10 life lessons from bees about moving to a new level

Go to the ant, O lazy one; Observe her ways and be wise – Proverbs 6:6

I have always found insects fascinating, and the ones I have taken time out to study a bit that continues to unveil newer and newer dozes of wisdom are the bees. The bees are a wonder to observe, they are a complete institution in learning. Today, I want to share about how they transition into a new territory and this would have lessons for how you can too.

Preparation and Swarming: When a hive becomes overcrowded or conditions are unfavorable, the queen bee initiates the swarming process. She lays eggs in special cells known as swarm cells, which will produce new queen bees.

Lesson: After a while, leadership is not how far you can go, but how far your people can go!

Emergence of New Queens: The newly hatched queen bees go through a maturation process, during which they feed on royal jelly, a special secretion produced by worker bees. Once mature, the first emerged queen bee takes over as the leader of the old hive.

Lesson: There is a special diet for leadership, and those you are developing to need to eat differently

Swarm Preparation: Before leaving the old hive, worker bees begin to prepare for the swarm. They gorge on honey and nectar to sustain themselves during the transition period.

Lesson: We all need seasons of intense investment in our personal capacities for the days ahead.

Queen’s Departure: The old queen bee, accompanied by a large contingent of worker bees, leaves the hive. This mass of bees, known as the swarm, forms a buzzing cloud in the air.

Lesson: Sometimes, you need to move before you are clear about where you are going.

Locating a New Hive Site: While the swarm is in flight, scout bees are dispatched to search for suitable new hive locations. These scouts explore the surrounding area, assessing factors such as shelter, size, security, and proximity to food sources.

Lesson: Feasibility studies are important. Only a fool tests the depth of the water with both feet.

Communication and Consensus: The scouts return to the swarm and communicate the potential new hive sites through a dance known as the waggle dance. By performing specific movements and vibrations, the scouts convey the location and desirability of each site. Through a collective decision-making process, the swarm reaches a consensus on the new hive-site.

Lesson: Success results from the collaborative evaluation of many failures, near successes, and successes.

Swarm Migration: Once the decision is made, the swarm sets off toward the chosen location. The queen bee, followed by the worker bees, forms a cohesive mass in the air and flies to the new site. This migration may involve a journey of varying distances, from a few meters to several kilometers.

Lesson: No matter how many options you have, you still need to decide and take action.

Hive Construction: Upon reaching the new location, the bees begin constructing their new hive. Worker bees secrete wax from their bodies, forming comb structures to store honey, and pollen, and provide space for brood rearing.

Lesson: The main things you need for the journey ahead are already within you, you just need to reach them.

Brood Transfer: The worker bees transfer the brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) from the old hive to the new hive. This ensures the continuity of the bee population and sustains the growth of the colony.

Lesson: Our past has a role to play in our future, we don’t just walk away.

Foraging and Nectar Collection: Worker bees start venturing out to nearby flowering plants to collect nectar, pollen, and water. They bring these resources back to the hive, sustaining the colony and enabling the production of honey.

Lesson: There are other ecosystems around who need you, and who you need. Collaborate.

I hope you enjoyed my ted talk.

Adeolu Akinyemi