January 11, 2025 • 22 mins
Join us on this enlightening podcast episode as we dive into the inspiring story of James, a passionate beekeeper who transformed a modest $500 investment into a thriving honey farm. Discover how he overcame personal challenges, including PTSD, by immersing himself in the calming world of beekeeping. Listen in as James shares the ups and downs of his entrepreneurial journey, detailing the year-over-year revenue growth that turned his hobby into a sustainable business.
Throughout the conversation, James pulls back the curtain on his daily operations, revealing the equipment and processes that keep his farm running smoothly. Learn how he sources healthy bees, prioritizes their well-being, and packages his products efficiently to keep up with demand. He also highlights the crucial role of government resources, illustrating how grants and local programs can serve as invaluable tools for small business owners seeking to expand their reach.
In addition, James offers invaluable insights into marketing and scaling strategies, discussing how to build strong relationships with customers and navigate the nuances of selling honey both wholesale and retail. From product demonstrations to exploring different packaging options, James details the steps he’s taken to showcase his brand effectively.
Most importantly, this episode addresses the vital topic of risk management—something James believes every new entrepreneur must master. Learn why he chose to form an LLC, how it helped shield him from potential liabilities, and what mistakes he made along the way so you don’t have to repeat them.
Whether you’re an aspiring beekeeper, a seasoned entrepreneur, or simply a fan of sweet success stories, this episode will leave you motivated and eager to take your next steps. Tune in for real-world advice, heartfelt reflections, and a glimpse into the buzzworthy secrets behind one man’s remarkable honey empire.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/marketing-food-online-food-entrepreneur--2797701/support.
Throughout the conversation, James pulls back the curtain on his daily operations, revealing the equipment and processes that keep his farm running smoothly. Learn how he sources healthy bees, prioritizes their well-being, and packages his products efficiently to keep up with demand. He also highlights the crucial role of government resources, illustrating how grants and local programs can serve as invaluable tools for small business owners seeking to expand their reach.
In addition, James offers invaluable insights into marketing and scaling strategies, discussing how to build strong relationships with customers and navigate the nuances of selling honey both wholesale and retail. From product demonstrations to exploring different packaging options, James details the steps he’s taken to showcase his brand effectively.
Most importantly, this episode addresses the vital topic of risk management—something James believes every new entrepreneur must master. Learn why he chose to form an LLC, how it helped shield him from potential liabilities, and what mistakes he made along the way so you don’t have to repeat them.
Whether you’re an aspiring beekeeper, a seasoned entrepreneur, or simply a fan of sweet success stories, this episode will leave you motivated and eager to take your next steps. Tune in for real-world advice, heartfelt reflections, and a glimpse into the buzzworthy secrets behind one man’s remarkable honey empire.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/marketing-food-online-food-entrepreneur--2797701/support.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to another deep dive. We've got a really fascinating
one for you guys today. It's about a veteran named
James who used beekeeping to deal with PTSD and ended
up starting this amazing honey business called Secret Garden Bees.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah. You know what I really love about this one.
What's that We've got this great interview with James himself,
but we're also going to be pulling in insights from
other entrepreneurs too.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah. Absolutely, And our kind of our mission here with
this deep dive is to see, you know, what we
can learn from James's story about beekeeping, entrepreneurship, and just
plain old resourcefulness. And you know, along the way, I
think we're going to uncover some surprising facts about bees
that might just make you say, wow, I never knew
that for sure. So to kick things off, James founded
(00:44):
Secret Garden Bees back in twenty twenty, but his journey
actually started a lot earlier. It goes all the way
back to his time in the Army bomb Squad.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah, And you know, coming back to civilian life was
a tough transition for him, and he ended up struggling
with PTSD.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
That's unfortunately pretty common for veterans coming back from common
bad zones.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Right. At first, James tried medication to manage his PTSD,
but it wasn't really the right.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Fit for him. Yeah, finding the right treatment for PTSD
can be a real challenge, and it's different for everyone. Yeah,
and that's where beekeeping comes in. You know. It's kind
of this unexpected therapeutic angle.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
It seems counterintuitive, doesn't it. Yeah, like working with bees
when you're already dealing with stress. But a friend of James's,
who is also a veteran and a bee keeper, suggested
he give it a try. Really, Yeah, and for James
it turned out to be even more effective than medication.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
That's amazing. I mean, there's something about the nature of
beekeeping itself, you know, that can be really therapeutic, especially
for something like PTSD.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
So what is it about beekeeping that makes it so
good for managing PTSD.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, it requires a lot of calmness and focus.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
You have to move slowly and deliberately and really be
present in the moment.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
It's fascinating how something that demands such stillness can be
helpful for something as intense as PTSD. It's like the
bees are teaching you to just slow down and breathe exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Any sudden movement, you know, any anxiety, it could disrupt
the hive, so you're almost forced to kind of just
be in that moment. It's almost like a form of meditation.
