Leadership Lessons From The Wing and The Bee
As I write this I am sitting quietly at a window seat in an aircraft in Utah on my way to San Francisco. In a few short hours I will be in California meeting up with some of the greatest heart-centered marketers from around the globe. Of course by the time you read this I will already be back in my office feeling grateful for having learned a tremendous amount about great leadership.
I love to observe and learn, which is the reason why I love airports. Everyone is nervously trying to board on time and still keep their cool; eat lunch before their flight, not leave their overstuffed bags unattended, keep their little children entertained or reign their children in, find their ID’s, use the facilities, avoid being randomly selected at security check points and yes, even make fun of people as they walk by like the two grown men were doing next to me. It’s a fascinating look into human behavior.
I boarded the jet taking me into San Francisco and while sitting on the tarmac waiting to taxi down the runway I noticed the breath taking scenery of exquisite snow covered mountains. “No wonder many folks came here with plans to be skiing for the weekend.” I thought.
I moved my vision from the scenery down to the wing of the plane where I noticed a bee that had landed on the wing. He flew from wet spot to wet spot as if he was looking for something specific but not finding it. He looked determined that’s for sure. After a few minutes of not finding whatever it was he looked for he suddenly flew straight up about two feet only to land on the other side of the wing and back again. He was aggressively looking for something but unable to find it or, maybe he didn’t really know what he was looking for but thought the grass might be greener on the other side of the wing?
I thought how interesting it is that this bee’s aggressive dance with the wing of the plane is much like a human being searching for that one particular ‘thing’ in life that brings happiness. Whether young or old, life often finds most people aggressively going through life searching for something but not finding it.
I wanted to keep my eye on the bee just to see how long he could actually hold on while we taxied down the runway. To my amazement he clung on to the wing of the plane while we increased speed and began to walk staggeringly slow toward the front of the wing. His wings and body were nearly vertical due to the wind. I was stunned!
His wings fluttered straight up and why he clung on I have no idea. Finally, he forced his body back down and took a leap forward into the head wind rather than backward, which would have been so much easier. It looked as if he jumped off the front of the wing then sailed underneath in one swoop.
I wondered, did he have a plan? Did he know this plane would be air born soon and he chose to risk everything to see if he could fly against the current? Did he survive?
What about you? Are you willing to risk everything to fly against the current? Do you have a plan? Are you like the bee who wants to do it his way, aggressively moving from one place to the next and yet not finding what you are looking for?
Whatever it is you are trying to accomplish there are likely people who have been there and done that. People who could make your journey much easier if you asked for help. Finding them is not as difficult as you might think. You don’t have to aggressively go it alone. To find a master in your field you can:
- Get clear about your idea first
- Find out whether or not there is a need for it
- Make a plan about what it looks like
- Seek others who are in the same field by making solid connections through networking
- Ask how others made it work through interviewing them or taking them to lunch
- Remember there is enough space for everyone
- Enjoy your uniqueness, and your idea, by allowing it to flow with the current not against it
This is all about setting intentions. You may feel like you are fighting an unknown force, but in truth the only force you might fighting is the face in the mirror. Learning to be the best you can be takes your mind setting the intention, your heart creating the feeling of the intention and hands to make the intention work.
As always, please comment and share!
I enjoy your writing style and the life observations you make. That darn bee was persistent to say the least! Finding your passion and bringing it to the world is so much easier with the support of those who have traveled that path before you.
Thanks for the wonderful post,
Val
Val Wilcox´s last blog ..The Power of YOU!
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Kellie Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Thank you for your kind words Val. I’ve noticed recently that we can find observations in life adapt to most anything we want to if we allow it to flow into our minds. I use to try to force feed my thoughts but now they flow naturally. It’s relinquishing control of the outer world but caring for my inner world in a more self controlled way. Don’t know if that makes sense but it’s the only way I know to describe it. Thank you again for stopping by and I look forward to visiting your site too!
Kellie
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Sometimes we have no choice but to fly (or try) against the wind. Best when we can go with the flow, but sometimes it’s just not possible if we are really determined to get somewhere that all unseen forces seem to be denying us.
I suppose it’s a matter of discernment. We can’t know what was behind the bee’s decision, but we better be really clear on what’s behind our own before we take that fateful plunge.
