Building Buzz: How Beekeeping Shaped the Heart of My Business
Bees in a hive
When I first got involved in beekeeping a few years ago, I never expected this hobby to shape the way I approach running my business. At its core, beekeeping is about nurturing something larger than yourself. It is an art of balance, patience and collaboration—values that have deeply influenced how I operate Strand + Strategy Communications. Every hive is a community, where each bee has a role and works toward a shared purpose with the collective effort bringing success for all. Watching bees work together had me rethink the way I engage in my community and my perspective on community-focused business.
Patience and Adaptability
One of the biggest lessons I’ve taken from beekeeping is the importance of patience. Beekeepers know that the health of a hive can’t be rushed. A colony takes time to grow and thrive, just like a business. In the early stages of building my business, I was eager for immediate results but beekeeping often reminds me that success comes from nurturing growth steadily over time.
Moreover, bees adapt to their environment, constantly responding to changes in weather, seasons and available resources. Similarly, being adaptable in business—whether that means adjusting strategies, exploring new ideas or evolving with the needs of clients—is crucial.
Community and Collaboration
Another key value I’ve seen reinforced from beekeeping is the power of community. Just as a hive thrives through collective effort, fostering collaboration within my business and across my professional network has been essential. Whether working with clients, contractors or other experts, I aim to create an environment where everyone’s strengths are recognized and utilized, and where collaboration is valued over competition. After all, the success of the hive depends on each bee playing its part—the same holds true for any successful business team. I actually spoke about this recently on a podcast with The Fountainhead Network.
Beekeeping also reinforced my commitment to sharing resources and knowledge. In the bee community, there’s a sense of stewardship and responsibility, with experienced beekeepers helping newcomers (I definitely still fall into this bucket!). This has inspired me to adopt a collaborative mindset in my business practices, promoting other contractors and embracing partnerships whenever able. When we support each other, we all benefit—just like a hive functions more effectively when all the bees work together.
Long-Term Vision
Finally, beekeeping has made me more mindful of long-term sustainability. Healthy hives are built with long-term planning in mind, ensuring that there’s enough to sustain the colony not just today, but into the future. This mirrors how I approach my planning, focusing on strategies that create lasting value rather than quick wins. Whether it’s helping clients with sustainable communication practices or building meaningful, long-term relationships, I aim to grow my business in a way that’s both thoughtful and future-focused.
Beekeeping may seem like an unusual source of business inspiration, but it has offered me invaluable insights that continue to shape the way I approach Strand + Strategy Communications. By embracing these qualities I’ve built a business rooted in the same principles that help a hive thrive.
Feel similar values and want to explore a partnership or community initiative together? Send me a note here!
Looking for communications support? Check out the Services page to get inspired!
- Paige