But with honey as a bonus.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
It's a pretty sweet bonus, right, And it's really incredible
how nature can offer these unexpected abnoals for healing. But
for James, it wasn't just about finding peace. It was
also about finding a purpose.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
He found that, you know, caring for the bees, understanding
their society, harvesting the honey. It gave him this sense
of accomplishment and meaning that's.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
So important, and that sense of purpose I think was
really key in his journey from PTSD to actually building
a successful business. You know. It's a reminder that healing
and entrepreneurial spirit can really go hand in hand.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
They can. And that brings us to the beginning of
Secret Garden Bees. Now you might be surprised to hear this,
but James's initial investment was incredibly low.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
It was remarkably low. I think it was only around
five hundred dollars to get started.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Five hundred dollars seriously. I mean most people would think
starting any kind of business lettle on something like beekeeping
would take way more money than that. What did he
even spend that five hundred dollars on?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Well, he was able to get the basic equipment he needed,
like a be suit, gloves, a smoker, and two hives. Okay,
and this is where it gets really interesting. You can
actually order bees through the mail.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Wait, are you serious? Bees delivered by mail?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, they arrive at your local post office buzzing away
in a box.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
That's wild. I never knew that. So with just five
hundred bucks and a couple of mail order b colonies,
Secret Garden Bees was born.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
I'm curious though, did starting small like that influence his
approach to business as things grew?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Definitely? I think starting small allowed James to learn the
ropes and experiment and scale up gradually without taking on
tons of debt right away. It's a really valuable lesson
for any entrepreneur. I think you don't always need a
huge amount of capital to get started. Sometimes the most
important thing is just to start, learn as you go,
and scale thoughtfully.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah, it's all about proving the concept first exactly before
going all in.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, exactly, you minimize risk and you stay flexible in
those early stages when you're still figuring things out.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
And speaking of figuring things out, James's journey wasn't without
its challenges. What were some of the biggest obstacles he
faced in those first few years.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Well, like any new business owner, he had to wear
a lot of hats and learn quickly. Oh, I bet
there was a steep learning curve when it came to
be keeping itself, you know, managing the hives, understanding the
whole honey production process. Yeah, but then he also had
to master the business side of things right, marketing, branding,
sales right, and all while he was still dealing with
(04:40):
the lingering effects of PTSD.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, that sounds like a lot to handle. What would
you say was the most crucial skill he developed during
that time, I would say resourcefulness.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
He had to become a master of making the most
of what he had.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
That makes sense, especially with his limited starting budget.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, and this actually led him to an amazing discovery,
this kind of hidden treasure trove of affordable equipment that
would really become a defining part of how he built
his business.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Well, that's interesting. Before we get into that. I just
want to pause and acknowledge how inspiring is part of
James's story is. It really speaks to the power of mentorship,
you know, seeking guidance from people who have been there before.
But let's get back to that hidden treasure trove of equipment.
What was it.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
It's not what you'd expect. It was government surplus, government.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Surplus like military gear and stuff.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Not exactly. There's this program that a lot of people
don't know about that allows veterans to acquire surplus equipment
from the government m and it was a game changer
for James.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Really.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah, this program opened up a whole world of possibilities
for him to get high quality equipment, but at a
fraction of the cost. It's amazing. Sometimes the most valuable
resources are right there in front of us. We just
don't know about him.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
It sounds like he found a gold mine. What kind
of things did he get through this program?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
He got some incredible deals, like he managed to snag
a forty thousand dollar or forklift for just five hundred bucks.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
A forkliff for five hundred dollars, that's insane. What else?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
You also got an F three to fifty truck for
one thousand dollars. Wow, which is an absolute steal. But
here's the one that really blew my mind. He got
a climate controlled trailer that was previously used by NASA
and he got it for just a few hundred.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Dollars a NASA trailer. That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Isn't that cool? And it's not just about being practical,
it's about the story it tells. It embodies his resourcefulness,
you know, his commitment to finding creative solutions.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
It's like a physical representation of his whole journey.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
So how did scoring all these incredible deals on equipment
impact his business?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
It allowed him to keep his business debt free, which
is huge for any entrepreneur, especially when you're starting out.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, it's like he built a protective moat around his
business right from the start.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Yeah, exactly. And it's a lesson that any entrepreneur can
learn from. You know, always be on the lookout for
those creative solutions.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, like what resources are available to me and how
can I use them to my advantage?
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Exactly?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
And sometimes those resources are hiding in plain sight, just
waiting for a resourceful entrepreneur like James to find them.
This deep dive is already packed with valuable lessons. But
we're just getting started.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Oh yeah, I can't wait to hear how James took
Secret Garden Bees from these humble beginnings to the thriving
business it is today.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Oh it's a good one.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Yeah, you love it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Let's get into the bees themselves.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Now, are ready to dive into the high.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I will buckle up because this might surprise you. All
the honey bees you see buzzing around North America, yeah,
they're not actually native to the continent.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Wait what so all this honey I've been eating all
these years that's labeled American, Yeah, it wasn't actually made
by American bees.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Nope, it's true. All the honey bees here are actually
descendants of bees that were brought over from Europe way
back when.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Wow, that's fascinating. So what kind of bees does James
use at Secret Garden Bees.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Well, the most popular type of bee in the US
is the Italian bee, and that's what James uses too.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Yeah. I can see why they're so popular. They seem
really mellow, at least from what I seen in the videos.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah, they have a reputation for being pretty gentle and calm,
which is good and of course they're great honey producers,
which is kind of important for a honey business.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
That's the key ingredient right there. So how much does
it actually cost to get a colony of these Italian
bees going? I'm imagining it's this whole complicated process.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's actually simpler than you might think. You can buy
a package of bees, basically a queen and about three
pounds of worker bees, all in bulk for around one
hundred and fifty dollars.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
One hundred and fifty dollars. That's not bad at all.
That's like your starter kit for a beekeeping business pretty much.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, get you up and running.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Speaking of starter kits, James mentioned something called a nucleus colony.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
What is that exactly? So a nucleus colony or a
nuke as it's called, it's basically like a mini colony.