Discernment revolves, as you point out, around intention. We’re fortunate when we can find others to guide us through the process. That’s what mentors are about. That’s what tribes are about.
Leaders are in the position they are because they have carefully chosen those that they follow. So glad gave us a checklist for seeking out leaders we can grow with. I like lists because they are linear and my thinking often just goes in circles!
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Kellie Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
You are insightful David, even when your linear thoughts seem to go in circles.
I think you’re right about it being a matter of discernment and only the bee knows what is best for him just like we may know what is best for us….or do we….lets assume so for the sake of understanding. lol
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I love your insight and ability to share your thoughts..As I was reading I was able to identify with that bee! I am thankful or a group of like minded peopel whom I can connect to learn and grow from. I also love your point #6! I meet so many people who get stuck on worrrying everyone else is already doingthat- and dont just follow their passion. This is a big world and room for us all!
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Kellie Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 11:15 pm
Very true Julianna! If we live in a competitive mode then we’re in the not enough state of mind, which is not where abundance lives. Thanks for reiterating that point.
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Kellie, for all you know, the bee may never have realised that the plane was going to speed up. Once it did, that became the very challenge he wanted to face at that moment – no way did he want to leave his ‘post’!
Isn’t that the way we humans also deal with the sudden challenges that come into our lives – stick it out till we can, and in the process learn something new that will become a lesson for the future or even get embedded in the genes, helping future generations deal with the recurrence of the challenge naturally?
You perhaps mistook the bee’s decision to take off into the wind and not let itself be flown, or shall I say blown..maybe he understood his body’s design better and knew that if he flies into the wind, he has a better chance of controlling his sense of direction, than if he did otherwise. Maybe, if he did otherwise, he would have been swept away from his intended journey and stripped of his wings?
So, shall I say, in the end, the question is ‘To Bee or not to Bee’?
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Kellie Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
LOL!! Navinder I laughed quite hard at your comment and read it aloud to my group….you have a WONDERFUL way of bringing to light thoughts like no other can. You challenge me to think differently and I LOVE it! Thanks for being a part of my community.
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I love how observant you are and how you are able to paint such a vivid account for your readers of what you saw out the window. From the snow-covered mountains to the intricacies of the bee on the wing, you captured the overall feeling of the place you were at very well. While everyone else around you was scrambling, you were taking in the moment and really noticing things.
The bee metaphor is a good one because it illustrates how even bees can go against the current when determined (although what it was so determined about remains up for speculation). Salmon obviously do this naturally, so perhaps it is built into our nature to fight when survival is at stake? Especially when it comes to our passion…the fight is worth it, no matter how much we are challenged.
Beautiful post!
Mary Lou Kayser´s last blog ..Why Saying Thank You Will Increase the Value of Your Personal Brand 100-Fold
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Kellie Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Thank you for your kind words Mary Lou. It’s true that Salmon do and perhaps the bee’s destination was also pre-determined. Glad you pointed that out to me and I believe you are right, often our purpose is worth it not matter how much we are challenged.
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Wow I didn’t know I could learn so much from a bee! Kellie you make some very good points here and I appreciate all the wisdom you bring to the the web! You character and integrity is shown on your blog! Thanks for all you do!
Michael Feil´s last blog ..Featured Interview On Tribe Building And Social Media
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Kellie Reply:
March 9th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
Thanks Mike! Enjoyed talking with you this evening and I appreciate how helpful you are to everyone. I also appreciate your comments and kind words to this post. There is so much to be learned from quietly observing.
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Kellie,
I really enjoyed your article – it is both relaxing and informative and fun to read. I always enjoy to watch nature’s behaviors – the bee is really refreshing. Thank you for sharing.
´s last blog ..Power vs Force 
Gratefully,
Venus
Venus
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Great post. Is an excellent metaphor, like the bee, we can end up buzzing around with a too narrow focus or take risks that are unnecessary, if we don’t start out with or step back every now and then to view our actions against our long term vision and a definite plan. While uncertainty and discomfort is essential to growing, taking the time to prepare and assess the terrain is still extremely important…And there is enough space and time for each of us to discover and grow in to our own unique and exceptional paths……Absolutely!
Thanks for sharing……
Johneal Rouse´s last blog ..Become more effective with your Network Marketing and manage your Time better – Free Hypnosis Session
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