There’s a Dahlia garden in a park near my home in Seattle.

It’s a small but pretty serious garden - officially designated by the city, funded and tended to by the “Puget Sound Dahlia Association”, etc.

In late summer, people come from all over the city to gawk at the bright flowers in long-awaited bloom.

Hot pink ones. Orange ones. Deep dark crimsons.

The colors are intense, and we humans stand there captivated by their beauty.

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But how easy is it to forget that these flowers aren’t shining their brightest colors for us.

Rather, the intense color show is to attract bees.

(The flowers’ primary audience.)

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So that their pollen is spread.

So that they can carry on another season.

(The flowers’ primary mission.)

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Any benefit humans get out of the bloom is secondary.

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As consultants, we’re in a business that requires self-promotion.

Perhaps even celebrates showboating.

Publicly flaunting insights, accomplishments and selfies seems to be part of the game.

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But it’s worth stopping and asking: are we vying for attention from the right people?

Are we speaking to our peers and friends, or those we can truly help?

Are we seeking fame and notoriety, or helpfulness and value.

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Are we focused on the humans when we should really be focused on the bees?

💡

-Wes