“The product really has to be solved in a problem first and so you can't bring monetization in if there isn't like value that the user is finding that they're willing to pay for... for folks who are struggling with monetization that really is genuinely like the first troubleshooting step.”

Solve the Problem First — Monetization Problems Are Usually Product Problems in Disguise

Before optimizing any monetization lever, verify you have genuine product-market fit. Brandon frames monetization struggles as often being upstream product problems — if users aren't finding value, no paywall or upsell mechanic will fix it. This reset is the diagnostic first step, not an afterthought.