Entrepreneur: Adam Blythe

Biz: @thrdfloor

Tilt: Daily views of his life

Time to First Dollar: 1 year

Channels: TikTok (121.3K), Instagram (69.8K), website

Rev Streams: Brand sponsorships, TikTok Creator Fund

Our Favorite Actionable Advice:

  • Work with the brands right for you: Adam believes authenticity matters more than revenue, so he only works with companies that genuinely connect with his life offline.
  • Build on one platform first: He grew a solid following on his Instagram account before he branched out to TikTok, where his content was different from others on the platform.
  • Set deadlines for yourself: It can be hard to stay on track without a boss, so set (and meet) deadlines for your own work.

The Story

Scrolling through Adam Blythe’s Instagram and TikTok feeds feels like taking a deep breath and snuggling up with your favorite blanket. Under the handle @thrdfloor, Adam has crafted a calm, cozy corner of the internet to show off his design style, houseplants, and artwork. 

The Chicago native has a gorgeous apartment that digitally welcomes over 120K followers daily on TikTok. Views of a steeple from his bedroom, up-close tours of his in-home pottery studio, and updates on Adam’s plants quickly transport viewers into his daily life. It’s personal in a unique way and provides a moment to stop and appreciate comfort as you endlessly scroll.

Chicago native Adam Blythe digitally welcomes over 120K on #TikTok to his gorgeous apartment, in-home pottery studio, and more. #ContentEntrepreneur #CreatorEconomy #Instagram Click To Tweet

From every photo and video, you can tell Adam is creative. His content sticks out from the general TikTok scroll. He isn’t making jokes, recreating viral dances, or using dozens of hashtags. Instead, Adam shares his life exactly as it appears. 

Unlike hundreds of thousands of digital creators looking for fame or fortune, Adam didn’t start on social media intending to gain followers. It happened organically after he took his Instagram account off private.

He started his now well-followed Instagram account as a “finsta” – shorthand for “fake Instagram account”  –  a private, secretive account that hosts a small number of followers. It was a personal retreat for Adam to appreciate his interior design. In time, though, friends and family convinced Adam there may be something special about sharing such a personal space. 

So, @thrdfloor was born as a way for Adam to share his favorite parts of his routine. And his followers continue to grow because of the little bits of peace that Adam posts. It all started on Instagram, but over time Adam saw how his creativity could translate to TikTok. 

Adam’s approach to a digital career is unique. It’s void of strategy. His only rule is to stay in line with his real, offline life. Social media isn’t Adam’s full-time job. He says he feels lucky to have a supplemental income from his online creations, but he’s consciously chosen not to monetize his content as much as he could. 

Creator Adam Blythe says the only rule in his content business, which is supplemental income, is to stay in line with his real, offline line. #Instagram #TikTok #ContentEntrepreneur Click To Tweet

“For me personally, my account is my own sanctuary from the stress of life right now,, and I think a lot of my success has been a result of that attitude,” he says. “People are constantly inundated with a stream of ads and monetization. I want to be really cautious about how I let that enter my space.”

Adam has worked with just two brands so far, selected because his personal values, and focus on creativity, align with the advertisements. “My general belief is to only work with brands that I feel really align with my identity or ideally to monetize a portion of my identity I feel comfortable with. In that case, it’s my ceramics.” 

In addition to simply sharing his lifestyle and talent for crafting welcoming spaces, Adam sees TikTok and Instagram as a way to promote his pottery. The ceramicist plans to expand his platforms to include shopping features, which will allow him to use his content for marketing his products.

Advice for content entrepreneurs

For new creators, Adam says, “It’s hard being a new creator. Honestly, my content was not that great when I started,” he says. “It takes time to develop a voice and your own aesthetic. I would tell new creators to hold themselves to a deadline and just do your best to stick to it. Take notes on what works and what does not. Find successful accounts in similar spaces and learn from them.”

#ContentEntrepreneur advice from creator Adam Blythe: Set and hold yourself to deadlines. #ContentBusiness Click To Tweet

And in the spirit of his selective monetization, Adam says stay true to the identity you have offline. “Make sure the community you build is one you feel authentically yourself in,” he says. 

About the author

Kelly Wynne is a journalist and creative writer living in Chicago with her pet dachshund. She's an advocate for women's rights, mental health, and chronic illness.