Meet Mikel Tan

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mikel Tan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mikel, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
Since COVID (and the lockdown) happened, I’ve worked almost entirely from home. It’s given me a lot of perspective on work-life balance while raising young children. While they’re still in their formative years, it’s important to be as present as possible. It seems simple but just being around them by interacting, playing and conversing really helps them build themselves up. These accumulated moments will turn into unforgettable memories.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is centered on design and branding. This includes all print (including logos, menus, stationary, etc.) and web design (fully custom websites, ads, user interface design, etc.). I got here from constantly networking and building relationships with caring, genuine people. It definitely took years to develop the right connections. With that said, I have made some bad connections along the years and I’ve learned not to get involved in those again. It takes years to build the right circle but once you realize what works, it’s a great feeling.

I think I’m most proud of my growth over the last 10 years. In the last decade, I’ve learned to balance my time management, become an effective and caring leader, and sharpen my mindset and work ethic. When combined, I feel that it’s a strong formula for me to become more polished professionally, but personally as a husband and father.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My friends love red meat so I would first take them to Larsens or Maestros for some steak. If they want to keep it more cost effective, we would do either Smash Burger or In-N-Out. They also love the beach so we could go to Malibu or Ventura (their beaches are less crowded). Museums out here are great so I would take them to the Getty Center then LACMA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a few people in my life who really encouraged me to thrive in what I do best. I was not always a driven individual. I think I always had it in me but didn’t know what to apply it towards. Firstly, my parents are a big reason for the way I operate within my own family. They raised me to respect others (especially our elders) and to work hard in life. They were always into entrepreneurship for as long as I can remember. They were involved in many business ventures and always encouraged me to do the same when I became a young adult. Secondly, my wife for always pushing me to seek opportunities if the right ones come along. Thirdly, a huge contributor to me “flipping the switch” going from half lazy to a go-getter was an network marketing company I sold products for. It sounds silly but it helped me get out of my comfort bubble and learned how to hustle, go after what I want, and learned a bit about approaching people the right way – how to be firm without sounding too demanding.

Website: https://www.crayoncrate.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crayoncrate/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsmikeltan/

Image Credits
Rick Palma