Tattooers: Are You Stuck in Productive Procrastination?
Share
There’s a quote that hits harder the more you think about it:
“An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.”
It sounds simple, maybe even obvious. But in the tattoo world, very few actually live by it.
If you’re a tattooer trying to grow your bookings, promote your flash, or build your brand online, you’ve probably found yourself doing a lot without seeing real results.
Here’s why:
You’re likely confusing movement with action.
Movement vs. action (What’s the difference?)
Movement is when you’re busy planning, prepping, and researching. It feels productive. You’re organizing ideas, saving content, maybe even designing the “perfect” flash sheet or content calendar.
But here’s the thing: movement alone creates zero results.
Action is what actually moves the needle. It’s messy, uncomfortable, and real. It’s posting that imperfect reel, DMing potential clients, or handing out flyers at your local coffee shop.
Let’s break it down:
Examples of movement:
- Writing down 10 reel ideas
- Saving Instagram posts about tattoo marketing for “later”
- Planning out a full 3 month content strategy
- Updating your logo or bio for the 5th time
Examples of action:
- Filming and posting 1 reel today
- Sending messages to people you’d love to tattoo
- Printing and distributing flyers for your next flash day
- Uploading a design and promoting it on your story
Why we stay stuck in movement:
Movement feels safe. There’s no risk of failure, rejection, or judgment. You get that little dopamine hit of “I did something!” without ever putting yourself out there.
And as creatives, we tend to over perfect and under execute, because the moment we put something out into the world, it can be judged. But if we’re just planning, we don’t have to deal with any of that.
Here’s the truth:
Movement = No Results
Movement + Action = Progress
Your challenge this week:
Pick one thing from your “to do” list and do it today. Not tomorrow. Not next week.
Post a reel. DM a client. Print that flyer. Hit “send” on that email.
You don’t need to be fully ready. You just need to start. Because clarity, confidence, and momentum come from doing.. not from thinking.
If you’re a tattooer trying to build your name, book more clients, and create a sustainable business, don’t fall into the trap of productive procrastination.
Start small. Take messy action. Do the thing.
And if you want more real talk strategies and support for growing your tattoo practice, stick around. There’s more coming your way.
Until next time,
TK
@tkotattoos_
Founder, Minimum Chips Studio