Description

In this episode of the Coach Launch Podcast, Matthew sits down with TEDx speaker, author, and creative business strategist Paul Pape—known in his industry as “Santa for Nerds.” With clients like Disney, Universal, Nickelodeon, and The Tonight Show, Paul has spent over 20 years turning imagination into tangible “magic items” for fans, studios, and collectors around the world.

Paul shares how he went from theater set design to running a thriving custom art studio in Omaha, Nebraska, creating one-of-a-kind pieces for major films like the Harry Potter series, television, museums, and thousands of individual clients. Along the way, he discovered that the real problem creatives face isn’t talent—it’s understanding business.

That realization led Paul to create Gamify Business, a revolutionary RPG-style framework that turns traditional business concepts into an engaging “game” where you are the main character. He walks through how creatives and entrepreneurs can build a “character sheet” for themselves, assemble a complementary “party” (team), and tackle real-world monsters like scope creep, undercharging, and burnout.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• Why the “starving artist” identity is destructive—and how to replace it with a powerful new story
• How to confidently charge what you’re worth and stop negotiating your value
• The mindset and math behind premium pricing (and why raising your prices often improves your clients)
• How to use storytelling—not just numbers—to attract clients, investors, and opportunities
• Why understanding your strengths and weaknesses is essential to building the right team
• How to gamify goals, rewards, and motivation so business feels like an adventure, not a grind
• The danger of giving away too much for free, undervaluing your time, and ignoring your contracts
• Why valuing the people who support you (like VAs and contractors) directly impacts your growth

If you’re a creative, coach, or entrepreneur who’s tired of undercharging, overgiving, or feeling stuck, this episode will give you a playful yet deeply practical way to rethink business—and start winning your own game.

Free Giveaway from Paul Pape:
Get the first two chapters of The Creative Player’s Handbook to Business for free here: https://gamifybusiness.com/podcast

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