I’m going to be honest and say that the beginning of 2025 and most, if not all, of 2025 was trash or trash adjacent. In fact, for many reasons that I honestly don’t feel like getting into, I was left feeling like “Why bother?”And asking myself would people want to hear what I was passionate about, advocating for and working towards? Then there were the question that continue to go through my mind to do this day. Questions such as: Would people have the capacity to be a part of the work and spaces that I’m building? Do they even have the money to buy anything? Groceries were more expensive, people are losing their jobs and it feels like we’re in a time machine on the road to nowhere. Then, I started paying attention to some things that really started to change this narrative especially as we head into 2026. The things I notices are very important and I want you to take some notes. I’m working on this episode while drinking a bougie Egg Nog latte that I paid too much for and that’s lesson number #1-people are still spending money. Let’s go from there.
Listen to the Episode
Show Notes
Before you go down a rabbits’ hole of despair like I was, let’s course correct and pay attention to focusing on and remembering the following in 2026.
Trust Matters
Whether you’re running an organization, a bricks and mortar business or an online brand. Trust is everything. As yourself, how are you cultivating trust in every aspect of your life? You don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to think about how you move around the world, treat people and create a space where you’re a thoughtful and trustworthy person.
Mean People Suck and Sooner or Later Will Lose
I’m talking about karma. Yep, it’s a bit woo. But, what comes around goes around. Typically, never on our time frame but the North remembers. Those shitty people might not connect the loss to their karma but it’s always the case. By the way, I do have to point out that some shitty people won’t experience the consequences of their actions because that’s how life can work some times. Don’t let that make you bitter though. Stay focused and double-down on doing what you need to do and getting it done.
Money is Still Flowing
The people boycotting Target and other retailers are standing on business. That $300 per trip that they’ve saved is shifting to other places more aligned with their values and this is at the heart of today’s episode.
People are still buying.
Imagine I’m one of those nosey memes of a person sipping a drink and peaking outside a window. I’ve noticed that online entrepreneurs/creators and the audiences they’re building are spending money. In fact, I’ve noticed that people are buying.
- Books
- Attendance at live events
- Courses
- Tools such as GPTs or Notion templates
- Apparel
- Multi-thousand dollar travel experiences (Over $5,000 a trip)
- Memberships
- Mastermind experiences
- Crowdfunding campaigns
Making Sales in a Hostile (Financial) Environment
People are still buying but if you’re wanting to make sales here are some things that you need to be doing.
Deepen Your Connections
Trust is a verb, action and a state of mind. Those folks that you’re collaborating with, they need to get to know you in real ways. Spend time with them in whatever way makes sense depending on your proximity. The people that you serve and the community that you’re building? Same thing, they need to spend time with you. How can you show that you’re real, authentic and I can’t believe I’m saying this “Not AI?”
- Host webinars
- Go live
- Connect (safely) with people who visit your town
- Offer Q & As
- Host in-person and virtual meetups
You’re building rapport with your audience and showing that you will show up if they say “yes” to what you’re doing.
Build Your Lists
This is non-negotiable in 2026. A healthy email list or growing newsletter (IP that you own) will protect what you’re building. Third party platforms will always lead with their needs before yours. Never forget that.
Money Mindset is Key
What are the money beliefs that are guiding you towards success or fear? We all have them. Here are some examples of money scripts that we may be dealing with subsconsciously:
- No one in my community has money. Are you sure about that?
- Everyone that I’m serving is at risk for losing their job (candidly-if you’re in the US and work this is always the case)
- I feel badly about selling anything at this time. Target is still shamelessly trying to sell to the very audience that they pissed off.
- I’m uncomfortable selling my products at the prices I want to because:
- I’m afraid it will upset my audience
- I don’t know if they’re worth it
- I’m not sure if my audience can afford it
- What I’m selling isn’t worth charging for-they could go online and get the same content.
The fact that you have all of these concerns and worries is a good thing. It means that you’re likely incredibly thoughtful about your business design and community care. I also have a book that I would like to suggest written by my friend Rahkim Sabree “Overcoming Financial Trauma”
Some Food For Thought
Before I wrap up this episode, I want to leave you with the following strategies and food for thought.
