Finding Balance: Lessons from Overwork

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Mikhail Andersson is a world-renowned tattoo artist and creative entrepreneur celebrated for redefining body art as a luxury, design-driven experience. Known as the “Michelangelo of the Tattoo Renaissance,” he founded First Class Tattoos in New York City and built it into a global destination for fine-line and geometric work, attracting celebrity clients and fans who travel internationally for his artistry. With a career spanning over 15 years and a reputation for innovation, precision, and storytelling, Andersson has transformed tattooing into both a cultural movement and a premium lifestyle brand.

➡️ Show Links

https://www.instagram.com/mikhailandersson/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikhail-andersson-82b16356/ 

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➡️ Talking Points

00:00 – Intro

01:28 – Life as a Tattoo Artist in Russia

02:52 – Where Mikhail’s Passion Began

04:36 – Did Design School Help?

07:20 – First Tattoo on Human Skin

11:42 – Knowing Tattooing Was His Calling

14:48 – What Makes a Great Tattoo?

23:40 – Artists Who Inspire Mikhail

28:40 – AI’s Impact on Tattooing

37:20 – Sponsor Break

39:29 – First Big Break & Differentiator

49:20 – Mastering the Craft

56:44 – Lowest Entrepreneurial Moment

1:00:45 – Current Ventures & Future Plans

1:11:50 – Sponsor Break

1:13:45 – Losing Analog in a Digital World

1:20:35 – Lessons from Photography

1:25:26 – Is Tech Helping or Hurting Art?

1:34:58 – The Hard Lesson He’d Never Wish on Anyone

1:47:15 – One Lesson for His Kids