It's got a queen, worker bees, brood, even some honey stores,
all set up on a few frames.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
It's like a short cut exactly, a jumpstart.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
You're hive, you're not starting from scratch. Yeah, getting a
little head start.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
That makes sense. So we've got the bees, we've got
the colony going. But before we get to the honey itself.
I need a little tour of the bee hive. What's
going on inside one of those buzzing boxes?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Sure? So, picture of beehive like a company, you know,
with different departments. The bottom levels are called brood chambers,
and that's kind of like the R and D department
where the queen lays her eggs and all the young
bees are raised.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Got it. So it's like a nursery and a training
center all rolled into one exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, super efficient. Then as you go up in the hive,
you get to the honey supers, and those are like
the sales department. Those boxes are dedicated to storing honey.
So the bees fill the frames with honeycomb and then
they cap it off with wax, and that's.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
The good stuff. That's what James.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Harvests, that's the liquid gold.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
What does that process look like?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Well, James learned a pretty important lesson early on. Don't
mess with bees during the day. I can imagine he
tried to extract honey in broad daylight one time and
just say it didn't go well.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, I bet a swarm of angry bees is not.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
A fun time, not at all. So now he waits
until nightfall, sorry, when the bees are much less active
and less likely to get riled up. He removes the honeysupers,
extracts the honey from the frames, and then bottles it
up already for sale.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
So you don't want to interrupt the sales department during
business hours. That's a good way to get stung. How
much honey can you actually get from a single hive?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Each honeysuper can produce thirty to fifty pounds of honey. Wow,
So in a good year, a single hive with multiple
supers can produce well over one hundred pounds.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
That's a lot of honey. All right, So let's talk
about James's revenue growth. I know he started small, but
things really took off for Secret Garden Bees.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
The growth has been phenomenal. He made about one thousand
dollars in his first year, and now just four years
later he's projecting two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in
revenue for this year.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
That is amazing. That's incredible growth. What were the key
factors that led to that kind of success.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Well, I think it's a combination of things. He strategically
scaled up his operation. You know, he increased the number
of bee hivehs so we could produce more honey.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
He also really focused on building a strong brand and
marketing Secret Garden Bees.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Yeah. I gotta say I love the name Secret Garden Bees.
It just evokes this sense of you know, hidden natural
beauty and the sweetness of honey. It's very unique.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, it's a great name, and it definitely helped him
secure some big wholesale deals with large grocery stores.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Oh wow, So that's how he really started to scale
up the business exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
That's a big part of it. And his profit margins
are impressive too. Once he gained some scale, he's looking
at profit margins of forty to fifty percent.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Wow, that's incredible. It makes sense though. Honey's a natural product,
it's got a long shelf life, and people are always
looking for healthy alternatives to sugar, right, so there's definitely
a demand. But okay, we've got all this honey, now,
we got to get it from the hive to the bottle.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Right. This is where we get to the heart and
soul of James's operation. It's his honey processing facility.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
This is where the magic happens.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
This is where the raw honey gets bottled up and
transformed into that beautiful product you see on the shelves. Yeah,
but in the early days, this whole process was super
labor intensive. Oh I bet he was bottling everything by
hand from these five gallon buckets. It took him something
like eighty hours to process just one thousand pounds of honey.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Oh my gosh, that's a lot of honey in a
lot of hours.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Yeah, talk about a bottleneck in the operation. So they
had to find a better way.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Of course. Did he figure out a way to streamline things?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
He did, and this is where his smart investing really
comes into play. He decided to invest in an automated
filling machine, which was a big expense upfront, around twenty
thousand dollars, but it was a total game changer for
his business.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I mean, I'm all for investing in tools that can
save you time and make things more efficient. Yeah, but
twenty thousand dollars that's a pretty big risk, especially for
a relatively young business.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
It was a risk, but it paid off big time.
The new machine allowed him to process that same one
thousand pounds of honey in just eight hours.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Eight hours, So we went from eighty hours to eight hours.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
It's a tenfold increase in efficiency.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
That's amazing. So it was definitely worth the investment.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Oh yeah, he saw a fivefold return on his investment
in the first year alone. Wow, that's the power of
strategic investment.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Yeah. It's a good reminder that sometimes you have to
spend money to make money, and James clearly gets that.
He's not just thinking about today, he's thinking about how
to scale his business for the future.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Okay, so we've got all this honey bottled up. Now
how does he actually get it on to store shelves
and into the hands of customers.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
That's where branding and packaging commit, right, And James knew
he wanted to target a more upscale market, so his
packaging had to reflect that.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
So no plastic honey bears.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Nope. He went with elegant glass bottles with corkstoppers.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Each bottle is shrink wrapped for that premium look.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
I like that. It's like you're getting a gift.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah. And the label design is really striking too.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
I was going to say, the label is so simple
but elegant and memorable. Did he hire a professional designer?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
It was a team effort. Yeah, his wife actually collaborated
with the graphic designer and they spent over eighteen months
perfecting the design.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Eighteen months.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Yeah, they really wanted to get it right.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
That's dedication. So it's not just about the aesthetics, is it?
Where he places the honey in the store is strategic too, right, Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
You won't usually find Secret Garden Bees honey with the
other honey brands. It's usually in the produce section.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Interesting, why is that?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Well, it's all about targeting the right customer. People who
are shopping in the produce section. They tend to be
more health conscious and more willing to pay a little
extra for high quality products.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, that's a smart move. It's like subliminal messaging this
honey is fresh and it's.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Good for you, exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
But getting that prime shelf space in a big grocery
store is no easy feat, especially for a small business.
