From Homeless to Business Owner featuring Dan Henk with Abyss Art Studio
From Homeless to Business Owner featuring Dan Henk with Abyss Art Studio
From Homeless to Business Owner featuring Dan Henk with Abyss Art Studio
In this episode of the Small Business Origins podcast, host John Kelley interviews Dan Henk, owner of The Abyss Fine Art and Tattoo Studio and Dead Guy LLC. Dan shares his inspiring story of overcoming homelessness, health issues, personal loss, and other hardships on his journey to becoming a successful tattoo artist, author, and entrepreneur.
Main Discussion Points:
- Dan's challenging upbringing as an "Army brat" and finding solace in punk rock, art, and imagination
- Becoming homeless at 18 after his conservative parents kicked him out
- Pulling himself out of homelessness by getting a dishwashing job and working his way up
- Pursuing art by attending community college and moving to NYC
- Facing major health issues like brain cancer soon after starting a tattoo apprenticeship
- Bouncing back while still undergoing chemo treatment through sheer determination
- Going through a painful divorce right when his tattooing career was taking off
- Finally finding stability by opening up his own tattoo shop on Long Island
Guest Bio: Dan Henk is a tattooist, author, and illustrator based in Long Beach, NY. He owns The Abyss Fine Art and Tattoo Studio as well as Dead Guy LLC. He has authored three fiction books and continues to create dark, detailed artwork for various bands, magazines, and book covers.
Tweetables:
"If you look at everybody, that's like a big actor. Brad Pitt slept in his car. He was homeless. You look at all these people they went through trying times to get there. It's not like it was a smooth ride." (00:35:31) - Dan Henk
"So that's what you need to do. You need to find something to keep working at, and you need to not give up." (00:35:15) - Dan Henk
"Nobody cares. They might say, hey, well, it kind of sucks, but if you want something to happen, you got to do it yourself." (00:07:50) - Dan Henk
Links Mentioned:
From The Podcast
Small Business Origins
Small Business Origins is an engaging podcast series that delves deep into the heart of American entrepreneurship. Every week, our host, John the Marketer, provides an intimate look into the journeys of entrepreneurs and small businesses across the nation, giving listeners a taste of the hard work, passion, and resilience behind every successful enterprise.Our content ranges from stories of quaint 'mom and pop' shops to those of thriving million-dollar companies, highlighting the diverse spectrum of business landscapes in America. Each episode explores the 'why' behind what these businesses do, uncovering their origins, challenges, triumphs, and the dreams that fuel them. It's not just about business; it's about the human spirit that dares to dream and turn those dreams into reality.The theme of the podcast is to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, to inspire through real-life examples of grit and determination, and to showcase the stories that often go untold, but form the backbone of American economy.**The views expressed here are solely representative of those stating their opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of John Kelley or Beefy Marketing. Small Business Origins invites guests to speak of their experience and offer personal opinions on a range of topics, none of which is censored or scripted. Nothing expressed in any episode should be taken as advice for any subject including financial decisions, medical decisions, or life choices. Please consult an appropriate expert if you have questions regarding any topic discussed on the show.**Join Podchaser to...
- Rate podcasts and episodes
- Follow podcasts and creators
- Create podcast and episode lists
- & much more
Episode Tags
Claim and edit this page to your liking.
Unlock more with Podchaser Pro
- Audience Insights
- Contact Information
- Demographics
- Charts
- Sponsor History
- and More!
- Account
- Register
- Log In
- Find Friends
- Resources
- Help Center
- Blog
- API
Podchaser is the ultimate destination for podcast data, search, and discovery. Learn More
- © 2024 Podchaser, Inc.
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Contact Us