What It Really Takes to Grow on TikTok (According to This Viral Creator)
Anna here.
I came across a video recently from a creator named Kenneth Fleece (@kennovate), and it stopped me mid-scroll. He was talking about what it really takes to grow on TikTok — how it’s about showing up with consistency, staying honest, and keeping your ego in check.
Kenneth has built multiple accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers across completely different audiences. But instead of framing success around numbers, he talks about the mindset behind it and what separates the people who post once and give up from those who stay in it long enough to grow.
Here are a few key takeaways from his video, along with my own reflections from doing this work in real time. Whether you’re a creator, business owner, or just curious about how TikTok actually works, there’s a lot here worth thinking about.
1. TikTok Growth Isn’t About How Many Followers You Have.
Kenneth starts by saying that followers don’t really matter — that TikTok growth comes from showing up consistently on people’s For You pages.
What matters most isn’t how many people follow you, but how many chances you give the algorithm to understand who to show your videos to. It’s about frequency and experimentation — not perfection.
And this is where the idea of interest media comes in.
Instead of trying to fit yourself into a niche, keep sharing what genuinely interests you.
Talk about the things you love — even if they don’t seem perfectly aligned with your “brand.”
The algorithm isn’t just matching content to a category; it’s matching energy to curiosity.
When you talk about what lights you up, people who share that same spark will find you.
2. Why Consistency Beats Strategy Every Time
Kenneth points out that the biggest difference between creators who grow and those who don’t is action. While one person is still wondering what to post, the other has already shared seven videos.
You don’t learn by waiting for things to be perfect, you learn by doing. Every post teaches you something. Every iteration moves you forward.
That said, consistency looks different for everyone. For me, posting too much starts to feel chaotic. I prefer to post regularly, but intentionally. I think about why I’m sharing something and use that as a gauge for action.
In the end:
Trust your instincts.
Create without overthinking.
But don’t post so much that you lose your sense of purpose.
3. The Myth of an Oversaturated TikTok Niche
Kenneth challenges one of the most common excuses creators use: oversaturation. He says there’s no such thing as an oversaturated niche, only oversaturated bad content. There’s always space for something done well, something real, something you.
To adopt this mentality, start by asking how you can bring your own unique spin to something that’s already been done a thousand times before.
It’s less about finding a completely original idea, and more about filtering familiar ideas through your own perspective.
How can you make a “day in the life” video that feels like your life?
What’s a twist you could put on an outfit-of-the-day clip that reflects your real mood, not just your wardrobe?
How can you make a familiar format feel surprising, sincere, or unmistakably yours?
Originality doesn’t come from reinvention. It comes from presence and from being fully yourself in the process of creating.
4. Detach From the Outcome
When a video doesn’t perform, Kenneth says it’s simple: someone saw it and swiped away. Instead of taking it personally, treat it as information. Ask why it didn’t connect.
You’re not judging yourself; you’re studying your work. Every post is data. Every “loss” is part of the process.
To grow as a creator, you need humility and self-compassion. Humility helps you see clearly. Self-compassion helps you keep going. Both are essential if you want to build something that lasts.
Questions for reflection:
When a post doesn’t do well, what story do I tell myself about it?
Do I judge the content, or do I judge myself?
What might this “failure” be trying to teach me?
How can I bring more curiosity and less self-criticism to my creative process?
What would it look like to make content just to learn, not to win?
5. Why You Should Keep Your TikTok Account Private (At First)
One of the most memorable things Kenneth said was to start over completely. He recommends creating a new account, deleting your contacts, and even blocking friends and family as a way to protect your creativity. Why? It’s hard to be fully authentic when you feel observed. The fear of being misunderstood — or worse, judged — can hold you back from taking the kinds of creative risks that lead to real growth.
I’ll be honest. Years ago, when I was just starting out, I probably would’ve disagreed with this advice. I believed there was something powerful about having friends and family along for the ride. Their support mattered, and there was something healing about letting people witness me learn and grow out loud.
But after doing this for a while, I can see the truth in what Kenneth said, too. Sometimes, in order to grow, you have to block everything out — and that might mean quite literally.
There are pros and cons to both paths, and depending on your personality type, either can lead to success.
Some people thrive with community accountability. Others find their voice in solitude.
The key is knowing yourself well enough to choose what helps you create most freely.
6. How to Stay Grounded Through Praise and Criticism
Kenneth ends by saying that creators shouldn’t let the praise go to their head or the criticism go to their heart — and I can say from experience, this is true.
When I let criticism get to my head, it blocks my creativity and makes it harder to move forward.
But when I let praise inflate me, it makes me complacent.
Both can pull you off center in different ways.
It’s a reminder that growth on social media requires emotional steadiness. You have to stay open enough to learn, but grounded enough not to lose yourself in the process.
At the end of the day, that’s the real work of being a creator — not just making content, but learning how to keep creating through all the noise.
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