- Your labor and expertise is worth paying for. Did you know that volunteer hours at non-profits have a financial value? But, as a person growing a business YOU HAVE TO MAKE MONEY. There’s a point where you have to land on a monetization strategy, ethos and approach so that you can make money to grow your mission, the support that you provide and the expertise that you share. If you’re American and literally 95% of my audience is, you cannot afford to do the majority of your work for free this year. YES, you can do some things for free-but, there’s a point where you have to earn income and empower yourself as well. You can build access into your business model by doing the following:
- Offering a limited number of scholarships
- Share a free mini-workshop or course
- Offer grants if you have access to funds to do so
- Work with a brand that PAYS YOU and then you’re able to offer access to you to your community in a free or discounted way
- Provide tips, tools, information, art, music, etc. (depending on your niche) via a cool experience such as a Meetup group, a local pop-up collaboration or something whimsical that you’ve dreamed up.
- Offer a tiered pricing model with products ranging from free to high ticket-This gives your audience access and freedom to choose depending on where they’re at on their journey with you.
- Provide payment plans (but, they have to make sense depending on the offer)
- I would caution you about having the payment plan completed BEFORE you fulfill the product so the timing of the plan is important. Some payment processing platforms that creators use now provide them access the full payment up front and then the community member has access to a payment plan on their end. I haven’t used this type of tool-I just know that they exist.
- Add an affiliate program-Grow your product and pay your people. Give your most die hard community members the opportunity to learn and earn
I Fight My Money Mindset Daily
Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of money scripts (negative ones) that are stuck in my head. I have to work on my mindset daily. I’ve taken a step back and have observed what people are still doing.
- They are still buying themselves treats. That bougie latte that I mentioned earlier, I don’t plan on not indulging myself in this way.
- Many people have shifted their spending in subtle ways but they’re still spending
- They’re still buying clothes
- Buying overpriced drinks. Maybe it’s one drink instead of two like before.
- Or, watching their favorite NBA team play on their home court
- People are still going to the theater
- Some groups of people DO have more money than others. How does knowing this have the potential to change or influence your sales strategy.
- More perspective
- Chefs and other food enthusiasts are still opening restaurants and other food concepts. Authors are still writing and releasing books. The reality is that many doors are being shut right now and that other doors of opportunity are unexpectedly opening up right now.
Remember the Following
- People still have big dreams during confusing times. Ask yourself, does what you’re building factor into their dream in some way?
- Are you an artist whose art is the type that they’ve begun collecting because they have a dream of being an art collector?
- Are you the coach or instructor who guides people along their journey to the end result that they’re hoping for (keeping this wildly vague)
- Are you the author crafting worlds that your readers could see themselves in and are wishing they could find. For the first time in my life I have literally and endless African-American and BIPOC romance list featuring Black women as the romance lead. I feel so seen.
- Are you the host of transformational overseas trips and experiences that someone would love to go on because they are not wanting to travel solo (for whatever reason)
Where does what you sell factor in people’s dreams and goals for themselves? That’s the sweet spot and that’s your product.
In my case with Creators Getting Paid I focus on the following:
- Designing my products in such away that it discourages people from making a financial decision that could cause harm.
- Communicating that I offer sales a couple of times a year depending on the product and using a launch strategy to give people enough time to prepare financially. Think about the Beyonce launch cycle or Stu McClaren and Amy Porterfield-two HUGE creators who have massive launches that they work towards for an entire year. Their sales cycle and window is NOT a surprise to their community members and clientele. The products they sell are expensive (around $2,000) but they also offer lesser expensive products during the same sales window.
Some final requests
- Stop talking down your products or the prices you’ve chosen. Be excited about them and share your rationale, ethos and why you priced the way that you did.
- Always grow your list-This is your number one priority.
- Always work on marketing what you’re selling
- Remember, do your numbers. You likely need fewer clients than you think you do to make life changing income.
I hope this empowers you as we build and grow in 2026 and it’s time for you to become a Creator Getting Paid in 2026.
The Creator Income Collective
At the end of 2025 I quietly launched my new membership “The Creator Income Collective” the goal? Help creators make more money by being in community and learning how to better grow and monetize their lists. Members of The Creator Income Collective also gain access to the following resource: SUBSCRIBED-a growing list of creator newsletter or email lists that you can reach out to collaborate with if they say “yes” and your communities and projects align. Head to creatorsgettingpaid.com/membership to become a part of the community today. It’s purposely priced at $9 a month because I want this to be the easiest “Yes” you’ve said to a professional development tool for your online brand this year. Looking forward to meeting you!
