If you want real change in your business – you need to start looking at the connections right under your nose. Most people don’t, and that’s why they lose money without ever realising it.
The Story of Bees and Business
In case I haven’t mentioned it before, I’m a beekeeper 🐝. I keep my hives in a beautiful spot called Boxmoor Trust. I’ve actually been connected with them for over a decade. For years, I used their Conference Centre for training and team get-togethers. We were such regulars that when they reintroduced water voles back into the local river, one of them was named “Gemma” after me. That’s my bizarre claim to fame.
Then lockdown happened, and everything shifted online. My link with the Boxmoor Trust dwindled, and I felt a little sad about that. But here’s where life threw me a curveball.
Beekeeping led me right back to them – and it ended up being worth far more than honey ever could.
From Hives to High-Value Work
As my garden filled with bee swarms, I needed somewhere to house a couple of hives. So, I approached Boxmoor Trust. They gave me a patch of land for my apiary. It was a generous offer, but the bigger twist was still to come.
Because the team there already knew me and understood the work I do, when it came time for their land rangers to complete mandatory training in communication and rapport, they thought of me. Out of nowhere, I was invited in to train them.
That single training day – just nine till four – brought in £1,000.
One Opportunity Breeds Another
Here’s the thing. That training wasn’t a one-off. They invited me back a second time, this time to teach state management. Then they asked again for a third session in the same year. What started as a casual link through venue hire and bees turned into repeat contracts worth thousands of pounds.
This is the reality when you run a business that feels alive. Opportunities don’t always come from where you expect – but if you’re visible and enthusiastic, they start finding you.
Why This Matters to You
This is exactly what running a coaching franchise is about. You don’t always need to “hard sell” or chase opportunities in cold, corporate ways. Sometimes, it’s the relationships you’ve already built, or the communities you’re already part of, that bring the biggest wins.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most people miss these chances. They sit in the same venues, talk to the same people, show no energy for what they do – and then wonder why their businesses stay small. If you’re not radiating the kind of enthusiasm that makes others curious, you’re invisible.
When you join a coaching franchise like People Building, you’re not just learning techniques for clients. You’re also learning how to carry yourself in the world so that opportunities recognise you before you even pitch. The contract you land tomorrow might come from the places you least expect – but only if you’re ready and visible.
That’s why my bees earned me more than honey. They earned me business. And if you play it right, your “bees” – the overlooked hobbies, connections, and communities around you – can become income streams too.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to stop letting opportunities pass you by, this is it.
by Gemma Bailey (with the help of Ai)
