2 of 12: You Don’t Catch Success - You Cultivate It

In business and in life, we’re often told to chase what we want. Hustle harder. Push forward. Stay hungry. The idea is that if we run fast enough, work long enough, and chase hard enough, success will eventually be within reach.

But that’s not how it really works.

"If you chase butterflies, they'll fly away. But if you create a beautiful garden, they'll come to you. We attract based on who we are, not what we want."

The things we want - success, recognition, customers, the right opportunities - don’t come from running after them. They come because of what we build, who we become, and how we show up every day. The strongest brands, the most respected leaders, and the businesses that last aren’t the ones screaming the loudest for attention. They’re the ones that have created something meaningful, something that naturally draws people in.

Why Chasing Doesn’t Work

We’ve all seen it before. Businesses that flood inboxes with desperate marketing. Leaders who try too hard to prove their worth. Brands that shift constantly, hoping to capture the latest trend. It’s exhausting - and, more importantly, it doesn’t build real connections.

Chasing can create short-term results, but it rarely leads to long-term success. Why? Because people - customers, employees, partners - aren’t looking for the loudest voice in the room. They’re looking for something real, something valuable, something that resonates. And that’s not something you can chase. It’s something you cultivate.

How to Build Your Garden

So, if chasing isn’t the answer, what is? It’s about creating something so strong, so compelling, that the right people come to you. Here’s how:

1. Focus on Substance Over Visibility

There’s a difference between being seen and being remembered. Flashy marketing can grab attention for a moment, but if there’s no depth behind it, people move on. Instead of trying to be everywhere, focus on creating something worth talking about - whether it’s a product, a brand, a leadership style, or a company culture. People are drawn to depth, not just noise.

2. Be Consistent and Patient

A garden doesn’t bloom overnight. You plant the seeds, water them, and trust the process. The same is true for business. The brands and leaders who stand the test of time are the ones who show up consistently, delivering value again and again. Growth takes time, but the results are stronger, deeper, and more lasting than any quick win.

3. Build Trust Through Authenticity

People aren’t looking for perfection. They’re looking for something real. The most magnetic leaders and brands aren’t the ones trying to be everything to everyone - they’re the ones that know who they are and operate with integrity. When you’re clear about your values, your mission, and your purpose, you naturally attract the right people.

4. Give More Than You Take

A thriving garden isn’t just about planting flowers - it’s about creating an environment where life can grow. The same is true in business and leadership. The more you give - insight, value, connection, help - the more you naturally attract people who appreciate and trust you. When you focus on serving instead of selling, people take notice.

Let Success Come to You

There’s a quiet confidence in knowing you don’t have to chase what’s meant for you. That doesn’t mean you sit back and wait for things to happen - it means you put your energy into the right places. You focus on building, improving, and growing, rather than scrambling to catch whatever is in front of you.

Opportunities, clients, partnerships, and success aren’t butterflies to be caught. They’re drawn to the environments we create, the values we embody, and the work we put into our craft.

So this year, instead of running after success, start planting. Build something worth noticing. Lead in a way that inspires. Create work that speaks for itself. When you do, the right people—and the right opportunities - will come.