Marketplace Proverbs and Coffee with Ernie

In the marketplace, trophies come in many forms—sales awards, promotions, titles, plaques on the wall, followers online, even the quiet applause of being noticed. None of those things is inherently wrong. But Proverbs 10 forces us to ask a deeper question: What happens when the trophies we chase become the things that define us? Some trophies collect dust. Some trophies inflate ego. And some troph...

Have you ever noticed that life is constantly asking one question: What will you ignore, and what will you focus on? Every day, hundreds of voices compete for our attention—news alerts, social media, worries, opportunities, distractions, even our own internal chatter. But here’s something I’ve learned the hard way: what we ignore doesn’t always go away… and what we focus on tends to grow. Think on...

In a business environment fixated on image and corporate hype, it might seem that the loudest voice prevails. We often believe we must showcase our accomplishments constantly to remain relevant. However, authentic importance in the marketplace isn’t about seeking the spotlight. Today we explore why true trust is founded on listening, restraint, and effective action—and why a leader guided by highe...

In my corporate days, I actively relied on key performance indicators to monitor sales, margins, and pipeline health. We all know that waiting for a major operation to blow up before looking at the data is a quick route to trouble. But when was the last time you checked your internal dashboard? Long before a major meltdown occurs, your inner gauges are signaling a leak. Today on Coffee with Ernie,...

Have you ever heard someone say, maybe jokingly, maybe not, “Don’t waste your time on riffraff”? In business, that usually means don’t spend too much time on people who aren’t influential, wealthy, strategic, or capable of moving the revenue needle. In plain English: chase the big dollar and ignore the nickels. But here’s a question for our coffee together today. What if one of the clearest warnin...

Solomon writes of safety, peace, and restful sleep. Jesus says: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” — Matthew 10:16 ESV That sounds anything but safe. Sheep are not intimidating animals. They are vulnerable, dependent, and easily harmed. Wolves, on the other hand, are predators. They stalk, isolate, and attack weakness. Yet Jesus sends His followers out anyway. That ten...

What if the most sought-after letters after a person’s name weren’t MD, MA, MBA, or PhD? What if they were simply: DM. Disciple Maker. We live in a culture that highly values credentials, certifications, titles, and accomplishments. There’s nothing inherently wrong with education or professional achievement. I’ve spent nearly sixty years in the marketplace surrounded by highly talented, highly cre...

Jon Kluiter, my friend and co-author of Marketplace Proverbs Vol. 1 and 2, joins me today to discuss the classic movie Glengarry Glen Ross. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

I bet you know people who are nearly impossible to replace. They may not be the loudest. or have the fanciest title. They may not even earn the highest salary. Yet when they leave an organization or team, everyone feels the difference. Why? Because, from my perspective, some people consistently bring more value and add significance than what is merely required. They do more than expected, and they...

Have you ever noticed that two people—or two organizations—can experience the exact same event and end up with completely different outcomes? Same challenge. Same pressure. Same disruption. Different outcome. Why? Because events alone rarely determine outcomes. Response matters. Today, we will unpack Dr. Robert Resnick’s formula, E + R = O, popularized by Jack Canfield and Kent Julian. “Stupid peo...

Have you noticed how success can quietly change us? Not always dramatically. Not overnight, it’s usually gradual. A promotion here. Recognition there. A bigger title. A larger office. More influence. More people are listening and agreeing. If we’re not careful, something subtle begins to happen. We started serving the mission, then somewhere along the way, we began expecting the mission to serve u...

The things causing the greatest damage in our lives are not always the obvious big things. Rarely does a vineyard fail because of one dramatic catastrophe. More often, damage begins quietly. Subtly, incrementally, one small intrusion at a time, a little neglect, a little compromise, a little resentment, a little cynicism, a little offense, a little drift. Before long, something once healthy and fr...

