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The Honey Bee: A Business Parable About Getting Un-stuck and Taking Control of Your Financial Future
A business parable that teaches the value of cultivating multiple streams of income—the surest, most achievable means of creating generational wealth.
The Honey Bee tells the story of Noah—a disappointed, disaffected salesman who feels like his life is going nowhere until the day he has a chance encounter with a man named Tom Barnham, the beekeeper. In his charming, down-home way, Tom the “Bee Man” teaches Noah and his wife Emma how to grow their personal wealth using the lessons he learned from his beekeeping passion.
Full of concrete lessons delivered through chapter after chapter of engaging vignettes, each of which includes actionable advice for new or aspiring entrepreneurs. Workbook-style sections at the end of each chapter help bring the lessons home, including questions to help you apply the lessons to your own business, and links to rich digital resources for even more information on how to get started creating your own multiple streams of income.
The Honey Bee tells the story of Noah—a disappointed, disaffected salesman who feels like his life is going nowhere until the day he has a chance encounter with a man named Tom Barnham, the beekeeper. In his charming, down-home way, Tom the “Bee Man” teaches Noah and his wife Emma how to grow their personal wealth using the lessons he learned from his beekeeping passion.
Full of concrete lessons delivered through chapter after chapter of engaging vignettes, each of which includes actionable advice for new or aspiring entrepreneurs. Workbook-style sections at the end of each chapter help bring the lessons home, including questions to help you apply the lessons to your own business, and links to rich digital resources for even more information on how to get started creating your own multiple streams of income.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2019
59 people are currently reading
812 people want to read
About the author
Jake Stenziano
15 books11 followersJake Stenziano, MBA is the best-selling author of two books, Wheelbarrow Profits and The Honey Bee. He is also the co-founder of Jake & Gino, the only multifamily real estate investment education company that teaches investors the three pillars of sound apartment investing; Buy Right, Manage Right, and Finance Right.
Jake is also the founder of Rand Property Management and co-founder of Rand Capital and Rand Partners. Rand Property Management is the first property management company with a focus on “modern affordability” and vertical integration.
As a creator of the multifamily investing framework, Wheelbarrow Profits, Jake is a leading expert on investing in and management of the multifamily space and currently owns over 1500 multifamily units.
He currently resides in Knoxville, TN with his beautiful wife Whitney and their two children.
Jake is also the founder of Rand Property Management and co-founder of Rand Capital and Rand Partners. Rand Property Management is the first property management company with a focus on “modern affordability” and vertical integration.
As a creator of the multifamily investing framework, Wheelbarrow Profits, Jake is a leading expert on investing in and management of the multifamily space and currently owns over 1500 multifamily units.
He currently resides in Knoxville, TN with his beautiful wife Whitney and their two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 23, 2019
Insightful, useful, and easy to digest. This could not have come at a better time. I have been thinking about a lot of the factors/principles presented in this book (over the past year); but, wasn’t quite sure how to execute them, or doubted I was even capable. However, this book acts as a reminder regarding “baby steps to a goal,” as well as the preemptive advice about being “okay” with setbacks - they happen. Additionally, the resources online - supplemental reads, and sense of community, provide an invaluable bonus. Already putting some networking ideas into motion.
I was fortunate to win this via a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to Goodreads, the authors (Jake & Gino), and the publisher - I cant wait to see what the next year holds. Updates to follow.
I was fortunate to win this via a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to Goodreads, the authors (Jake & Gino), and the publisher - I cant wait to see what the next year holds. Updates to follow.
November 5, 2019
Excellent Read - Great Advice
Well done! If anyone is looking for a short inspirational book to read, look no further. Practical and very simple principals that anyone can put to work today, embodied in a narrative that keeps you reading until the end.
I’ve worked with these guys on several transactions in the recent past and can safely say that they have applied this “formula” with great success throughout their careers in real estate, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and prosper.
Cool thing is that anyone can benefit from this advice regardless of your core talent, or where you are in life.
Great Job!
Well done! If anyone is looking for a short inspirational book to read, look no further. Practical and very simple principals that anyone can put to work today, embodied in a narrative that keeps you reading until the end.
I’ve worked with these guys on several transactions in the recent past and can safely say that they have applied this “formula” with great success throughout their careers in real estate, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow and prosper.
Cool thing is that anyone can benefit from this advice regardless of your core talent, or where you are in life.
Great Job!
October 25, 2019
The honeybee was a nice & refreshing read that has so many lessons packed into a wonderful tale. Each lesson was straightforward to comprehend and easy to implement. Being a previous corporate employee growing tired of the rat race, it was easy to relate to the story of Noah & Emma. I too have tired to implement income strategies that didn’t quite pan out when I wasn’t focused on the core of my business.
Read
May 12, 2020Great read for anyone interested in building a truly sustainable business. Jake and Gino have built a truly vertically integrated business and this book serves as a blue print for anyone else looking to accomplish the same thing!
