Not long ago when I started this blog, I said sometimes it would be about honey bees. Given the amazing “spring” weather we’re having this week, today’s the day.
My son and I run a boutique honey business. It’s a great way to teach him about sales, marketing, and business planning–and it’s fun for me. On Tuesday, I checked on how our bees are doing through the winter, and I’m pleased that the hives are in good shape for this time of year. As a beekeeper, getting your hives through the winter is a test of how well you managed the hives in the summer and fall.
Given my background, business analogies are irresistible. There’s a very interesting book about this by Michael O’Malley published by Portfolio. He’s a Ph.D., teaches at Columbia Business School, is an Editor at Yale Uni Press and no doubt is smarter than me about these things.
But here are a few of my own bee-school lessons based on my own experience (yes, bee puns are also irresistible):- The Queen doesn’t rule, she serves
- Bee management helps bees do what they do best
- Even when the buzzing is loud and angry, patience and calm leads to fewer stings
- Neglecting care and feeding of workers leads to failure of the enterprise
- When the weather is fine, the honey flow is on, and life is good–work harder
- Robbing is never good for the hive.