Episode 126 – Level Up Your Business: How to Gamify Success with Paul Pape
Release Date: 12/18/2025
Episode 139 — How To Build a Multi-Six-Figure Brand With One Life-Changing Cold Call With Ethan Dowie
Call The Damn Leads
In this episode of Call The Damn Leads, I sit down with my guy Ethan Dowie, founder of Indigo and one of the sharpest minds in the branded-merch game. Ethan didn’t come into the industry with experience, money, or a fancy network… he came in with a cell phone, a notebook, and the willingness to make 500 cold calls. And on call #496, everything changed. That single outreach — one conversation with a buyer at Zappos — turned into hundreds of thousands of dollars in orders and opened the door to a multi-six-figure merch company built on systems, relationships, and high-touch service....
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Episode 138 – Kill the Ego, Start the Conversation & Stop Pitch-Slapping with Lidia Axe
Call The Damn Leads
Lidia Axe – Business Coach for Solopreneurs, Sales Mindset Strategist, Author, Host of “Conversations That Convert” In this episode, Drewbie is joined by the fiery, hilarious, and deeply insightful Lidia Axe, a former corporate director turned business coach who helps solopreneurs overcome the mindset blocks stopping them from selling with confidence. Lidia shares her transformational sales story—how a kids club turned into a boutique gift shop, and how her passion for the products helped her understand one of the most important principles in sales: 👉 If you deeply believe in the...
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Episode 137 – Understanding Customers Through Psychology with Dr. Chris Gray
Call The Damn Leads
Dr. Chris Gray – Consumer Psychologist, Founder of The Bycologist, Behavioral Marketing Expert In this episode, Drewbie sits down with world-renowned consumer psychologist Dr. Chris Gray, whose three decades of experience in marketing, psychology, and behavioral science have helped brands decode how customers actually think, feel, and buy. Dr. Gray shares an unbelievable story from early in his career—a sales meeting gone wrong that turned into one of the most transformative projects of his life. What began as a devastating rejection ended with multimillion-dollar partnerships, a...
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Episode 136 – Build Real Relationships and Business with Melanie Gorman
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In this episode, Drewbie welcomes the brilliant and authentic Melanie Gorman, a trained mental health therapist turned powerhouse sales strategist and business builder. Melanie shares her unconventional path—from therapist and bartender to selling for John Gray (Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus) and eventually launching her own company, Crownsville Media. She breaks down how relationship psychology gives you an unfair edge in sales, why authenticity dissolves pressure, and how slowing the conversation creates more sales opportunities—not fewer. Melanie dives into the real fears...
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Episode 135 – How to Launch a High-Impact Podcast with Virginia Elder
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In this episode, Drewbie sits down with podcast strategist and agency owner Virginia Elder, whose entire career in podcasting started by accident—thanks to debt, diapers, and financial podcasts that gave her hope during tough times. Virginia shares how she paid off $80,000 of debt on a modest household income, started a financial podcast to fill a gap she saw in the market, and unexpectedly built a thriving podcast production agency serving financial professionals, coaches, and business owners. From how to use a podcast to land clients, stay top-of-mind, build authority, and create...
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Episode 134 — How Swyvvl Empowers Real Estate Agents with Chad Link
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In this week’s Call The Damn Leads, I sit down with Chad Link, real estate veteran and co-founder of Swÿvvl.com — a revolutionary new platform built to disrupt the traditional real estate industry. Chad’s been in the business for nearly two decades, training hundreds of agents and helping more than a thousand clients buy and sell homes. After seeing firsthand how much money was being siphoned off by giant real estate tech platforms like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com, he decided to build a better way — one that gives power (and money) back to agents, buyers, and sellers. In this...
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Episode 133 – Stand Out, Get Seen & Stay Consistent with Audrey “The Tech Diva” Wiggins
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Audrey Wiggins – “The Tech Diva” Digital Marketing Strategist • Show Host • Brand Builder Episode Summary In Episode 133, Drewbie sits down with digital marketing powerhouse Audrey “The Tech Diva” Wiggins to break down what it really takes to stand out, get noticed, and stay consistent in a crowded online marketplace. From how the iconic nickname Tech Diva was born, to why so many entrepreneurs still look unprofessional online in 2025, Audrey brings wisdom, humor, and straight talk to the conversation. Together, Drewbie and Audrey unpack branding fundamentals, content creation,...
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Episode 132 — How to Win with Content, Consistency, and AI with Keith Kakadia
Call The Damn Leads
In this episode of Call The Damn Leads, I sit down with Keith Kakadia, the founder and CEO of Socially In, one of the top social media agencies in the country. With more than 14 years in sales and digital marketing, Keith’s built a powerhouse team that helps brands dominate online — all while staying true to the fundamentals of human connection. We dig deep into what really works in modern sales and social media. From losing a $60,000 deal over one extra page in a proposal to mastering AI tools and automations that streamline client relationships, Keith shares the hard lessons and smart...