How did James manage to land those wholesale deals.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Where he credits his military background with giving him the
persistence to just keep pushing forward. Yeah, he spent months
making phone calls, leaving voicemails, following up with store managers
and corporate contacts. He just wouldn't give up.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
So it was a combination of hustle and perseverance.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, it really was. It's a good lesson for anyone
out there trying to make it in business. Sometimes it's
not just about having a great product. It's about having
the grit to keep going even when things get tough.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
You got to be able to handle those rejections exactly.
But even with the best product and the best hustle,
you still have to build trust with those big retailers.
How did James convince them to take a chance on him.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Well, he started small. He focused on fulfilling smaller orders
for a handful of stores at first. That way he
could prove that he was reliable and could deliver on
his promises.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yeah, it's about building that track record, showing that you
can be trusted exactly.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
And as he consistently met their expectations, those smaller orders
gradually grew into bigger partnerships and eventually those coveted wholesale
deals with chains like fresh Market and Harris Teeter.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
So he basically climbed the ladder one rung at a time.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Yes, stip step.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
It's inspiring to see how he built that trust and
that reputation. But I'm curious did James ever face any
major setbacks during all this growth. It's hard to imagine
that everything went perfectly smoothly.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Oh, there are definitely bumps in the road. He's had
his share of challenges or everything from bad weather to
equipment failures. But he's always viewed these challenges as opportunities
to learn.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
That's a good attitude to have, it is, but I'm
sure some of those challenges felt pretty overwhelming. Was there
ever a moment where he thought about throwing in the towel?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
There was one incident in particular that really tested him.
He lost fourteen Bee Highs in an unexpected Arctic freeze.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Oh no, that must have been devastating.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
It was a huge blow. But thankfully he had insured
his Highs through the USDA, so that helped to cushion
the financial loss.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
That was smart.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Yeah, it's a good reminder to plan for the unexpected,
even when things are going well. It's always important to
think about risk management.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Absolutely, so did this experience change his approach to business
at all?
Speaker 2 (17:02):
It definitely reinforced the importance of being prepared. Yeah, he
always says slow as smooth and smooth as fast.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I love that it's about building something sustainable, something that
can weather the storms. It's not about rushing into things.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
So besides risk management, what other advice does James have
for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those who might be interested in
beekeeping as a business.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
He's a big believer in lifelong learning. Yeah, and finding
good mentors. He's had mentors for both the beekeeping side
of things and the business side of things, and he
says it's been crucial to his success.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
I can see that. And he's also big on leveraging resources,
whether it's government programs, online communities, industry associations.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Right. There's so much support out there for entrepreneurs if
you know where to look.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
And sometimes those resources come from the most unexpected places,
like a government surplus program that leads you to a
NASA trailer exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
It's a wild story, it really is.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
It's amazing to see how James has combined his personal
healing journey with this incredible entrepreneurial success story. He's not
just selling honey, He's sharing a message of resilience and resourcefulness, right,
and the unexpected sweetness that life can offer.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Yeah, it's pretty inspiring.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
You know what strikes me about James's story, It's like
he's managed to build this incredible business while staying true
to himself. He's not just chasing profits. He genuinely cares
about you know, the bees, and about helping veterans and
about giving back to his community.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Absolutely, his passion is real, and you can feel that
authenticity in everything he does. You know, from how he
treats his customers to how he runs his operation. It's
clear that Secret Garden Bees is more than just a
business for him. It's like an extension of who he.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Is, right and that kind of authenticity that's something people
can sense. You can't fake that. But passion alone doesn't
build a business. He's clearly made some really smart decisions
along the way, especially when it comes to his finances.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Oh for sure. And what example stands out as his
use of government programs to help manage his labor costs.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yeah, that was a savvy move. He really did his
homework and found ways to maximize those resources.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Definitely, he took full advantage of the Workforce, Innovation and
Opportunity Act, you know, that program that helps cover a
big chunk of the talary for a veter Enterprentice.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Right, And it's amazing how many of these programs are
out there just waiting for entrepreneurs to tap into them.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
It's true, there's a lot of support available, you just
got to know where to look.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
And sometimes those resources can pop up in the most
unexpected places, like a government surplus program that ends up
scoring you a NASA trailer.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
It's crazy, right, so many opportunities out there if you
just keep your eyes.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Open, exactly. So, thinking about James's journey from PTSD to profits,
what are some of the key takeaways that our listeners
can apply to their own lives, whether they're thinking about
starting a business or just trying to navigate life's challenges.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
I think the biggest one is the power of finding
purpose and passion in unexpected places. Yeah, you know, James
could have easily let his PTSD define him, right, but
instead he found healing and a whole new direction in beekeeping.
And it's a reminder that sometimes the things we least
expect can turn into our greatest strengths.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
It's like turning lemons into lemonade, but in James case,
it's more like turning PTSD into honey.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Exactly. And beyond that, his story really highlights the importance
of resourcefulness and strategic thinking. He started with very little.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Capital, yeah, five hundred dollars, right, but.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
He made smart decisions. He leveraged the resources that were
available to him, and he wasn't afraid to take calculated
risks when it made sense.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
And he was persistent. You know, he didn't get those
wholesale deals overnight.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
No, he had to put in the work, build those relationships,
prove that he was a reliable partner.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Right. It takes time and consistent effort, it does.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
And finally, I think James's story teaches us the importance
of embracing failure as a learning opportunity.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Oh absolutely. He's been very open about the setbacks he's
faced along the way.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Yeah, like losing hides to that Arctic freeze, right.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
But he's never let those setbacks define him.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
He's taken those experiences and learn from them and come
back stronger.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
It's all about that growth mindset exactly. And his motto
slow is smooth and smooth as fast. I think that
really captures his approach to both beekeeping and entrepreneurship.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
It's a great mantra. Yeah, it's about building something sustainable, Yeah,
something that can last.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
So to wrap things up, I think James's story is
a beautiful example of how success isn't a straight line.
