The Art of Selling Yourself Without Selling Out

Take It or Leave It Creative Advice

Some weeks you need a strategy. Some weeks you need someone to say, “Yep, that feeling is normal.”

This week’s Take It or Leave It has a little of both.

Welcome back to the weekend edition of Create.Repeat—where we answer your questions, offer honest advice, and share the stuff that’s keeping us creatively inspired.

Today we’re digging into:

• How to sell yourself without feeling gross

• Finding work as a writer when social media feels like a trap

• What to do when self-doubt won’t shut up

• That weird pressure when you’re almost at the finish line

• And how to stay grounded when you’re starting college

These questions came from real creatives in our community, maybe even someone who feels just like you. Whether you’re building a brand, chasing a dream, or just trying to stay motivated, there’s something in here for you.

And if Create.Repeat has ever helped you feel seen, steady, or creatively recharged, becoming a paid subscriber is the best way to keep it going. It’s just $5/month (cancel anytime) and it helps us keep building this thing ad-free, for the people who need it most.

Thanks for being here.

Let’s get into it.

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Hey @eyeswidestoned,

This is a question we've gotten a few times, so I’m glad you asked! I’ll answer it for you and anyone else who’s been wondering the same thing.

Selling yourself feels gross. Especially when your work is personal.

Art. Photos. Films. Whatever you make. These aren’t just products, they’re pieces of you. So when someone says “you need to brand yourself,” it can sound like they’re asking you to turn your identity into a vending machine.

And yeah, that sucks.

But if I’m going to be completely honest here, if you don’t learn how to talk about what you do, someone else will. And they won’t get it right. They’ll reduce you to a vibe, a niche, an aesthetic. You can either define your brand or settle for whatever label sticks.

So let’s flip the question: What if branding wasn’t about “selling yourself”…