We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Adam Sarr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Adam thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?

I started creating content seriously in 2020 during the pandemic when the world slowed down and everyone was glued to their phones. I had been making videos since I was a teenager, but that moment gave me the time and clarity to see what was really possible. I noticed friends of mine gaining traction online and decided to take a leap myself.

My first viral hit came from a series I created called “DM this to ___,” where I made short, clever videos people could share with specific categories, creators, or celebrities. One of them, “DM this to your favorite TikToker,” took off instantly. Seeing the comments, shares, and duets flood in showed me I had something special. Hitting 100K followers confirmed that I was on the right path.

In 2021 my TikTok account was hacked and permanently lost. That setback hit hard, and I took about a year off to regroup. But the same drive that made me start pushed me to rebuild from scratch. In 2023 I began posting consistently on YouTube and gained 100K subscribers in three months, reaching 1M within the next five. My reaction and “My First Day” videos started taking off, and I began cross posting to Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, something I had never done before. That change helped me grow to over five million followers across platforms.

Scaling to that level took consistency, resilience, and strategy. I analyzed why certain videos performed well, studied top content in my niche, and always looked for ways to improve my storytelling and retention. I also learned the importance of balance, posting daily when I could, but also giving myself space to recharge when needed.

Monetization began with YouTube, which opened my eyes to the power of passive income. Seeing older videos continue to earn made me realize content could create freedom. That inspired me to start GrowWithAdam, a platform built to help creators and entrepreneurs build their audiences and monetize their content effectively. My goal has always been to turn what I have learned into something that helps others grow too.

Adam, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Adam Sarr, known online as @slattisreal. I am a digital creator and social media growth coach who focuses on entertainment, storytelling, and strategy. I started creating content as a teenager because I loved making people laugh and think, but over time that passion grew into something much bigger.

My brand represents both creativity and education. On one side, I create viral short form videos and reaction content that reach millions of viewers across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. On the other, I run GrowWithAdam, a platform dedicated to helping creators and business owners build their audiences, improve their content, and generate income through social media.

I help people solve one of the biggest problems creators face, which is not knowing how to turn attention into growth and growth into income. Through my products, coaching, and free resources, I give people systems and strategies that have been proven to work because they are built from my own experience growing over five million followers across platforms.

What sets me apart is that I lead by example. Everything I teach comes from strategies I personally use to grow, monetize, and adapt in real time as the algorithms change. I am proud of the fact that I built my platform from the ground up, starting over after losing my first account, and turned that setback into a story of persistence and purpose.

My goal is to continue creating content that entertains, teaches, and inspires. I want people to know that it is possible to build an audience, a business, and a life you love from your phone if you are consistent, strategic, and true to your voice.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience through a mix of creativity and strategy. When I started, my focus was on making content that felt real and entertaining. I paid close attention to what people connected with, studied engagement patterns, and learned how each platform responded to different styles of content. Over time I realized growth comes from structure, not chance. I started posting daily, testing ideas, and improving with each video.

Cross posting to YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok helped me reach millions and build steady income from my content. I learned that consistency, awareness, and adaptability are what keep you growing long term.

For anyone starting out, stop waiting for everything to be perfect. Post, learn from what works, and stay true to your voice. If you keep showing up and improving, the growth will come naturally.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

There was a time when I was balancing a full time job, college classes, and trying to post daily on Instagram and YouTube. I’d edit late at night, then wake up early to post before work. I was constantly moving between work, school, and creating, but I never wanted to slow down because I knew what I was building.

There were days I was exhausted, but I still showed up. I didn’t have a team, just a vision and the discipline to keep going. That period taught me that consistency isn’t about having the perfect schedule, it’s about commitment. If you really want something, you’ll find a way to make it happen. That mindset is what carried me through everything that came after.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://link.me/slattisreal
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slattisreal?igsh=b2F3bDFpZWc3NjM%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1aZVFFrZME/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@slattisreal?si=bNkEShjYztQ7VxlW