It's a journey with twists and turns and bumps along
the way.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Absolutely yeah. But with the right mindset, even those detours
can lead to amazing places.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
And sometimes those amazing places are filled with honey and
NASA trailers Exactly. You never know what you're gonna find
when you step outside your comfort zone and start exploring.
So to our listeners out there, what seemingly niche activity
or interest could you turn into a thriving business. James's
story is proof that the sweetest success often comes from
(21:53):
the most unexpected places.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
It's true. So get out there and explore and see
what you can create.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
And who knows, maybe we'll be featuring your story on
a future deep dive.
Welcome to another deep dive. We've got a really fascinating
one for you guys today. It's about a veteran named
James who used beekeeping to deal with PTSD and ended
up starting this amazing honey business called Secret Garden Bees.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Yeah. You know what I really love about this one.
What's that We've got this great interview with James himself,
but we're also going to be pulling in insights from
other entrepreneurs too.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Yeah. Absolutely, And our kind of our mission here with
this deep dive is to see, you know, what we
can learn from James's story about beekeeping, entrepreneurship, and just
plain old resourcefulness. And you know, along the way, I
think we're going to uncover some surprising facts about bees
that might just make you say, wow, I never knew
that for sure. So to kick things off, James founded
(00:44):
Secret Garden Bees back in twenty twenty, but his journey
actually started a lot earlier. It goes all the way
back to his time in the Army bomb Squad.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Yeah, And you know, coming back to civilian life was
a tough transition for him, and he ended up struggling
with PTSD.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
That's unfortunately pretty common for veterans coming back from common
bad zones.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Right. At first, James tried medication to manage his PTSD,
but it wasn't really the right.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Fit for him. Yeah, finding the right treatment for PTSD
can be a real challenge, and it's different for everyone. Yeah,
and that's where beekeeping comes in. You know. It's kind
of this unexpected therapeutic angle.
Speaker 1 (01:17):
It seems counterintuitive, doesn't it. Yeah, like working with bees
when you're already dealing with stress. But a friend of James's,
who is also a veteran and a bee keeper, suggested
he give it a try. Really, Yeah, and for James
it turned out to be even more effective than medication.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
That's amazing. I mean, there's something about the nature of
beekeeping itself, you know, that can be really therapeutic, especially
for something like PTSD.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
So what is it about beekeeping that makes it so
good for managing PTSD.
Speaker 2 (01:45):
Well, it requires a lot of calmness and focus.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
You have to move slowly and deliberately and really be
present in the moment.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
It's fascinating how something that demands such stillness can be
helpful for something as intense as PTSD. It's like the
bees are teaching you to just slow down and breathe exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Any sudden movement, you know, any anxiety, it could disrupt
the hive, so you're almost forced to kind of just
be in that moment. It's almost like a form of meditation.
But with honey as a bonus.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
It's a pretty sweet bonus, right, And it's really incredible
how nature can offer these unexpected abnoals for healing. But
for James, it wasn't just about finding peace. It was
also about finding a purpose.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
He found that, you know, caring for the bees, understanding
their society, harvesting the honey. It gave him this sense
of accomplishment and meaning that's.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
So important, and that sense of purpose I think was
really key in his journey from PTSD to actually building
a successful business. You know. It's a reminder that healing
and entrepreneurial spirit can really go hand in hand.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
They can. And that brings us to the beginning of
Secret Garden Bees. Now you might be surprised to hear this,
but James's initial investment was incredibly low.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
It was remarkably low. I think it was only around
five hundred dollars to get started.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
Five hundred dollars seriously. I mean most people would think
starting any kind of business lettle on something like beekeeping
would take way more money than that. What did he
even spend that five hundred dollars on?
Speaker 2 (03:10):
Well, he was able to get the basic equipment he needed,
like a be suit, gloves, a smoker, and two hives. Okay,
and this is where it gets really interesting. You can
actually order bees through the mail.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Wait, are you serious? Bees delivered by mail?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, they arrive at your local post office buzzing away
in a box.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
That's wild. I never knew that. So with just five
hundred bucks and a couple of mail order b colonies,
Secret Garden Bees was born.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Pretty much.
Speaker 1 (03:36):
I'm curious though, did starting small like that influence his
approach to business as things grew?
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Definitely? I think starting small allowed James to learn the
ropes and experiment and scale up gradually without taking on
tons of debt right away. It's a really valuable lesson
for any entrepreneur. I think you don't always need a
huge amount of capital to get started. Sometimes the most
important thing is just to start, learn as you go,
and scale thoughtfully.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah, it's all about proving the concept first exactly before
going all in.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Yeah, exactly, you minimize risk and you stay flexible in
those early stages when you're still figuring things out.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
And speaking of figuring things out, James's journey wasn't without
its challenges. What were some of the biggest obstacles he
faced in those first few years.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Well, like any new business owner, he had to wear
a lot of hats and learn quickly. Oh, I bet
there was a steep learning curve when it came to
be keeping itself, you know, managing the hives, understanding the
whole honey production process. Yeah, but then he also had
to master the business side of things right, marketing, branding,
sales right, and all while he was still dealing with
(04:40):
the lingering effects of PTSD.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Yeah, that sounds like a lot to handle. What would
you say was the most crucial skill he developed during
that time, I would say resourcefulness.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
He had to become a master of making the most
of what he had.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
That makes sense, especially with his limited starting budget.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah, and this actually led him to an amazing discovery,
this kind of hidden treasure trove of affordable equipment that
would really become a defining part of how he built
his business.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Well, that's interesting. Before we get into that. I just
want to pause and acknowledge how inspiring is part of
James's story is. It really speaks to the power of mentorship,
you know, seeking guidance from people who have been there before.
