Use-Ta-Bees Don’t Make No Honey

“Use-Ta-Bees Don’t Make No Honey”

It’s a simple saying with profound meaning: “Use-ta-bees don’t make no honey.” I first heard it from Les Brown, and it struck a chord. Too often, leaders fall into the trap of hanging their hats on the things they used to do or be. But leadership is not about what you’ve done—it’s about what you’re doing now and the impact you’re delivering in the present.

The “Bees” That Distract

In today’s world, it’s not just the “use-ta-bees” we need to watch out for. Leaders also risk falling into other unproductive roles:
 • Preten-da-bees: Those who spend their energy trying to be something they’re not, losing credibility in the process. Authenticity is not a secret—it’s obvious when it’s missing.
 • Look-at-me-bees: Those who seek validation for activity rather than results, constantly needing to showcase their journey instead of letting success speak for itself.
 • Gonna-bees: Dreamers stuck in “someday” thinking, wasting energy on ideas without creating actionable plans to make them real.
 • Wanna-bees: Individuals who idolize others and follow someone else’s path instead of walking their own, forsaking their authenticity.

Each of these “bees” represents misaligned energy and misplaced focus.

The Challenge for Leaders

To lead effectively, you must:
 1. Be Relevant: Celebrate your past, but don’t live there. Focus on the challenges and opportunities of today.
 2. Embrace Clarity: Understand your values and goals. Without clarity, your leadership and authenticity suffer. Clarity builds confidence, and confidence drives action.
 3. Pursue Growth: Ask yourself, What impact am I delivering now? Where am I growing from here? Remember, “We didn’t come this far to only come this far.”

The Power of the Workerbee

The antidote to the distractions of “use-ta-bees” and others is to become the workerbee:
 • Driven by Vision: Define a clear vision of what you want to achieve, one you’d be proud to live up to.
 • Grounded in Strategy: Lead with a plan, and execute it with discipline. Great leaders align themselves and their teams to the vision.
 • Focused on Authentic Impact: Deliver value in the here and now. Let your actions—and results—speak for themselves.

A Final Challenge

Leadership is about living up to a vision you’ll be proud of—not one rooted in who you used to be, but in who you’re becoming. So, I challenge you: Be the workerbee. Build your hive of impact and keep producing that honey of success.