Does life rarely ask permission before disrupting your plans? Storms don’t check our calendars. Setbacks don’t schedule appointments. Problems rarely arrive at convenient times. Sometimes life knocks us down without warning. The real question is not whether we will face setbacks. The real question is: What happens after we fall? “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again…”— Prover...

Why do people often form an impression of us before we say a single word? Before the presentation begins, before the sales pitch, before the meeting starts, or before we even introduce ourselves. I believe something is already being communicated. Our presence speaks, our posture speaks, our facial expressions speak, and our tone speaks. Long before customers fully evaluate our words, they are ofte...

The Lion in the Street Have you ever convinced yourself not to do something you knew was good for you? It’s not because it was impossible, dangerous, or because God told you not to. Sometimes, your mind just finds a very convincing reason. Over the years, I’ve learned that my mind is incredibly good at coming up with reasons to justify what my heart already desires. This insightful point is exactl...

We’ve all been there, believing that happiness is just one more achievement away. One more promotion, one more customer, one more sales award, and the grand vacation. We chase the “next big thing,” and after a brief moment of excitement, we discover something surprising. We feel remarkably similar to how we felt before. Why? Because sometimes the problem isn’t what we’re pursuing. It’s what we’re...

Today I want to talk about the “F” word. No, not the one you hear on social media, cable television, or some podcasts. I’m talking about another “F” word. A word that’s become so common, most of us don’t even notice it anymore. In fact, I hear it almost every day. I’ll ask someone how they’re doing, and they’ll respond: “Fine.” Just fine. Not grateful. Not hopeful. Not excited. Not growing. Just…...

Have you ever noticed that some of the most valuable moments in business never show up on a spreadsheet? You can’t measure them with a KPI. They don’t appear on a sales report. And they certainly don’t fit neatly into a CRM field. I’m talking about the conversations in the hallway. The coffee is shared between meetings. The laughter at a trade show dinner. The relationship strengthened during a lo...

Success doesn’t come from big, bold moments. It comes from the choices we already made before the moment arrived. Pre-deciding aligns us with wisdom, while waiting too long leaves room for compromise. Today, our focus is Proverbs 16:3 because it’s the 16th day of the month. “Commit your activities to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”— Proverbs 16:3 This verse reminds us of a simple bu...

Ron Price, conflict resolution coach and long time friend joins us for an interesting conversation on guarding our hearts and minds. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit marketplaceproverbs.substack.com

Your Workplace Is a Sanctuary Today, I want to challenge the way you think about your workplace. What if your office, sales territory, classroom, delivery truck, retail shop, coffee shop, or even your car pool became a sanctuary? Not a church building. Not a religious performance. But a place where people experience peace, dignity, encouragement, patience, and the love of Christ through the way yo...

Who’s speaking into your life right now? Whether we realize it or not, we’re all being influenced. Over the years, I’ve learned this the hard way: not every voice deserves a vote in your decisions. Some people sharpen us, others slowly pull us off course. Proverbs tells us there’s safety in a multitude of counselors—but that only works if you choose the right ones. Today, we’re talking about build...

Today, I share a lesson I learned while taking a walk. Not from a sermon, podcast, or book. But from a piece of concrete. On a recent walk, I noticed two sections of sidewalk. One section was relatively new. The other had clearly been there much longer. Both were strong. Both were made from the same ingredients. Both contained sand, cement, and reinforcing steel beneath the surface. Yet one sectio...

Today I want to talk about something I’ve learned the hard way over many years in the marketplace and in life itself. What we repeatedly ignore in the near term often ignores us in the long term. And what we consistently focus on in the near term usually begins shaping our future in ways we never expected. Health works that way. Relationships work that way. Leadership works that way. And marketpla...

Today, I want to talk about something I’ve learned after nearly six decades in the marketplace: Gospel-Centric Customer Success Mastery™ has very little to do with flashy jewelry, expensive suits, luxury watches, or trying to become the loudest person in the room. In fact, some of the most trusted relationship builders I’ve ever met were often the calmest people in the room. The best listeners. Th...