But let's get back to that hidden treasure trove of equipment.
What was it.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
It's not what you'd expect. It was government surplus, government.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Surplus like military gear and stuff.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Not exactly. There's this program that a lot of people
don't know about that allows veterans to acquire surplus equipment
from the government m and it was a game changer
for James.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Really.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah, this program opened up a whole world of possibilities
for him to get high quality equipment, but at a
fraction of the cost. It's amazing. Sometimes the most valuable
resources are right there in front of us. We just
don't know about him.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
It sounds like he found a gold mine. What kind
of things did he get through this program?
Speaker 2 (05:55):
He got some incredible deals, like he managed to snag
a forty thousand dollar or forklift for just five hundred bucks.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
A forkliff for five hundred dollars, that's insane. What else?
Speaker 2 (06:04):
You also got an F three to fifty truck for
one thousand dollars. Wow, which is an absolute steal. But
here's the one that really blew my mind. He got
a climate controlled trailer that was previously used by NASA
and he got it for just a few hundred.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Dollars a NASA trailer. That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Isn't that cool? And it's not just about being practical,
it's about the story it tells. It embodies his resourcefulness,
you know, his commitment to finding creative solutions.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
It's like a physical representation of his whole journey.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
So how did scoring all these incredible deals on equipment
impact his business?
Speaker 1 (06:37):
It allowed him to keep his business debt free, which
is huge for any entrepreneur, especially when you're starting out.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Yeah, it's like he built a protective moat around his
business right from the start.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Yeah, exactly. And it's a lesson that any entrepreneur can
learn from. You know, always be on the lookout for
those creative solutions.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, like what resources are available to me and how
can I use them to my advantage?
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Exactly?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
And sometimes those resources are hiding in plain sight, just
waiting for a resourceful entrepreneur like James to find them.
This deep dive is already packed with valuable lessons. But
we're just getting started.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Oh yeah, I can't wait to hear how James took
Secret Garden Bees from these humble beginnings to the thriving
business it is today.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Oh it's a good one.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Yeah, you love it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Let's get into the bees themselves.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Now, are ready to dive into the high.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I will buckle up because this might surprise you. All
the honey bees you see buzzing around North America, yeah,
they're not actually native to the continent.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Wait what so all this honey I've been eating all
these years that's labeled American, Yeah, it wasn't actually made
by American bees.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Nope, it's true. All the honey bees here are actually
descendants of bees that were brought over from Europe way
back when.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Wow, that's fascinating. So what kind of bees does James
use at Secret Garden Bees.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Well, the most popular type of bee in the US
is the Italian bee, and that's what James uses too.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Yeah. I can see why they're so popular. They seem
really mellow, at least from what I seen in the videos.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
Yeah, they have a reputation for being pretty gentle and calm,
which is good and of course they're great honey producers,
which is kind of important for a honey business.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
That's the key ingredient right there. So how much does
it actually cost to get a colony of these Italian
bees going? I'm imagining it's this whole complicated process.
Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's actually simpler than you might think. You can buy
a package of bees, basically a queen and about three
pounds of worker bees, all in bulk for around one
hundred and fifty dollars.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
One hundred and fifty dollars. That's not bad at all.
That's like your starter kit for a beekeeping business pretty much.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Yeah, get you up and running.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Speaking of starter kits, James mentioned something called a nucleus colony.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
What is that exactly? So a nucleus colony or a
nuke as it's called, it's basically like a mini colony.
It's got a queen, worker bees, brood, even some honey stores,
all set up on a few frames.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
It's like a short cut exactly, a jumpstart.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
You're hive, you're not starting from scratch. Yeah, getting a
little head start.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
That makes sense. So we've got the bees, we've got
the colony going. But before we get to the honey itself.
I need a little tour of the bee hive. What's
going on inside one of those buzzing boxes?
Speaker 2 (09:12):
Sure? So, picture of beehive like a company, you know,
with different departments. The bottom levels are called brood chambers,
and that's kind of like the R and D department
where the queen lays her eggs and all the young
bees are raised.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Got it. So it's like a nursery and a training
center all rolled into one exactly.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yeah, super efficient. Then as you go up in the hive,
you get to the honey supers, and those are like
the sales department. Those boxes are dedicated to storing honey.
So the bees fill the frames with honeycomb and then
they cap it off with wax, and that's.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
The good stuff. That's what James.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Harvests, that's the liquid gold.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
What does that process look like?
Speaker 2 (09:50):
Well, James learned a pretty important lesson early on. Don't
mess with bees during the day. I can imagine he
tried to extract honey in broad daylight one time and
just say it didn't go well.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Yeah, I bet a swarm of angry bees is not.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
A fun time, not at all. So now he waits
until nightfall, sorry, when the bees are much less active
and less likely to get riled up. He removes the honeysupers,
extracts the honey from the frames, and then bottles it
up already for sale.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
So you don't want to interrupt the sales department during
business hours. That's a good way to get stung. How
much honey can you actually get from a single hive?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Each honeysuper can produce thirty to fifty pounds of honey. Wow,
So in a good year, a single hive with multiple
supers can produce well over one hundred pounds.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
That's a lot of honey. All right, So let's talk
about James's revenue growth. I know he started small, but
things really took off for Secret Garden Bees.
