Danger: What bees taught me about repeating a mistake

Failures and mistakes are part of the learning process throughout life. Repeating a mistake is one of the most foolish and reckless things we can do. It robs us of valuable time and energy that could have been applied more effectively.

Recently I revisited this firsthand – making a critical mistake the second time. I’ve been a hobby beekeeper since 9 years old. Last week I was moving one of my hives and met with disaster. This caused me pain and discomfort from the stings for an entire week, endangered the hive, and lost time at work. How did this happen?

1. I was distracted with another task and did not accomplish it at the time I had first planned.

2. I became more focused on the task rather than the desired result and forgot some important details: ie, weather & time of day.

3. The end result was that I endangered my hive of bees, myself and lost valuable time.

So what have I learned from this?

Keep my vision and desired result out front, then:

1. Develop a plan of action.

2. Execute, but do not get lost in the details – keep the end in mind.

3. If there is a setback or delay – re-evaluate before moving forward to ensure that the timing of execution is still appropriate.

4. Lastly, pledge to learn from past failures – set processes and accountability in place to insure it doesn’t happen again.

Hopefully you can benefit and learn from my mistake by applying the above action steps.

Romans 7:15-20 (NIV)

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.