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Episode 131 – How to Convert More Leads Today with Chris Smith
Call The Damn Leads
In this explosive episode, Drewbie sits down with world-class salesman and internationally bestselling author Chris Smith, creator of The Conversion Code, to break down the true science of sales and why most people overcomplicate what should be simple. Chris shares his outrageous first week selling for boy-band mogul Lou Pearlman, what he learned from boiler room “Wolf of Wall Street” environments, and how he turned those fundamental lessons into a multi-7-figure career, award-winning companies, and one of the most respected sales frameworks in the world. From sales psychology to KPIs,...
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Episode 130 – Selling Creativity Without Selling Out with Miriam Schulman
Call The Damn Leads
In Episode 130, Drewbie sits down with Miriam Schulman—artist, entrepreneur, and sales strategist for creatives—to break down one of the hardest sales challenges out there: selling your creativity without losing your confidence or your integrity. Miriam shares her unconventional journey from Wall Street to full-time artist, and how learning to sell personal training packages gave her the exact skills she needed to finally make a living from her art. Together, Drewbie and Miriam unpack why creatives struggle so much with pricing, confidence, and marketing—and how those struggles mirror...
info_outlineIn this epic episode of Call The Damn Leads, Drewbie Wilson sits down with creative powerhouse Paul Pape, the self-proclaimed “Santa for Nerds,” to talk about how gaming principles can transform your business, boost creativity, and make entrepreneurship actually fun.
Paul spent two decades designing custom collectibles for clients like Disney, Universal, and Nickelodeon before founding Gamify Business, a coaching platform that helps creatives and entrepreneurs build stronger, more successful businesses—by turning their real-world goals into a live-action role-playing adventure.
From character sheets to “boss fights,” Paul breaks down how you can translate gaming strategy into business mastery. Whether you’re a lifelong gamer or a sales pro looking to bring more creativity and energy into your process, this episode is packed with practical magic.
🔥 Episode Highlights
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🎮 Santa for Nerds: How Paul built a 20-year career creating custom collectibles for major brands and fans around the world.
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⚔️ Gamify Your Business: The origin story of “Dungeons & Dragons: Business Edition” and how it helps creatives understand sales and entrepreneurship.
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🧙♂️ Build Your Character Sheet: How to identify your strengths and weaknesses to create a balanced “party” (aka your business team).
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💡 Sell Yourself, Not Your Stuff: Why storytelling and personal branding will always beat a hard sales pitch.
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🪄 Speak the Language: How Paul translates complex business terms like ROI and CTA into gaming analogies that actually make sense for creatives.
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👥 Find Your Party: Why you shouldn’t try to “solo” your business journey—and how to find teammates who fill your gaps.
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🧩 Defeat Imposter Syndrome: Turning weaknesses into opportunities through playful, data-driven self-awareness.
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💰 Speedrun Your Success: How to turn passion into profit by focusing on your “seed”—the unique twist that sets you apart.
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🚀 Laser Focus for Creatives: Why it’s better to be a specialist sniper than a scattershot marketer when building your brand.
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📘 Free Resource: Grab the first two chapters of The Creative Player’s Handbook to Business at GamifyBusiness.com.
💡 Key Takeaways
1. Creatives Are Entrepreneurs
Whether you design art, write code, or sell products, creativity is the engine of innovation—and you can build a business that reflects that.
2. Sell the Story, Not the Stuff
People don’t buy products; they buy people. When you tell your story authentically, you make it easy for customers to connect and commit.
3. Build Your “Party” Wisely
You don’t need to be great at everything. Identify your weak spots and recruit others whose strengths complement yours.
4. Translate Business into Play
If words like ROI and KPI make your eyes glaze over, reframe them in language that fits you. Gamifying the process keeps you engaged and consistent.
5. Find Your Unique “Seed”
Your “seed” is the one thing that makes your creative work different from everyone else’s. Build your brand around that and success follows.
6. Focus Like a Sniper, Not a Shotgun
Don’t try to appeal to everyone. Target your ideal customers with precision and consistency—they’re the ones who will become your raving fans.
7. Speedrun the Process—But Follow the Map
Overnight success is a myth, but with strategy, consistency, and the right party members, you can level up faster than you think.
💬 Connect with Paul Pape
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🌐 Website: gamifybusiness.com
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🎁 Free Download: The Creative Player’s Handbook to Business — First two chapters free when you sign up on the site.
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🎨 Other Projects: paulpapedesigns.com
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📺 YouTube: Paul Pape Designs
🎯 Call to Action
Call The Damn Leads
"By sales professionals, for sales professionals - Tales of your wildest sales stories and tactics to succeed in your sales career across various industries."
Join Drewbie Wilson, a sales veteran with over 20 years of experience, as he brings you insider stories, humor, and actionable strategies to excel in your sales journey.
Your weekly dose of:
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Wild Sales Stories: Engaging tales of real-life sales adventures.
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Proven Tactics: Actionable strategies to boost your sales game.
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Humor: A fun and energetic perspective on the world of sales.
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Expert Insights: Learn from seasoned professionals in various industries.
Don't miss out on the insights, humor, and strategies that can take your sales career to new heights! Sales professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners striving to enhance their sales, marketing, and personal growth to achieve financial success and time freedom.
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