← All Posts

Psychologists have studied this cycle for decades

by · Liz Cook l Tattooer Burnout Coach · August 12, 2026
Psychologists have studied this cycle for decades

Psychologists have studied this cycle for decades. Locke and Latham's research on goal-setting, Zimmerman's work on self-regulated learning, Bandura's research on self-efficacy.

People grow fastest through a repeating loop of a clear target, real action, honest feedback, and reflection.

Motion beats motivation. My Candid Color Go-Getter Loop gives me the way to keep moving without getting bogged down in the details, whether it's a color blend, a rate increase, or a new style.

Goal: I set the target, name what might get in the way, and build a strategy around it. Progress over perfection, since artists don't move in a straight line.

Go: I stop planning and just do it. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be action. I troubleshoot obstacles as they show up, and small habits done regularly beat one big push.

Get: I track what's happening as I go, run my own feedback checklist, and bring in at least two outside critiques on top of my own read. This is the phase that closes the gap between what I think happened and what actually happened.

Grow: is where I reflect on the whole cycle, the goals, the actions, the wins, the setbacks. I give myself 24 hours to celebrate or feel the setback, then I move forward. I connect it to who I'm becoming as an artist, not just the checklist. Then it feeds straight into the next goal.

#CandidColorCoaching #TattooArtistMindset #GoGetterLoop #TattooBurnoutRecovery #ColorRealismTattoo

From the studio
Originally published by Liz Cook l Tattooer Burnout Coach.