We recently had the chance to connect with Nicholas Melesko and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nicholas, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
I wake up with my 4 and 6 year old, and get ready for work as an RN. I work for the school district so I help sick/injured kids throughout the day, then head home to have fun in the afternoon with my boys and wife. We do a lot of outdoor activities and, if you have boys, you know the energy doesn’t stop until they are lying down for bed, so lots of sports, parks, free play, etc. in the afternoons. When they go to bed, I try to workout, sauna, and take care of myself.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nick Melesko, an illustrator, musician, RN, husband and dad. My day job is working as an RN, but I enjoy the arts more than anything. After having two boys, I created characters after them, one called the Gooster and one called The Egg. From there the adventures of Gooster & The Egg began, started mainly with Instagram pictures and scenes, and eventually became a children’s book. The first book is called Catch A Wave, and teaches toddlers/young children about surfing, the steps to take, the gear needed, and how to stay confident in the ocean. The second book is in the works, following in the line of educating children with fun, funny characters and scenes. Everything is self- done (minus publishing), so I am the author and illustrator of this project, and hope to expand the series!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Ego, that I was the center of attention, or even needed direct attention. Once I had two boys, I realized quickly that I am just a character in the game, not the main one. This comes from getting older and learning that “I” is not as important as “we”. I used to do actions to be cool, or to feel like someone is watching me so I must do x-y-z to look a certain way, now I realize if you focus on how you feel doing that, the outcome will be so much better and the actions will look however they need to. Other peoples opinions or perspectives, although they do play a roll, really should not matter so long as you are doing the right thing.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Everyone in life is going to try to fit in, to society, to a friend circle, to their job – stay unique, stay weird, keep creative ideas flowing and just because someone may have a negative opinion about you or your art, ignore them as chances are they may have their own issues taking place. People don’t want to see others shine, mediocrity hates greatness.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
That you should tell the truth – about yourself, about a situation, about anything – all the time. The teller of truth has no friends, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the correct path to take in life.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
How you do one thing is how you do everything. Everyone should be doing their best when no one praises you for it. Your true character is how you act when no one is around to judge your decision.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.goosterandtheegg.com
- Instagram: @goosterandtheegg
Image Credits
Nick Melesko