Speaker 2 (10:42):
The growth has been phenomenal. He made about one thousand
dollars in his first year, and now just four years
later he's projecting two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in
revenue for this year.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
That is amazing. That's incredible growth. What were the key
factors that led to that kind of success.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
Well, I think it's a combination of things. He strategically
scaled up his operation. You know, he increased the number
of bee hivehs so we could produce more honey.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
He also really focused on building a strong brand and
marketing Secret Garden Bees.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Yeah. I gotta say I love the name Secret Garden Bees.
It just evokes this sense of you know, hidden natural
beauty and the sweetness of honey. It's very unique.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
Yeah, it's a great name, and it definitely helped him
secure some big wholesale deals with large grocery stores.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Oh wow, So that's how he really started to scale
up the business exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
That's a big part of it. And his profit margins
are impressive too. Once he gained some scale, he's looking
at profit margins of forty to fifty percent.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Wow, that's incredible. It makes sense though. Honey's a natural product,
it's got a long shelf life, and people are always
looking for healthy alternatives to sugar, right, so there's definitely
a demand. But okay, we've got all this honey, now,
we got to get it from the hive to the bottle.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Right. This is where we get to the heart and
soul of James's operation. It's his honey processing facility.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
This is where the magic happens.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
This is where the raw honey gets bottled up and
transformed into that beautiful product you see on the shelves. Yeah,
but in the early days, this whole process was super
labor intensive. Oh I bet he was bottling everything by
hand from these five gallon buckets. It took him something
like eighty hours to process just one thousand pounds of honey.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Oh my gosh, that's a lot of honey in a
lot of hours.
Speaker 2 (12:22):
Yeah, talk about a bottleneck in the operation. So they
had to find a better way.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Of course. Did he figure out a way to streamline things?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
He did, and this is where his smart investing really
comes into play. He decided to invest in an automated
filling machine, which was a big expense upfront, around twenty
thousand dollars, but it was a total game changer for
his business.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I mean, I'm all for investing in tools that can
save you time and make things more efficient. Yeah, but
twenty thousand dollars that's a pretty big risk, especially for
a relatively young business.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
It was a risk, but it paid off big time.
The new machine allowed him to process that same one
thousand pounds of honey in just eight hours.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Eight hours, So we went from eighty hours to eight hours.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
It's a tenfold increase in efficiency.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
That's amazing. So it was definitely worth the investment.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Oh yeah, he saw a fivefold return on his investment
in the first year alone. Wow, that's the power of
strategic investment.
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Yeah. It's a good reminder that sometimes you have to
spend money to make money, and James clearly gets that.
He's not just thinking about today, he's thinking about how
to scale his business for the future.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Okay, so we've got all this honey bottled up. Now
how does he actually get it on to store shelves
and into the hands of customers.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
That's where branding and packaging commit, right, And James knew
he wanted to target a more upscale market, so his
packaging had to reflect that.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
So no plastic honey bears.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Nope. He went with elegant glass bottles with corkstoppers.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Oh nice.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Each bottle is shrink wrapped for that premium look.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
I like that. It's like you're getting a gift.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah. And the label design is really striking too.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
I was going to say, the label is so simple
but elegant and memorable. Did he hire a professional designer?
Speaker 2 (14:00):
It was a team effort. Yeah, his wife actually collaborated
with the graphic designer and they spent over eighteen months
perfecting the design.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Eighteen months.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Yeah, they really wanted to get it right.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
That's dedication. So it's not just about the aesthetics, is it?
Where he places the honey in the store is strategic too, right, Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
You won't usually find Secret Garden Bees honey with the
other honey brands. It's usually in the produce section.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Interesting, why is that?
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Well, it's all about targeting the right customer. People who
are shopping in the produce section. They tend to be
more health conscious and more willing to pay a little
extra for high quality products.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, that's a smart move. It's like subliminal messaging this
honey is fresh and it's.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Good for you, exactly.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
But getting that prime shelf space in a big grocery
store is no easy feat, especially for a small business.
How did James manage to land those wholesale deals.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Where he credits his military background with giving him the
persistence to just keep pushing forward. Yeah, he spent months
making phone calls, leaving voicemails, following up with store managers
and corporate contacts. He just wouldn't give up.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
So it was a combination of hustle and perseverance.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Yeah, it really was. It's a good lesson for anyone
out there trying to make it in business. Sometimes it's
not just about having a great product. It's about having
the grit to keep going even when things get tough.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
You got to be able to handle those rejections exactly.
But even with the best product and the best hustle,
you still have to build trust with those big retailers.
How did James convince them to take a chance on him.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Well, he started small. He focused on fulfilling smaller orders
for a handful of stores at first. That way he
could prove that he was reliable and could deliver on
his promises.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yeah, it's about building that track record, showing that you
can be trusted exactly.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
And as he consistently met their expectations, those smaller orders
gradually grew into bigger partnerships and eventually those coveted wholesale
deals with chains like fresh Market and Harris Teeter.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
So he basically climbed the ladder one rung at a time.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Yes, stip step.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
It's inspiring to see how he built that trust and
that reputation. But I'm curious did James ever face any
major setbacks during all this growth. It's hard to imagine
that everything went perfectly smoothly.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Oh, there are definitely bumps in the road. He's had
his share of challenges or everything from bad weather to
equipment failures. But he's always viewed these challenges as opportunities
to learn.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
That's a good attitude to have, it is, but I'm
sure some of those challenges felt pretty overwhelming. Was there
ever a moment where he thought about throwing in the towel?
