives — releasing two powerful episodes recorded back in 2017 that have never been heard until now!
Episode 295: takes us back to 2017 with Adam Hudson, entrepreneur and founder of Unemployable. We dive into his napkin wisdom on freedom, perspective, and building businesses that serve your life.
Episode 296: also takes us back to 2017 with Jimmy Park, relationship-builder and master connector at Gotham Networking. His napkin wisdom shows how generosity and connection can unlock doors in both business and life.
Episode 297: Edge of the Napkin #5, where I dive solo into a raw, unfiltered idea sketched at the edge of a napkin. A short, punchy reflection designed to challenge assumptions and spark action in your leadership journey.
Episode 298: features Juan De Angulo, whose napkin reminds us: “I am true to myself and I release the outcome.” A powerful conversation about authenticity, trust, and leading without clinging to control.
Episode 299: features Kevin Barnicle, whose napkin challenges conventional wisdom: “Look at what everyone else is doing, and do the opposite!” A bold conversation on standing out, disrupting patterns, and building success by zigging when others zag.
🔥 Episode 300: marks a milestone — a special Edge of the Napkin (#6) where I share a powerful reflection to celebrate 300 conversations of wisdom. This one pulls together lessons from the journey so far, and challenges us to keep turning small ideas into big results. 🔥
Stay connected with Paper Napkin Wisdom on Apple, YouTube, and Spotify to be the first to hear these incredible episodes!
When Purple Isn’t Purple: Perception vs Reality in a Fractured World
👉 Did you know purple doesn’t actually exist?
Your eyes see the absence of yellow, and your brain invents the rest.
That’s wild. Because it means the color purple isn’t “out there”—it’s “in here,” a mental creation.
So here’s the big question:
When I see purple, is it the same as when you do?
How would we ever know?
We don’t notice the gap. We just accept the illusion as truth.
But what if the same thing happens every day when we look at the world, at the news, at each other?
Reality Isn’t What We Think
- What you see isn’t the truth.
- It’s a slice of reality.
- And that slice is filtered through your perspective.
This isn’t a media-bashing exercise. We all do it. We all see from our own angle. We all share “our truth” as though it’s the truth.
The problem? We forget that what feels complete is actually partial.
Case Study: The Death of Charlie Kirk
This week, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed in a shooting. A tragedy—regardless of politics.
But here’s what happened immediately:
- Supporters flooded social media with clips of his most inspiring, sharp, or compassionate moments.
- Critics resurfaced his most divisive quotes, highlighting what they saw as harmful rhetoric.
Both sides curated their own Charlie Kirk.
The man who died? A full human being, complex and contradictory. The man people reacted to? A construction of perception.
Just like purple—he became whatever each person’s filter filled in.
Conversations That Change You
I was discussing Kirk’s death with friends and family. My circle is blessedly diverse in perspective, and these conversations are never simple.
One of my daughter's friends asked me:
“How is it okay when people rejoice the death of some people (like Hitler), but not others?”
Think about that.
When is death something to mourn? When is it something to celebrate? Who decides?
It’s a powerful reminder that perception doesn’t just shape what we see. It shapes what we believe is right.
Algorithms Are the New Filters
And here’s the kicker: you and I don’t even start with the same “facts.”
- Your feed shows one version of events.
- Mine shows another.
- Both are filtered for maximum engagement, not maximum truth.
So even before we add our personal perspective, we’re operating from curated realities. We fill in gaps with what fits—and we accept it as complete.
How to See More of Reality
We may never see “the full truth.” But we can stretch beyond our slice.
Here’s how:
🔹 Check multiple sources — especially those that make you uncomfortable.
🔹 Ask what’s missing — whose voice isn’t here? what angle isn’t covered?
🔹 Pause before reacting — is this fact, or someone’s framing?
🔹 Listen with humility — different experiences create different truths.
🔹 Name your filter — how are your values and beliefs shaping what you see?
