Here's what I was doing this past Friday around 9PM:

Standing on a tattoo table with my head in a skylight, while my artist Bryan made sure the stencil looked okay for the next two hours of tattooing.

It was a long two days.

Day 1 was some filler on my foot, and this little guy that you may have seen Friday:

Day 2 was this scorpion on the back of my knee:

Plus some bromeliads (Amazonian plants) on my knee and the bottom of my quad, which aren't done yet.

But don't worry.

This isn't the tattoo tour that nobody asked for.

While laying on the table, getting stabbed by a needle 100-150 times per second... the similarities between tattoo collecting and weight loss crossed my mind:

Similarity #1: Rushing the process produces worse outcomes

It's human nature to want certain outcomes now, now, now.

But whether we're talking tattoo collecting or weight loss, things undeniably go worse when you try to skip steps and cut corners. Whereas the person who takes their time has a much more enjoyable, successful process.

Similarity #2: The visual progress isn't linear

Sometimes I have full-day sessions and feel like it didn't make a crazy visual difference. Other times it feels like a totally new piece.

Just like how during a diet, some months you don't really see wicked noticeable results, and other months you do.

It's inevitable, and part of the process.

You need to keep going either way. Then it's only a matter of time before you're stoked with the results.

Similarity #3: It goes way better with an experienced professional

Yeah, call me biased—I've been at this since I was a teenager, just like my artist Bryan in the photo above—but investing in an experienced professional:

• Is an insurance policy against wasting time on things that don't make sense for your ultimate goals
• Removes the guesswork from the process
• Gets you access to their years of education and experience for a fraction of the time and cost
• Ensures you have somebody in your corner when you need a little pep talk or guidance

Similarity #4: You have to put effort into maintenance

For the best results, I can't hop up from the table and put no thought into what happens next. I have to put effort into aftercare, and continue to be mindful of sun exposure, moisturizing, etc.

Otherwise I'll lose the result that I wanted—just like going back to your pre-diet habits after you lose weight.

I actually thought of several more—I spent a lot of time on that damn table—but these four stood out to me.

What do you think?

Did anything here resonate?

I'd love to hear from you.

Sam

P.S. If you're curious about my tattoo collecting, or want some advice for your first (or next) tattoo: I have a great podcast episode for you, with renowned tattoo artist Noah Minuskin.

(Noah did my chest and hands.)

We got into:

• Finding creative and productive outlets (06:38)
• How he made his first tattoo machine (17:36)
• The biggest misconceptions about tattooing (46:20)
• How to find the right tattoo artist for you (54:50)

I followed it with a solo Q&A on:

• How I began collecting tattoos at 18 years old (67:53)
• How many tattoos I have and whether I’m getting more (70:34)
• Which tattoos hurt the most (71:59)
• How much a good tattoo costs (74:00)
• Should tattoos have meaning (75:38)

Reply with "TATTOOS" and I'll send you the link.

Or just hit me with any questions you have on tattoos.