From luxury fashion to black & gray realism, George Hristov shares how he tattooed over 1,000 people in just 4 months, built his style from scratch, and why raw hustle, humility, and smart marketing matter more than ever for tattoo artists today.

Your Career, Your Rules: Real Talk from a Tattoo Veteran

In this no-filter conversation, we sit down with a seasoned tattoo artist who’s carved his name into the Bay Area ink scene — from the gritty streets of Vallejo to the artistic haven of Old Crow Tattoo in Berkeley.

We talk real life:

🧠 Navigating burnout, balance, and family

🎯 Why location doesn’t define your success

🎙️ Raw stories from behind the needle

💡 How community and mindset are the real game changers

Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a creative hustler chasing freedom, this episode is packed with truth bombs, laughs, and hard-earned wisdom.

👉 Tap in to hear what it really takes to thrive as an artist on your own terms.

In this episode, Michael Goetz — co-owner of Legacy Tattoo and founder of Force of Focus — breaks down the mindset shift every tattoo artist needs to thrive in 2025. From battling burnout to building systems that support freedom, he reveals how artists can go from chaotic to controlled, from stuck to scaling. If you’re ready to stop surviving and start leading like a tattoo CEO, this one’s for you.