Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mike Galati. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mike, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
In a short, quick, one word answer. I’d say “community”.
Everything I am, have been and will be is all from my communities, those that I’m involved in, and those that involve me.
From Music scenes of all sorts, To skateboarding, to industry friends, and then to my clients. Anyone that supports me, is why I am who I am.
I do my best to give back to anyone that supports me.
From super quick replies, to quick turnaround and of course the “deals” and discounts when I’m able to.
I would honestly say, everyone that supports me is always very generous. and it reflects back to me also wanting to be generous back. It’s a great cycle of support.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a small print shop here in Chicago. Personally, I’m a screen printer first & a business owner second.
But they do indeed go hand in hand. As this shop, one can’t exist without the other. }
I print T-shirts & apparel. I can and will print for just about anything. But my focus always has been and always will be bands and musicians. I owe my entire career and a huge chunk of my life to playing in bands. It’s why I do what I do.
So I will always support local & not so local scenes. I absolutely love working with bands and like-minded individuals.
The music scene isn’t always where the money is, but it’s where my heart has always been.
It brings me a ton of joy to send a band out on the road with merch to keep them going from city to city.
The same would also go for the skateboard community and any supporters who own small businesses.
These are my favorite customers and clients because we can all relate to one another.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I often look back, to where I was, where I’m at and where I will be. It’s a wild ride to look back, honestly.
I started 12 years ago, in a garden apartment in Avondale, with no idea or plan.
1.) Be patient, things don’t happen fast. At all. And there’s not always a “for sure”. With the journey.
2.) Start small, be confident and focus on growing. From day 1, I kept insisting back into myself.
I didn’t know what i was doing, but I knew I wanted to do it. I just kept investing back into it.
Until it got to a point, where it could support me solo.
3.) Trust your gut. I’ve had so much good, but plenty of bad. In life and in business.
If something feels off, stick with your body and take your gut’s word for it.
I know it doesn’t sound like much, but it goes a long way!
If you’re early on. Just believe in yourself and work hard.
Anything is possible, if you work hard, and learn from it.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I find myself overwhelmed, daily. And personally, for me, working through the feelings Is best.
I’m a bit of a workaholic. I am my own boss, I make my own hours.
So I can work as little as I want, or in my case, as much as I want.
I love the fact that It’s all in my hands (Mostly love the fact).
When something is overwhelming, it’s only up to me to overcome it.
And I think I do a very good job at working through it.
I don’t sit still well, downtime, i’d rather be busy.
So it’s a benefit of being able to take an extra shift, or get a jump on orders that have plenty of time.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.modestmerch.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/modestmerch (@MODESTMERCH)
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/modestmerch
- Twitter: @MODESTMERCH
- Other: modestmerch.bigcartel.com
