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

The Spiral of Progress Proverbs 9:9

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” Proverbs 9:9

There are seasons when we feel stuck, even though we’re doing the work. We’re showing up, staying faithful, and giving our best, but the results we expect haven’t materialized yet. That’s when self-doubt creeps in. Slowly at first, then all at once. I’ve asked myself more than once, “What am I even doing?” And if I’m honest, I’ve sometimes questioned if my effort was making any difference. But that’s often the exact moment when God reminds me: what feels like going in circles is a quiet elevation. An upward spiral that happens to look like a loop from where I’m standing.

In the Curiosity Chronicle newsletter, writer Sahil Bloom quoted Hermann Hesse and wrote: “We are not going in circles, we are going upwards. The path is a spiral; we have already climbed many steps… The spiral appears to be a circle to the one standing on it. But zoom out, and you see the reality: each circle exists on a slightly higher plane than the last. Sahil then described the quiet evidence of progress—those minor signs of spiritual maturity:

1—You stop chasing the approval of others.

2—You set boundaries that once felt impossible.

3—You stop complaining and start taking ownership.

4—You cringe (in a good way) at who you were six months ago.

5—You lean into the discomfort of being a beginner again.

In that moment, it clicked: I’m not stuck. I’ve grown.

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still…” Proverbs 9:9

This verse reminds us that growth is often a subtle process. The wise aren’t satisfied with maintaining—they keep learning, keep humbling themselves, keep climbing.

Progress in the Kingdom doesn’t always feel like progress. We serve. We give. We obey. And sometimes we wonder if it’s making a difference. But faithfulness is never wasted. It’s just that elevation happens quietly, like a seed growing beneath the surface.

Romans 12:2 speaks to this when it calls us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The world says success is about what others can see. But we know the more profound truth: what God sees is far more critical. And when we renew our minds with His Word, we start seeing the spiral for what it is—evidence of movement, not repetition.

You’re not chasing your tail. You’re building something. You’re not going in circles. You’re rising.

Customer Success Code

“What looks like a loop is often the spiral of obedience—and it’s raising you one step at a time.”

Action Points:

1—Zoom Out: Reflect on the last 6–12 months. What subtle signs reveal you’ve grown?

2—Name Your Spiral: Identify an area of life where you feel stuck. Ask God to reframe it as a growth-in-motion experience.

3—Encourage Someone Else: Send a word of encouragement to a friend who may feel like they’re spinning their wheels. Remind them they’re ascending.

4—Recommit to the Process: Choose one habit you’ve been tempted to quit. Keep going—progress is still happening.

5—Pray for Fresh Perspective: Ask God to help you recognize and celebrate the quiet gains in your life today

Let’s be frank—there’s a whole lot of slick talk in the marketplace. We’ve all seen it. People who look the part, say the right things, even “wink and nod” their way through transactions. But behind the scenes? Fingers crossed. Corners cut. Truth twisted. Their success is smoke and mirrors, and Proverbs 6 tells us exactly where that path leads: catastrophe. We live in a culture that often praises quantity over quality. More followers. More clients. More transactions, or what some call deals. But “more” without substance quickly turns into a mess. Just ask the riffraff and rascals mentioned in Proverbs. Their feet shuffle, their mouths flatter, but their actions stir up chaos. And when the dust settles, their legacy isn’t one of success, it’s ruin. Hit play and let's begin.

My son, if you listen closely to my wisdom and good sense, you will have sound judgment…” Proverbs 5:1-2(CEV)

🔠 THE COMMITMENT ACROSTIC

C — Commit to the Lord – Psalm 143:10

O — One day at a time – Philippians 1:6

M — Make time to renew – Psalm 51:7–11

M — Make a list of actions – Luke 6:31

I — Integrity – Hebrews 1:9; Proverbs 10:9

T — Trust in the Lord – Proverbs 3:5–8

M — Morals – 2 Timothy 2:15–16

E — Ease the pain through confession – Psalm 32:1–5

N — New life in Christ – 2 Corinthians 5:16–20

T — Turn over your flaws to God – James 4:7–10

That’s what real, marketplace commitment looks like. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being honest, faithful, and fully surrendered.

CUSTOMER SUCCESS CODE: Commitment isn’t proven by what you say—it’s revealed by what you consistently prioritize.

“The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday. But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they don’t know what makes them stumble.’--Proverbs 4:18-19 CSB

Feeling thirsty for direction? Maybe you’ve been standing in fresh water the whole time…

This episode unpacks Proverbs 4 and a powerful story about being surrounded by God’s wisdom but still thirsting for clarity. Don’t settle for shiny objects or temporary fixes. Let’s dip our buckets and drink deeply from the Word that never runs dry.

🎯 Customer Success Code:

Don’t chase the next shiny object—drink deeply from the stream that never runs dry.

Do you remember a time when someone corrected you… And you knew they were right? Not in a shaming way, but in a way that shaped you?

Today’s passage is about correction—but not the kind that humiliates. It’s the kind that helps us grow. Today, it's Proverbs 3:11-12 because it’s the 3rd day of the month.

Proverbs 3:11-12

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, As a father, the son he delights in.”—Proverbs 3:11–12 (NIV)

That’s strong. And it’s loving.

God disciplines us because He delights in us.

This reminds me of a story my co-author and dear friend Jon Kluiter once shared with me. He wrote about in chapter 3 of Marketplace Proverbs, Vol. 1, A Sales Navigator’s Compass to Customer Success Mastery.

Have you ever been caught in a loop of negative thoughts—those digital whispers saying, “You’re behind. You blew it. Will you never catch up? Zig Ziglar called it “Stinking Thinking." But what if we flipped the script and started each day with righteous thinking? Proverbs 2:6-8 reminds us that God gives wisdom freely—He’s the source of common sense and safeguards those who live honestly. That’s not corporate language; that’s Kingdom language. I met Zig Ziglar in the '80s—an honest Christian voice in business who said, "You need a check-up from the neck up.” Your mindset shapes your outcome; negative thoughts poison attitudes and cloud clarity.

The most powerful prayer in the Bible in Proverbs 30

In the marketplace, power is often measured by titles, margins, and authority. But it’s a totally different concept in God’s economy.

Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less. Influence. In today’s episode, I share the power Barnabas had through his impact on early church leaders, particularly Paul.

When people are esteemed, relationships are redeemed.