Final Thought
Purple is the perfect metaphor. It’s real to us, but not real in the way we assume.
Charlie Kirk’s death exposed the same phenomenon: people didn’t just see what happened—they constructed what it meant.
When we mistake our slice of reality for the whole pie, we fall into certainty, division, and judgment.
But if we pause…
If we seek the missing pieces…
If we build a mosaic from multiple perspectives…
We get closer to something deeper than perception.
We get closer to reality.
🔥 Paper Napkin Journal Prompt:
When have you realized that what you believed to be “truth” was actually just a slice of perception?
🧠 Focus–Align–Act Perception vs Reality
🧭FOCUS
Our brains are storytellers. They don’t just receive reality—they invent parts of it.
- Purple isn’t real; it’s our brain filling in the absence of yellow.
- The same thing happens with world events, conversations, even people.
- What we see is not the truth—it’s just a slice.
🔹 Napkin Insight: When I confuse my perception for reality, I build certainty on absence.
🎯 ALIGN
If I know my perspective is partial, I can hold it with humility.
- Others aren’t “wrong” just because they see differently.
- Social feeds curate versions of reality—mine is not the same as yours.
- Complex people (like Charlie Kirk) can’t be reduced to highlight reels or soundbites.
🔹 Reframe: My truth is not the truth. It’s one angle.
🔹 Mantra: I see a slice, not the whole.
🚀 ACT
To discover more of reality, stretch beyond your default filters:
- Expand your inputs — read/watch/listen to sources outside your bubble.
- Interrogate absence — ask: what’s missing here? whose voice isn’t present?
- Pause before judgment — fact or framing? certainty or assumption?
- Have conversations — invite diverse perspectives and listen without needing to win.
- Name your lens — get clear on how your values and experiences filter what you see.
🔹 Activation Prompt: This week, when something shocks or angers you, ask: “What am I not seeing yet?”
🔁 REMEMBER:
Purple feels real—but it’s an invention. So is much of what we call “truth.” Step past your slice. Build a mosaic. Get closer to reality.
Week in Review
In Episode 292, Govindh Jayaraman turns the lens inward and delivers a powerful insight: the greatest partnership you’ll ever have is the one with yourself. He reframes how we think about the conscious vs. unconscious mind—rather than treating our unconscious as a mere subordinate, he argues it’s our silent partner, working in parallel with purpose. When we ignore that inner relationship, friction arises: self-doubt, resistance, misalignment. By shifting how we speak about, listen to, and align with our unconscious mind, Govindh shows us how to move from command-and-control into flow, greater authenticity, and leadership rooted in inner trust.
In Episode 293, Steven Rothberg (Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of College Recruiter) delivers a deceptively simple—but game-changing—napkin insight: “If a customer wants to give you more money, find a way of making that happen.” What starts out sounding like sales strategy quickly unfolds into a mindset around customer curiosity, deep listening, and growing with clients instead of in spite of them. Steven reveals how many of the most profitable innovations at College Recruiter came from clients asking for things outside the standard menu—better features, more tailored reporting, or a more specific audience. Rather than saying “that’s not us,” he leaned in, asked questions, and turned those asks into new sources of value and revenue. The lesson is clear: when you meet customers where they truly want to go, you don’t just sell more—you build trust, loyalty, and possibilities for growth that feel mutual, not transactional.
Check them out here:
A Milestone Awaits ...
As we come up on a major milestone—300 episodes of Paper Napkin Wisdom—I’m reminded of just how much wisdom has been captured one napkin at a time. To celebrate, we’ll be sharing some previously unreleased gems from the vault, moments of insight that deserve their place in the spotlight. And we’re not stopping there—big upgrades are on the horizon for Paper Napkin Wisdom, designed to take this community and conversation to an entirely new level.
The best, as always, is still to come.
Make it a great week!
Govindh
Paper Napkin Wisdom
