Author: Jones Loflin
When I am working from home, one of my favorite places to go when I need a break is my daughter’s apiary (bee yard). I am absolutely fascinated by these amazing creatures and WHAT YOU CAN LEARN. Between their work ethic and how they function together as a colony, I think I could sit and […]
When I am working from home, one of my favorite places to go when I need a break is my daughter’s apiary (bee yard). I am absolutely fascinated by these amazing creatures and WHAT YOU CAN LEARN. Between their work ethic and how they function together as a colony, I think I could sit and watch them for hours (and I might have on a couple of occasions)!
Purpose has been on my mind a lot lately. The monumental disruptions in how we do work, and life have, honestly, caused me to sometimes feel less focused than I should be. I find myself “checking boxes” instead of intensely aligning my day with my purpose or governing values. And when I have those moments of self-awareness about what needs to change, I find that a quick trip to the bee yard helps me get back on track.
What is it about bees that I find so helpful in clarifying the importance of purpose? Here are three things that I see:
You never see a bee just wandering aimlessly around a hive. Every moment is focused on intentional activity. I need that reminder when I’m tempted to not plan my entire day. I can miss opportunities to advance my work, deepen a relationship, or invest in personal renewal. Every moment counts!
Your purpose doesn’t change but HOW you carry out that purpose does.
A fascinating insight about worker bees for me is that their job changes over their lifespan of approximately 40-45 days. They start out cleaning honeycomb cells, move to caring for baby bees, and finally leave the hive to forage for the colony. This season of change has found me at times wanting to hold on to the familiar and the comfortable. Bees remind me that there are multiple ways to carry out your purpose.
Catching a swarm of bees is truly an adventure. It can get quite chaotic with thousands of bees flying around trying to figure out where to go. Something amazing happens, however, once the queen is in the transport box. A number of bees will land on the top of the box, stick their abdomen up into the air, and wildly flap their wings. That’s the signal to the other bees where the queen is, and soon you see this steady stream of bees moving to the box. Because one set of bees carry out their purpose, others can too. A question I’ve started asking myself more often when thinking about this process is, “How will living out my purpose help someone else live out theirs?”
If you aren’t fortunate enough to have a hive of bees to remind you about your purpose, that’s okay. I’ve created several free resources such as my video about being more intentional in your day, that you can use to better identify what your purpose is and how to begin living it out. But if you WOULD like to start working with bees…let me know. Just be prepared for a really long and spirited conversation. ;)
Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Twitter
Author Profile
The articles, video and images embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
Leaders Mistake Hard Work to company growth, success or anything else. It may even lead to something on the other side of the spectrum, burnout or possibly even the end of a company or a career. Let me ask you something. Do you think companies (or careers) on the decline are working hard, or not? […]
“Technology is exponential but humans are not and can do great things, but it does not WANT to do great things – it does not want anything” says Apple’s CEO Tim Cook (a quote I have often used in my talks). Technology is a tool not a purpose – see my ‘carpenter and the hammer example’ (video). “Both […]
Suddenly half the world is working from home and many of us have new workplace surroundings to adapt to. Remember folks, it’s not the most intelligent or fittest of the species who will survive, it’s those who can swiftly adapt to change. I’ve spent huge chunks of my career working from home, so here are […]
What’s on your resilience resume? For most people in North America, this week marks the first anniversary of the pandemic changing our lives. It started with disbelief, upheaval, and constant change and progressed to the monotony of sameness. Regardless of the phase, there has been a consistent undertone of uncertainty as to what comes next. […]
The Olympics are finally here after a year-long COVID delay and how Gratitude Wires Your Brain. The Olympic Games are incredibly inspiring. These men and women give a clinic on Peak Performance for twelve action-packed days. There will be thrilling victories, world-record-breaking performances, and soul-crushing defeats. But everyone competing will be showing you what peak […]
Elon Musk Activates Starlink internet service to keep Ukrainians connected to the world. Ukraine (27 February 2022) – The Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine tweeted Elon Musk asking him to get Starlink internet into the country, and the South African-born American entrepreneur activated it immediately… reconnecting Ukrainians with the world. The Russian invasion has impacted internet […]
Imagine attending an event where everything seems to fall into place effortlessly with a Skilled Master of Ceremonies. The transitions between segments are seamless, the audience is engaged and entertained, and the overall atmosphere is charged with energy and enthusiasm. What you may not realize is that behind this seemingly effortless experience is a skilled […]
Thinking of Self Care When Burned Out as i was Heading to Dallas from Kansas City recently, I heard the familiar tone of the voice over the intercom start up: “Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ve got a full flight to Dallas today…” Travel is BACK and flights are almost always full again, so I couldn’t be […]
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
