Read that again.
This is your reminder not to get too caught up in the hype, the praise, the applause, and all the glitter that comes with free labor. Especially as a creator. Especially when you are gifted.
Because if everyone else in the room is getting paid, or at least positioned to get paid, shouldn’t you be in that same equation?
Lately I see it more and more. Small businesses. Big businesses. Brands with budgets. People with platforms. Even everyday Joe Smo with a dream and a Canva subscription. They reach out to creators and ask them to create, shoot, edit, design, write, consult, strategize, and market in exchange for exposure. In exchange for a tag. In exchange for a “collab” label that quietly funnels your audience into their ecosystem while you get a temporary spike of digital dopamine.
They call it opportunity.
I call it math.
If your work increases their visibility, credibility, or revenue, then your work has value. And value deserves compensation… Right?
Now if you are in the business of looking cool online in exchange for the supernatural gifts you have been given, this blog is not for you. If likes are your currency and validation is your payment, scroll on.
But if you are thinking, Brandon, I never looked at it like that, then stay with me.
“You’re the goat when it’s free” is a quote I developed after years of subtle gaslighting. Years of being told how talented I am. How different I am. How needed I am. How no one does it like me.
Until pricing enters the conversation.
That is when the temperature changes.
The likes slow down.
The comments disappear.
The energy shifts.
The goat becomes “maybe later.”
It used to confuse me. I would replay conversations in my head trying to figure out what went wrong. Did I say something off? Did I misunderstand the vibe? Did I misread the excitement?
Then it hit me.
Nothing went wrong.
I just did not do the thing they hyped me up about for free.
Especially when it did not align with my goals. Especially when it drained my time. Especially when it benefited them more than it benefited me. I could not fathom giving away something I worked years to refine, sharpen, and master just to keep the applause going.
Here is the hard truth.
Some people celebrate your talent as long as it is accessible. The moment it requires investment, their admiration turns into negotiation.
So how do you know when someone is softening you up for free labor?
Here are a few signs.
The first sign is overwhelming instant praise. And I mean instant. Liking all your posts in one sitting. Commenting on photos from two years ago. Calling you the goat, the legend, the visionary, and they barely know your name. Complimenting your work in a way that feels intense but not specific.
Real appreciation sounds like this: “I loved how you framed that shot and used light to guide the eye.”
Manipulative praise sounds like this: “Bro you’re different, you’re him, nobody’s touching you.”
One is respect. The other is bait.
The second sign is vagueness when it comes to details. They are clear about what they need from you, but unclear about budget, timeline, deliverables, or compensation. When you ask about payment, the conversation becomes foggy. “Let’s just build.” “Let’s see what happens.” “This could be huge for you.”
Could be huge for who?
The third sign is urgency without structure. They need it fast. They need it now. They need you to jump in immediately. But there is no contract. No agreement. No clear exchange of value. Pressure is often used to bypass your discernment.
The fourth sign is comparison. “Other creators are doing it for free.” That is fine. Other creators are not me. My rent does not get paid in exposure. My time is not sponsored by compliments.
Creators should create for free when it serves their vision. When they are experimenting. When they are building their own brand. When they are investing in themselves. Creators should not work for free when someone else is profiting.
There is a difference.
One is self expression.
The other is unpaid labor.
And here is the part that might sting.
Sometimes we accept the hype because it feels good. Especially if you are used to being overlooked. Especially if you are building. Especially if you are still trying to believe in yourself. Praise can feel like oxygen. It can feel like confirmation that you are finally being seen.
But do not let temporary validation cost you long term value.
When you start charging, you will lose some people. That is normal. You will lose the ones who only valued access. You will lose the ones who liked you more when you were convenient. You will lose the applause that was tied to free entry.
Let them go.
The right clients will not flinch at your rates. They will respect them. They will ask how to move forward, not how to discount your worth. They will see your pricing as a reflection of your professionalism, not an obstacle.
And here is the shift that changed everything for me.
I stopped asking, “Will they still like me if I charge?”
I started asking, “Do I like myself enough to charge?”
You are not the goat because you are accessible.
You are not the goat because you are affordable.
You are not the goat because you are always available.
You are the goat because you are skilled. Because you are disciplined. Because you have put in the hours no one saw. Because you invested in yourself when no one else would.
Do not shrink that down for applause.
The next time someone floods you with praise, smile. Say thank you. Appreciate the love.
And when the conversation shifts to work, shift it to business.
Because you are the goat.
And goats get paid.
Hope this helps,
-B
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