This week's guest is the phenomenally talented and creative Paul Pape, who's made a name for himself as a full-time artist and self-proclaimed 'Santa Claus for nerds.' We're breaking down his journey from disillusioned theater nerd to professional prop builder, and how he accidentally-on-purpose built his creative empire.

Can't-Miss Moments:

Self-imposed summer school: what made Paul see school as a sanctuary, and how his acting attempt led to a surprising new career direction...
Failure alert: why Paul and I are big fans of failing hard and failing often (and how you can use this to your advantage in your creative career)...
Cease and desist: both Paul and I have received these legal orders from companies with a lot more money and power than we had. Paul's response to Nintendo's notice had me taking notes...
Big twist: I confess to Paul that my MOST HATED class in grad school was - wait for it - Entrepreneurship. I bet you won't guess why...
Fixing the creativity crisis: Paul shares three solid ways to bring creativity and imagination back into the workplace so your company can thrive and innovate AND keep its people happy...

Paul's bio:

Paul Pape is a seasoned artist, designer, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in the creative industry. His journey began with a passion for education stemming from a need to escape an abusive childhood. Eventually, he found my way to design and fabrication, which led to the creation of thousands of personalized products for clients worldwide as well as industry giants such as Disney, Universal, Nickelodeon and more.

In recent years, he’s pivoted to empowering Creatives, Companies and Corporations, sharing his expertise and insights to help them embrace innovation, reverse the Creativity Crisis and make life and work FUN again. As a speaker, educator, and mentor, he inspires others to unleash their creative potential and find fulfillment in their personal and professional lives.

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Collaboration, competition, and creativity with Paul Pape