Optometrist by Day, Tattoo Artist by Night
Hastin is one of the most interesting people I know.
He’s a great optometrist—smart, reliable, and trusted by his patients. Outside the clinic, he’s an amateur climber, b-boy, scotch enthusiast, and most recently, a tattoo artist.
I talk a lot about portfolio careers—the idea that people with the highest job satisfaction often don’t do just one thing.
Hastin kept his main job as an optometrist and decided to pursue something wildly different on the side, blending stability with exploration.
Fred H Cho
Here’s his journey to becoming a tattoo artist without any formal art background—and what we can all learn from following our curiosities.
From Pen to Skin: How It All Started
Like many great endeavours, Hastin’s tattooing journey started with a quiet interest and a question:
What if?
“I always liked drawing,” he told me. “I just didn’t know where to apply it. I already had a lot of tattoos myself, and I was curious about how that world worked. I didn’t have much hope because I didn’t come from an artistic background. So I figured the best route would be to go into studios in person and show them my designs.”
It sounds simple, but most people never make it to this step. The fear of rejection and not being “good enough” keeps them from trying. But Hastin went anyway.
To his surprise, a few studios liked his work. One even offered him an apprenticeship.
“It felt surreal,” he said. “I thought I’d get laughed out the door. Instead, people were actually interested in what I had to offer.”
The Challenge: An Imposter Syndrome
Despite the early encouragement, getting started wasn’t easy.
When I asked Hastin about his biggest challenge, he was honest: “Definitely the imposter syndrome.”
“The tattooing industry is so saturated. There are so many insanely good artists better than me. I kept thinking, Why even start? I'll probably fail anyway...”
Sound familiar?
This is the voice we all hear when we try something new—especially something outside our "main identity". But Hastin made a decision to keep going.
“I had to stop comparing. I reminded myself: just put your work out there. If it resonates, great. If it doesn’t, at least I tried.”
The Payoff: Feeling Alive Through Creativity
A particular moment makes it all worth it for Hastin – when he presents his design to clients.
“I don’t show my design to clients until the day of the appointment,” he said. “So there’s always this anxiety—what if they don’t like it?”
“But when they say yes with a smile, that moment is everything. It’s such a huge relief. You feel like, okay, I did it. I delivered. I created something meaningful for someone.”
Suddenly, it’s not just a drawing anymore. It’s something permanent—on someone’s body.
“Every piece I do is one-of-a-kind,” he explained. “They chose me to create something that’s going to live with them forever. That kind of trust… It’s special. You form a connection through it.”
In the Zone: Flow, Joy, and No Regrets
When asked if it was worth the time and effort, his answer was an immediate yes.
“Even if I stopped tattooing right now, I’d have no regrets,” he said. “I often enter flow states when I’m designing tattoos or working on highly detailed pieces. Hours will pass without me noticing.”
This is the heart of it. The reward isn’t just in building a brand or earning side income—it’s in doing something that lights you up.
“The joy,” he said, “is in the doing.”
Have Fun!
So, what’s your version of tattooing?
Maybe it’s painting, coding, baking, writing, or starting that podcast you've been talking about for years. Whatever it is, stop waiting.
You don’t need to be an expert, and you don’t need permission.
You just need to begin!
🙏 Hastin, thank you for sharing your story—and even more, for being my ride-or-die friend through the past 20 years. Here’s to many more years of wild adventures, spartan races, and good islay scotch.
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