March 18, 2020
What a delightful, as well as insightful book about how to grow your business and business management. Written in story form, it pulls you in to the last page as you follow Noah and Emma on their journey.
Great lessons!
Great lessons!
December 1, 2020
Very nice advice for entrepreneurs in the form of lessons given to the characters of a little history. It is enjoyable to read and I like the bees topic, although it seems to be recurrent in all books about work. I did not give 5 stars because it really bothers me when all characters in the book are always smiling at each other, are always so patient and never ever question the other's intentions or are even bothered by the aspect of someone's personality, behavior or humor. Who on Earth does not do that and can be always "nice"?
The main character (Noah) clearly seems to remember his friend Tom (the beekeeper) ONLY when he needs help. At one point the guys spends 5 years apart and they are all ‘no resentments’ when one comes again only driven by interest in lessons. I don't remember any passage where the main guy asks wise Tom how he was doing...Yeah, I know that is not the main point of the book, but authors should include a bit of reality no? I know Tom likes to teach but would not he be judging Noah's interest?
I think Tom at some point would have told his friend to f* off, so he would never have indeed got all lessons to become rich. But then we would not have the point of the history....
I received a copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
The main character (Noah) clearly seems to remember his friend Tom (the beekeeper) ONLY when he needs help. At one point the guys spends 5 years apart and they are all ‘no resentments’ when one comes again only driven by interest in lessons. I don't remember any passage where the main guy asks wise Tom how he was doing...Yeah, I know that is not the main point of the book, but authors should include a bit of reality no? I know Tom likes to teach but would not he be judging Noah's interest?
I think Tom at some point would have told his friend to f* off, so he would never have indeed got all lessons to become rich. But then we would not have the point of the history....
I received a copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2019
The Honeybee is an excellent book if you are filling stuck and looking for ways to get out of a mundane routine and improve your life in every way. Also, this book will show you to stick with what you know. This book will show if you stay the course and follow the principles outlined in this impactful book! Thank you Jake and Gino!
December 20, 2019
This is a story about finding inspiration and revenue streams beyond a day-to-day job working for someone else. The protagonist is a burned out salesperson who gets on a path to financial independence for his family with the friendship and mentorship of a beekeeper.
It's an uplifting story for those looking to build their own business and success.
It's an uplifting story for those looking to build their own business and success.
January 17, 2020
The Honey Bee is a financial parable about developing multiple streams of income to grow income and financial stability. The contributors have made their livings from properties so the streams talked about in the book are focused on buying and using real estate to advance fortunes; it is a good starting point but felt one sided because of this.
May 5, 2020
This book should be put in highschools for the junior and seniors to read to explain a way to succeed in life's stages. Excellent advice about multiple streams of revenue. Also helps you realize you are going to make mistakes but you need to take them as a learning experience and use this knowledge to propel you forward.
February 12, 2020
I got this book free in a giveaway, and i read it in two sittings. The story was fun and interesting, designed to be something of a parable of how to get your side-hustle off the ground and stay that way. It was a bet repetitive, but overall a good, fun, easy read. I'm not sure how i'll use the information, but it's good information to have and something that i'll think about as i go!
November 20, 2019
Wonderfully written book that gives you valuable life lessons via a very intriguing story! Highly recommend reading!
July 7, 2020
This is a fictional story meant to teach readers financial lessons about being independently wealthy. Noah is constantly screwed over by his dead end job and gets a flat tire in the middle of nowhere during a thunderstorm. A man named Tom picks him up in a run-down pickup truck and takes him back to his estate. What follows is a series of lessons Tom gives Noah about how he can finally tell his boss to take that job and shove it.
There is some useful information in here. And the authors don't sugarcoat it. Achieving these kinds of results will take hard work and time. In fact, early on Noah and his wife try to take the easy way out only to have their TV stolen and their basement trashed.
Most of the advice follows logically from the step before that. My problem lies with the first step in finding a surplus, whether it be time, money or space. Some people do not have a surplus in any of those things. The book doesn't offer any advice on what to do in that type of situation. I mean, how does one go about monetizing surplus time? I've tried that by starting several endeavors, none of which have panned out. The book could have done a little better in that regard. Also, it focused too much on real estate. Maybe I want to build a different business empire. A few more examples would not have gone amiss.
All in all, it's a short read that won't take up too much of your time. There's probably a lot that can be applied once you make it past that first step. However, I fear too many people are going to be stuck on step one forever, unable to find a surplus of anything in today's trying times.
There is some useful information in here. And the authors don't sugarcoat it. Achieving these kinds of results will take hard work and time. In fact, early on Noah and his wife try to take the easy way out only to have their TV stolen and their basement trashed.
