Marketplace Proverbs and Coffee with Ernie-A Proverb Per Day Keeps Stinking Thinking At Bay

Who’s in your circle right now… and do they bring clarity—or confusion? Proverbs 6 doesn’t sugarcoat it. It talks about people who say one thing… and mean another. Smiling in front of you… while crossing their fingers behind their back. In the marketplace, that’s dangerous. Because success isn’t built on the number of relationships—it’s built on the right relationships.

Today, we’re talking about why quality always beats quantity…and how one wrong relationship can quietly sabotage everything you’re trying to build.

“Riffraff and rascals talk out of both sides of their mouths. They wink at each other, they shuffle their feet, they cross their fingers behind their backs. Their perverse minds are always cooking up something nasty, always stirring up trouble. Catastrophe is just around the corner for them, a total smash-up, their lives ruined beyond repair.” Proverbs 6:12-15 MSG

Have you ever stood in front of something that looked final…and later realized—it wasn’t the end at all? Sometimes… we misread the moment. And that’s exactly what Good Friday reminds us.

I share a powerful message by S. M. Lockridge… “It’s Friday… but Sunday’s coming.”

That space between Friday and Sunday… That’s where a lot of us live.

“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.”—Proverbs 3:25–26 (NIV)

Think about what Good Friday looked like in real time. It looked like a sudden disaster. It looked final. It looked like everything had fallen apart. The disciples didn’t see a plan. They saw an ending. Possibly Proverbs 3:25-26 gives us a different perspective: Don’t fear what looks final… when God is still present. Because we can stand in front of something that looks finished… and still misunderstand what God has already done.

Today I am reading from chapter 2 from Marketplace Proverbs Vol 2, Micro to Macro: The Ripple Effect of Influence. By myself and co-author Jon Kluiter.

“Follow the example of good people and live an honest life. If you are honest and innocent, you will keep your land; if you do wrong and can never be trusted, you will be rooted out.”—Proverbs 2:20-22 MSG

Jim Rohn, a renowned speaker and trainer, famously said: “We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.”

His observation aligns closely with the wisdom of Proverbs 2:20-22. The company we keep and the voices we listen to profoundly influence us, shaping our actions, character, and direction.

Take a moment to reflect: Who are the five people you spend the most time with? Most of us have multiple “sets of five”—family, friends, Church, Social, and business colleagues. Whether we realize it or not, we tend to mirror these groups’ values, attitudes, and behaviors.

The same holds for the material we consume—the books we read, the podcasts we listen to, and the videos we watch.

Have you ever reacted too quickly… and paid for it later? Proverbs 1 gives us a powerful leadership principle for today’s chaotic culture: “Hold back your foot.”

In a world that rewards speed, pressure, and quick wins… wisdom calls us to something different:

* Slow down

* Listen first

* Choose peace over pressure

Because “running to evil” in today’s marketplace doesn’t look like crime…

It looks like:

* Rushing deals at any cost

* Overpromising to close, Reacting instead of responding

The peacemaker chooses a better way. And the result? Security. Clarity.

And the kind of trust that builds lasting relationships.

Customer Success Code™: Peacemakers don’t run to strife; they hold back their foot and let wisdom lead.

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Today, my friend Ron Price says there are no Proverbs 31 Women from the mindset of our current culture. Listen in as Ron explains himself.

In sales, marketing, and leadership, it’s tempting to “add a little extra” to strengthen our message. But when it comes to God’s Word, adding, twisting, or trimming it to fit our agenda doesn’t strengthen it—it weakens us. Today, our focus is Proverbs 30:5-6 because it’s the 30th day of the month.

Proverbs 27-17: Iron Sharpens Iron. Today, Brent Marriott, a seasoned executive in the wireless telephone industry, warmly shares how his own 'iron' was sharpened and the ways he happily helps sharpen others.

The Most Dangerous Competitor You’ll Ever Face Isn’t Human

In sales, leadership, and the marketplace, we often think our biggest competition is the company two aisles over at the trade show. But for many of us, the real enemy is the status quo—and its parent, the comfort zone monster.

In the marketplace, have you ever felt the pressure to promote yourself… to prove your value… to make sure people notice your accomplishments?

Proverbs 25 gives us a surprising piece of wisdom: “Don’t boast about yourself before the king… it is better for him to say, ‘Come up here,’ than to demote you in front of others.”

In other words, wisdom doesn’t chase recognition. It earns it.

Have you ever done business with someone who looked perfect on paper… but deep down, something just didn’t feel right? Today, our focus is Proverbs 24:1 because it’s the 24th day of the month.

“Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company, for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.” — Proverbs 24:1 NIV.

I share an experience that my friend and co-author, Jon Kluiter, had—one that taught us both what we now call gut-check wisdom.