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Last week was wild!
While managing my 9-to-5, building community with new connections, and pitching my consultancy to two companies, I also recorded three podcast episodes—all with guests I met through LinkedIn. Some conversations were on the record. Some were off the record. Every one of them pointed to the same underlying truth about building as a creator: momentum doesn’t come from who pays you first—it comes from what you build consistently.
The conversation that reshaped my thinking most, though, was with a former staffer from a brand that serves creators. His background is in creator partnerships. He’s been on the inside—evaluating pitches, structuring deals, and deciding who was ready and who wasn’t.
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Brand deals feel like the goal—but they’re not
Most creators think partnerships are the finish line. In reality, chasing them too early is often the fastest way to stall your progress.
When you pursue sponsors before your platform can stand on its own, you negotiate from urgency, not leverage. You’re not choosing partners—you’re hoping someone chooses you. Brands don’t partner with potential.
When revenue funds growth, it becomes fuel. You reinvest it. You buy back time. You improve systems. When revenue determines survival, it becomes oxygen. If it doesn’t arrive this month, consistency cracks and decisions get rushed.
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Build leverage before you ask for permission
The most durable creators make their platforms pay them first.
Platform-native monetization—YouTube AdSense, podcast network ads, affiliates, subscriptions, even small digital products—builds independence because it’s tied directly to output and consistency, not approval from a sponsor. YouTube creators earn an average of $3 to $5 per 1,000 views through AdSense, depending on niche and audience, according to Google’s published monetization benchmarks.
That kind of revenue may start small, but it creates stability—and stability creates leverage.
Takeaways
If I had to distill everything from these conversations into a few clear lessons, here’s what I’m carrying forward:
Brand deals aren’t the goal; they’re leverage you earn after you build proof.
Money should help you grow, not decide whether you can keep going.
Make your platform pay you before you ask a sponsor to.
Consistency matters more than polish; progress builds trust.
Build an engine that stands on its own, then choose sponsors from strength.
Prayer Points for This Week
Lord, I pray that you would give us wisdom to build with patience and discernment, according to Proverbs 19:2, “Desire without knowledge is not good—how much more will hasty feet miss the way.”
Lord, I pray that you would free us from the pressure to chase validation through money, numbers, or visibility, according to Galatians 1:10, “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Lord, I pray that you would help us steward consistency over shortcuts and faithfulness over speed, according to Luke 16:10, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
Lord, I pray that you would give us courage to begin before we feel ready and grace to grow in public, according to Zechariah 4:10, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”
Lord, I pray that you would help us build work that is durable, fruitful, and aligned with your purpose, according to Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”
See you next Monday,
If you’re reading this far… I hope this message finds you well. I’m sharing from my heart in hopes that you will be inspired to unearth and live out your God-given purpose. Hopefully, something I said resonated. I would love to hear from you if so. Please feel free to reach out to me on social media.
FYI: I’m mostly active on LinkedIn these days. If you were forwarded this message, you can subscribe here to receive thoughts like this directly in your inbox. And don’t forget to check out the latest episode of my podcast, ConvoRoom with Mark Allen Patterson.