Speaker 2 (16:32):
There was one incident in particular that really tested him.
He lost fourteen Bee Highs in an unexpected Arctic freeze.
Speaker 1 (16:39):
Oh no, that must have been devastating.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
It was a huge blow. But thankfully he had insured
his Highs through the USDA, so that helped to cushion
the financial loss.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
That was smart.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Yeah, it's a good reminder to plan for the unexpected,
even when things are going well. It's always important to
think about risk management.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Absolutely, so did this experience change his approach to business
at all?
Speaker 2 (17:02):
It definitely reinforced the importance of being prepared. Yeah, he
always says slow as smooth and smooth as fast.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
I love that it's about building something sustainable, something that
can weather the storms. It's not about rushing into things.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
So besides risk management, what other advice does James have
for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those who might be interested in
beekeeping as a business.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
He's a big believer in lifelong learning. Yeah, and finding
good mentors. He's had mentors for both the beekeeping side
of things and the business side of things, and he
says it's been crucial to his success.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
I can see that. And he's also big on leveraging resources,
whether it's government programs, online communities, industry associations.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Right. There's so much support out there for entrepreneurs if
you know where to look.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
And sometimes those resources come from the most unexpected places,
like a government surplus program that leads you to a
NASA trailer exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
It's a wild story, it really is.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
It's amazing to see how James has combined his personal
healing journey with this incredible entrepreneurial success story. He's not
just selling honey, He's sharing a message of resilience and resourcefulness, right,
and the unexpected sweetness that life can offer.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Yeah, it's pretty inspiring.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
You know what strikes me about James's story, It's like
he's managed to build this incredible business while staying true
to himself. He's not just chasing profits. He genuinely cares
about you know, the bees, and about helping veterans and
about giving back to his community.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Absolutely, his passion is real, and you can feel that
authenticity in everything he does. You know, from how he
treats his customers to how he runs his operation. It's
clear that Secret Garden Bees is more than just a
business for him. It's like an extension of who he.
Speaker 1 (18:44):
Is, right and that kind of authenticity that's something people
can sense. You can't fake that. But passion alone doesn't
build a business. He's clearly made some really smart decisions
along the way, especially when it comes to his finances.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Oh for sure. And what example stands out as his
use of government programs to help manage his labor costs.
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Yeah, that was a savvy move. He really did his
homework and found ways to maximize those resources.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Definitely, he took full advantage of the Workforce, Innovation and
Opportunity Act, you know, that program that helps cover a
big chunk of the talary for a veter Enterprentice.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Right, And it's amazing how many of these programs are
out there just waiting for entrepreneurs to tap into them.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
It's true, there's a lot of support available, you just
got to know where to look.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
And sometimes those resources can pop up in the most
unexpected places, like a government surplus program that ends up
scoring you a NASA trailer.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
It's crazy, right, so many opportunities out there if you
just keep your eyes.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Open, exactly. So, thinking about James's journey from PTSD to profits,
what are some of the key takeaways that our listeners
can apply to their own lives, whether they're thinking about
starting a business or just trying to navigate life's challenges.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
I think the biggest one is the power of finding
purpose and passion in unexpected places. Yeah, you know, James
could have easily let his PTSD define him, right, but
instead he found healing and a whole new direction in beekeeping.
And it's a reminder that sometimes the things we least
expect can turn into our greatest strengths.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
It's like turning lemons into lemonade, but in James case,
it's more like turning PTSD into honey.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Exactly. And beyond that, his story really highlights the importance
of resourcefulness and strategic thinking. He started with very little.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Capital, yeah, five hundred dollars, right, but.
Speaker 2 (20:23):
He made smart decisions. He leveraged the resources that were
available to him, and he wasn't afraid to take calculated
risks when it made sense.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
And he was persistent. You know, he didn't get those
wholesale deals overnight.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
No, he had to put in the work, build those relationships,
prove that he was a reliable partner.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Right. It takes time and consistent effort, it does.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
And finally, I think James's story teaches us the importance
of embracing failure as a learning opportunity.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Oh absolutely. He's been very open about the setbacks he's
faced along the way.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
Yeah, like losing hides to that Arctic freeze, right.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
But he's never let those setbacks define him.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
He's taken those experiences and learn from them and come
back stronger.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
It's all about that growth mindset exactly. And his motto
slow is smooth and smooth as fast. I think that
really captures his approach to both beekeeping and entrepreneurship.
Speaker 2 (21:13):
It's a great mantra. Yeah, it's about building something sustainable, Yeah,
something that can last.
Speaker 1 (21:18):
So to wrap things up, I think James's story is
a beautiful example of how success isn't a straight line.
It's a journey with twists and turns and bumps along
the way.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
Absolutely yeah. But with the right mindset, even those detours
can lead to amazing places.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
And sometimes those amazing places are filled with honey and
NASA trailers Exactly. You never know what you're gonna find
when you step outside your comfort zone and start exploring.
So to our listeners out there, what seemingly niche activity
or interest could you turn into a thriving business. James's
story is proof that the sweetest success often comes from
(21:53):
the most unexpected places.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
It's true. So get out there and explore and see
what you can create.
Speaker 1 (21:58):
And who knows, maybe we'll be featuring your story on
a future deep dive.
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