The first dollar you earn from a thing you made hits differently. Chase that feeling, not the follower count.

Money from something you made yourself is a different signal from attention. It means a stranger valued the thing enough to give something up for it, which is a far harder test than a tap on a screen. An audience can be large and worth nothing, while a single paying customer proves the work is real. That feeling is worth chasing because it points at something sturdy.

Try to earn one small amount from something you made instead of growing a following. Sell one print, one mix, one hour of your skill. The figure can be tiny.