Stop Chasing Clients — Do this instead…

You ever tried catching a butterfly with your bare hands?

It flutters just out of reach — fast, unpredictable, never staying in one place long enough. That’s what it feels like when you’re a founder constantly chasing clients.

But here’s a story that changed everything for me:

The Butterfly Story That Shifted My Mindset

A wise old man once told a boy,

If you want butterflies, don’t run after them. Just plant a garden.

Simple. You don't chase what you want, you attract it by becoming the kind of person or brand that deserves it.

I used to hustle for attention. Sending out DMs like I was cold-calling in 1995. Begging for 15 minutes of someone’s time. Sounding more desperate than helpful.

And you know what I got?

Nothing. Silence. Rejection. Burnout.

Until I shifted from chasing butterflies… to building a garden.

Butterflies = Clients.

Your Garden = Your Business.

If your garden is dry, cracked, and ugly no butterfly is stopping by. But if it’s rich, colorful, thriving… they’ll show up on their own.

They’ll stay. They’ll tell their friends.

So, How Do You Build a Garden as a Founder?

Here’s the plug-and-play formula I used. Think of it as “The Garden OS”:

Step 1: Soil – Your Offer

The foundation.

Bad soil = nothing grows.

Ask yourself:

• What problem do I solve better than anyone else?

• Is my offer clear and irresistible?

• Would I buy this if I saw it?

Do this now: Write your offer in one sentence:

“I help [who] do [what] so they can [result].”

If that’s not crystal clear — your soil is weak.

Step 2: Flowers – Your Content & Story

People don’t buy logos. They buy feelings. They buy stories.

Your job: Become a storyteller, not a seller.

Post this week:

• A personal story of a mistake you made and what you learned

• A simple tip that helped one of your clients

• A visual that shows your values without saying a word

This is the fragrance. It attracts.

Step 3: Sunlight – Your Visibility System

Even a beautiful garden dies in the dark. You’ve got to get seen.

Do this:

• Pick 1–2 platforms (LinkedIn + YouTube Shorts is gold)

• Show up consistently (3–5x per week)

• Use a content system: Personal, Educational, Credibility, Community, Offer (PECCO method)

Keep shining. Let people feel your warmth.

Step 4: Patience – Your Emotional Discipline

This is the hardest part.

You’ll plant seeds and feel like nothing’s growing. You’ll see others go viral while your garden sits quiet. You’ll question the soil, the sun, the water, everything.

But remember: flowers bloom in silence.

Your only job is to keep showing up. Keep pruning. Keep watering.

Trust the roots even when the results haven’t surfaced yet.

Telling you how to do all these without actually trying it out to test its efficacy is like pouring water on a rock and expecting it to sink.

When I built my startup Wolfpent, we didn’t throw cash at ads. We didn’t spam inboxes (we stopped spamming, hahahah!). We built a brand that stood for something:

• Truth in marketing.

• Results over hype.

• Simplicity over noise.

We became the garden. And the butterflies came. Now, people ask to work with us. No chasing.

If You're Still Chasing... Here's What to Do Today

1. Audit Your Offer – Is it clear, specific, and needed?

2. Create One Story-Based Post – Share your truth. Don’t sell.

3. Outline Your Visibility Plan – Pick days/times to post, stick to it.

4. Stop Begging. Start Building.

5. Give it 90 days. Watch what happens.

Take away

Look, I know the temptation. You want fast wins. You want to prove yourself. You want to close that next client now.

But if you build a garden… If you tend to it with care… If you play the long game…

You’ll not only get butterflies — You’ll build something that lasts.

You’re not a hunter. You’re a creator. And your garden is waiting.

Now go plant.

-Barry