You ever notice how the advice changes depending on who's giving it?

Small creators get told: "Don't sell out. Stay authentic. Never take sponsored deals—it ruins your credibility."

Meanwhile, the same people dishing out that advice? They're running 20+ sponsored posts every single week.

It's wild, honestly. The gatekeeping is real. Once someone makes it big, suddenly the rules they preach don't apply to them anymore. They got theirs, so now they're out here acting like purity police for everyone still grinding.

Look, I get it—there's bad deals out there. But telling someone with 500 followers to turn down every opportunity while you're cashing checks left and right? That's not mentorship. That's just keeping the competition down.

If you're a small creator in this space, take deals that make sense for YOU. Build your audience, make some money, learn what works. Don't let anyone shame you for trying to eat while they feast.