Most of the advice follows logically from the step before that. My problem lies with the first step in finding a surplus, whether it be time, money or space. Some people do not have a surplus in any of those things. The book doesn't offer any advice on what to do in that type of situation. I mean, how does one go about monetizing surplus time? I've tried that by starting several endeavors, none of which have panned out. The book could have done a little better in that regard. Also, it focused too much on real estate. Maybe I want to build a different business empire. A few more examples would not have gone amiss.
All in all, it's a short read that won't take up too much of your time. There's probably a lot that can be applied once you make it past that first step. However, I fear too many people are going to be stuck on step one forever, unable to find a surplus of anything in today's trying times.
April 29, 2020
This reminded me of reading The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, another great business book that uses storytelling to teach valuable lessons. I loved the character of Tom and wish I had a Tom in my life... not necessarily for business advice, but for a wise and gentle soul to remind me to stop and listen to the bees.
March 21, 2022
Nice, Quick, Motivational Pick Me Up
Nothing revolutionary here, particularly to those familiar with Rich Dad, Poor Dad - although I found this to be the better of the two. Considering it could be read in a matter of a couple hours, however, it serves as a nice bit of motivation, and is a better use of time versus mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds.
Nothing revolutionary here, particularly to those familiar with Rich Dad, Poor Dad - although I found this to be the better of the two. Considering it could be read in a matter of a couple hours, however, it serves as a nice bit of motivation, and is a better use of time versus mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds.
October 3, 2020
Excellent material. Great fable depiction that truly spreads light about finances but more about life. Wow I’m impressed by this book. Really eye opening with awesome nuggets of splendor. Wonderful read.
October 7, 2020
Great book published by a better company. The honeybee is a parable about building wealth utilizing multiple streams of income to accomplish your WHY. Why are you putting in the work for massive wealth? Be led by your why.
May 1, 2020
Great read
Good life and business lessons. A quick read similar to The Richest Man in Babylon. Great job Jake and Gino!
Good life and business lessons. A quick read similar to The Richest Man in Babylon. Great job Jake and Gino!
August 27, 2022
Easy reading but inspiring tale
March 29, 2020
Nice story, easy to read and process, relevant to most business owners.
March 15, 2020
Really interesting story that really gets you thinking about your financial future and getting unstuck now
January 29, 2020
Honey Bee is a relatively quick read, but chock full of valuable lessons. The basic concept - don't rely on one income stream. Diversification is so important - especially if you are in a job that does not motivate or inspire you. There are other options. My husband and I have recently been discussing rental property purchases and this was a perfect book to read - it was helpful to understand how many streams of income could come not just from rental property itself, but many different opportunities in that space (property management, insurance, etc). While this book mainly deals with real estate, the lessons can be taken across many other avenues of jobs and/or income-generating opportunities.
February 17, 2020
I was graciously given this book for review. I wanted to love this book, it's a solid book, but not as great as I was expecting. The business/financial advice is spot on and laid out very simply. It's supposed to be illustrated by an underlying parable. Honestly, I just couldn't get into the parable. I think it was an interesting concept but I just didn't feel it. Beautiful cover design.
January 23, 2020
Thanks to Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC! I apologize that I wasn't able to give feedback before the pub date. The business parable didn't caught my attention as much as I was expecting, but I'd like to give it another try in a different moment of my life. I can see this book has a important message, I'm just not *feeling* it now. And that's why I took so long to finish it. I tried for weeks, hoping that maybe my mood would change. :/
October 18, 2020
Given that authors have achieved the goal of financial freedom for themselves via a reliable, scalable multifamily investing model and allied multiple streams of income, the book is no less than a guiding light for those who are feeling stuck and want to break away from the misery of uncertainty and powerlessness. I can personally resonate with this story just like millions of people who wish to have a more meaningful life and follow their passions. A must-read indeed!
December 12, 2019
I read this book because I received it for free, but I thought it was a well done little advice book. Some of the time I did feel that they were trying to sell me something, but overall the authors were reasonable and pretty self-aware.
December 14, 2019
Great Storyline
Captivating story of a mentor and his student’s journey to finanacial freedom. Would recommend for those seeking financial independence through real estate and/or business. It also touches on your WHY!!! And how it’s always your driving force.
Captivating story of a mentor and his student’s journey to finanacial freedom. Would recommend for those seeking financial independence through real estate and/or business. It also touches on your WHY!!! And how it’s always your driving force.
January 1, 2020
This is an inspirational book about creating multiple streams of income. The book centers around Noah, who hates his day job and learns lessons from a beekeeper, and shows the ins and outs of being a businessperson. I received a copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
January 13, 2020
Dissatisfied with their jobs, the authors hoped for something better, but didn't know what to do. Multiple streams of income turned out to be the answer, and they share with you what you need to know through an entertaining story.
I received this book from Goodreads giveaways.
I received this book from Goodreads giveaways.
September 3, 2020
The Honey Bee is an interesting resource that lets the reader uncover business management advice in a literary way. Well written without a told you so approach, The Honey Bee offers proactive wisdom and can-do inspiration. #GoodreadsGiveaway.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews