Climbing Poles, Chasing Bees, and Finding Peace

When I was a small cog in “the machine¹,” stuck in the “rat race²,” and attempting to “climb the greasy pole³,” I often felt disoriented and confused. Who knows whether my sense of being a piece in the wrong jigsaw puzzle contributed to my slide into alcohol abuse—it certainly can’t have helped. The world didn’t make sense to me—even the tiny part of it that I inhabited. Thankfully, I survived. Now, as a nearly twenty-years-sober walrus with reasonable financial security and a loving family, life is good.

My once-racing head has been supplanted, for the most part, by peace of mind. As a man in his sixties, probably hopelessly out of date, I do occasionally indulge in various rants, no doubt displaying the very intolerances and aloofness I once criticised in my parents. The circle of life, eh? And how does all this pertain to keeping bees, you may ask. A cynic might suggest I’ve merely replaced one obsession with another, and they wouldn’t be entirely wrong. But I believe that being close to nature, including bees, has been profoundly healing.

One thing that has always astonished me about humans, or at least many of them, is their tendency to form competing tribes. Presumably, it’s an evolutionary trait. Perhaps this also helps explain the types of personalities that rise to the top of the greasy pole. A glance at the leaders of many countries (a.k.a. tribes) in the world—certainly the most powerful ones—reveals an uncomfortable possibility: nice guys don’t win. Or, put another way, the truly loathsome, supremely confident, unempathic, outspoken, and ruthless individuals (male or female) tend to prevail. In this regard, the UK seems to have recently corrected itself, but time will tell.

Yet, this hasn’t always been true in my experience. There are countless examples of successful people leading groups, organisations, companies, and even countries, who are not “alpha-males.” It’s just that the pushy, loud types attract the most attention. These domineering personalities do seem to have an advantage in many societies, which is probably some kind of evolutionary quirk. I used to keep quiet in board meetings, going along with decisions I thought idiotic because I lacked the confidence to “rock the boat⁴.” When I eventually spent a few years in charge (though perhaps my co-director and wife was the real boss), I learned that conflict can be productive. Being challenged and forced to consider alternative perspectives only improves decision-making. Ray Dalio⁵ refers to this as “radical transparency” and “radical truthfulness” in his book Principles: Life and Work (2017).

One of my favourite books, which strongly influenced the way we grew our fledgling mental health service⁶ in the noughties, is Good to Great by Jim Collins. After much study and data collection, Collins identified a key factor in companies that made the leap to greatness: “Level 5 Leaders.” These leaders exhibit a unique blend of extreme personal humility and intense professional will. They:

•	Are ambitious for the company, not themselves
•	Focus on long-term results rather than personal recognition
•	Build successors for even greater success in the next generation

Beekeepers, of course, are a small subset of people. They like to stick their hands into the nests of thousands of stinging insects, which is less common than, say, people who like Madagascan vanilla ice cream. Is there any vanilla from other countries? It always seems to be Madagascar. The place must be completely covered in vanilla plants. And what’s more, apparently the flowers have to be pollinated by hand. Anyway, the small subset of humans who keep bees are not immune to the forces shaping wider society.

I noticed early on that beekeepers form tribes and argue with each other. What I didn’t realise, until recently, is that most beginner beekeepers—and perhaps many others—crave clarity, certainty, and unambiguity. I’ve seen the terror in people’s eyes when I display uncertainty while answering their questions. Most people, especially at the beginning of any learning experience, want things to be simple, which is perfectly understandable. The secret, if you’re not an alpha-male (I’m not), is to talk as much as possible about your own experiences. I can tell you what I do, and why I do it, but I can’t claim it’s right for you—and that’s OK. If I start trying to spout universal beekeeping truths, I will:

a) annoy plenty of folks, and

b) probably be wrong in some (many?) cases.

There are research papers and studies that delve into certain aspects of honeybees and beekeeping. Some are even quite well constructed, but the nature of things means many studies are far from perfect. Biological systems involve so many interconnected factors, and not all can be controlled. Sample sizes are often problematic, and researchers aren’t always experienced beekeepers. Research is valuable, however imperfect, and forms part of the picture.

In my view, the most precious form of knowledge comes from experience, especially the kind gleaned over decades of keeping hundreds of colonies of bees. It’s not scientific and is probably riddled with inconsistencies, but how wonderful it is to chat with an old-timer who truly knows what they’re talking about. In the end, we must accept that, as our experience grows, as we read more studies and speak to more old-timers, very little is set in stone⁷. For all our searching for immutable laws and fundamental truths, perhaps it is the need to remain open-minded and flexible that keeps life interesting.◻︎

Notes

1. Welcome To The Machine by Pink Floyd is on their Wish You Were Here album of 1975. The song delves into themes of dehumanisation, alienation, and critique of the music industry. It reflects the band’s cynical view of how artists are processed and exploited by the corporate machinery of the entertainment industry.
2. The “rat race” metaphor poignantly captures the often futile and exhausting pursuit of success in modern society. It serves as a critique of materialism and competitive pressures that can lead individuals to prioritise work and status over personal fulfilment and well-being. Recognising the implications of the rat race can inspire people to seek a more balanced and meaningful life.
3. Emphasises the difficult and slippery path to achieving power or success. Popularised by Benjamin Disraeli, a 19th-century British statesman who served twice as Prime Minister. Upon finally achieving the premiership after years of political struggle, he is reported to have said, “I have climbed to the top of the greasy pole.”
4. “Rock the boat” serves as a metaphorical warning about the potential repercussions of disrupting a stable situation. It emphasises the importance of considering the impact of one’s actions on others and the environment. Whether to maintain the current state or to instigate change is a decision that involves weighing the benefits of stability against the need for progress.
5. Ray Dalio’s emphasis on rigorous honesty aims to eliminate the barriers that often impede organisational progress. By fostering a culture where transparency and truth are paramount, companies can enhance efficiency, innovation, and employee satisfaction. While challenging to implement, the long-term benefits of such an approach can be significant, leading to a more resilient and adaptive organisation.
6. Kooth (formerly Xenzone) was sold by my wife and I back in 2015, so how it operates now will probably be very different to how it was “back in the day”.
7. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Ten Commandments were given to Moses engraved on stone tablets, symbolising their eternal and unchanging nature.