Marketplace Proverbs and Coffee with Ernie

🎙️ Episode Title: Discretion Will Protect You 📖 Proverbs 2:11 “Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. ” What do a business deal and a spiritual checklist have in common? In today’s episode, I share a powerful story from my former co-author Jon Kluiter about how chasing short-term wins—without discretion—can actually work against you. It’s a lesson that applies in the board...

📖 Proverbs 1:5 (AMP)“The wise will hear and increase their learning, and the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” Most KPIs measure activity. But what if the real measure of influence is how well you serve? Today’s episode examines the distinction between pursuing transactions and cultivating relationships founded on wisdom, humility, and lasting value. I share the turning point in...

In sales, marketing, and leadership, it’s tempting to “add a little extra” to make our message stronger. But when it comes to God’s Word, adding, twisting, or trimming it to fit our agenda doesn’t strengthen it—it weakens us. “ Everything God says is true— and it’s a shield for all who come to him for safety. Don’t change what God has said! He will correct you and show that you are a liar.” – Prov...

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” — Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) POWER – A Blueprint for Godly Leadership P – Pray First “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” — James 5:16 Before a meeting, negotiation, or decision—pause and pray. Prayer doesn’t slow momentum; it sets direction. O – Obey God’s Word “Be doers of the word, and not he...

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” — Proverbs 28:1 NKJV “Wicked people run away when no one chases them, but those who live right are as brave as lions.” — Proverbs 28:1 CEV Customer Success Code: "Bold leadership isn’t about ego—it’s about Gospel-centered confidence that serves others with integrity and love." 🎙️ Join me at the table for some coffee, Scri...

“Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool… Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” — Proverbs 26:1, 12 (ESV ) We’ve all worked with difficult people—but Proverbs 26 reminds us that foolishness isn’t just “out there.” Sometimes it’s in us when we resist correction. In today’s episode, I share lessons from my own le...

Have you ever been tempted to chase down a competitor after losing a sale? Today’s episode offers a better way—one rooted in wisdom, stewardship, and grace. Learn the powerful metaphor of a snakebite and a tourniquet—and how it applies to your business relationships. We’ll discuss what Proverbs 25:21-22 says about how to treat “enemies” in the marketplace—and why generosity and integrity always be...

“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 Have you ever done business with someone who looked perfect on paper—yet gave you an uneasy feeling deep down? In today’s episode, I share a real story from my co-author Jon Kluiter about navigating a rocky business relationship, learning to trust your...

“Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.” — Proverbs 23:9 ESV You can have the best seed, the best tools, and the best intentions—but if the soil isn’t ready, nothing will grow. In business and in life, discernment saves you from wasting energy where it can’t produce a return. In this episode, Ernie shares how to discern when to plant, when to move...

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22:6 (MSG) Would the people you lead today still be living out your example 10 years from now? That’s the power of training up a child in the way they should go—and it applies far beyond parenting. In this episode of Marketplace Proverbs and Coffee with Ernie, we delve into how leadership, characte...

Today’s episode pays tribute to some special people who lost their lives in the last 30 days. They lost their lives because they were good people who served others. “The Lord despises the offerings of wicked people with evil motives. If you tell lies in court, you are done for; only a reliable witness can do the job. Wicked people bluff their way, but God's people think before they take a step. No...

Proverbs 19:20 reminds us that listening to wise counsel—especially when it’s uncomfortable—is the path to long-term wisdom and legacy. In today’s Marketplace Proverbs and Coffee with Ernie™, I share why it’s vital to glean up, reach across, and teach down—and how my worst decisions came when I listened only to the “trinity of me, myself, and I.” This episode is for anyone who wants to grow their...

Ever answer too quickly and realize you never fully heard the question? We’ve all been there. “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.”—Proverbs 18:13 (ESV) Today’s podcast reminds us why listening before reacting is one of the most overlooked KPI indicators in marketplace leadership. I’ll share: • What happens when we lead with ego instead of humility • A powerful lesso...

“He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.” —Proverbs 17:21 (NKJV) Or as The Message puts it: “Having a fool for a child is misery; it’s no fun being the parent of a dolt.”-- Proverbs 17:21 MSG Not every customer is worth the chase. Proverbs 17:21 reminds us that raising up fools—whether children or customers—leads to sorrow. In today’s episode, we discuss...

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 Today’s episode comes from Marketpla...

Today’s verse is Proverbs 15:30 (NIV) : “Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.” Today’s Marketplace Proverb reminds us that “light in the eyes brings joy to the heart.” Whether it’s a kind word, a handwritten note, or simply using someone’s name,your gratitude speaks louder than your brand. Your actions are your billboard. 🎯 Customer Success...

“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.”--Proverbs 14:2 9 One moment of unchecked anger can damage a lifetime of leadership credibility. In today’s episode, we reflect on a real-life story of public confrontation, personal humility, and the long-lasting lessons learned about restraint, respect, and responsibility. 🎯 Customer Success Code...

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18 (NIV) Today’s Marketplace Proverb reminds us that reckless words pierce like swords, but wise speech brings restoration. Whether leading a team or caring for family, your words create ripple effects. So let’s pause, plant carefully, and speak life into others today. 🎯 Customer Success Code: Wo...

September 11 | Proverbs 11:17–18 (NIV) “ Those who are kind benefit themselves but the cruel bring ruin on themselves. A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.” This is a passage about legacy—about what lasts and what doesn’t. What kind of ripples are your actions creating? Today, we unpack the connection between kindness, integrity, and long-t...

oday, we discuss the Disappearing Act — Why Accountability Protects Your Team’s Culture. “He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.”—Proverbs 10:5 NIV Today’s lesson comes from a story my friend Jon used to tell, but it’s so relatable that I’ve adopted it as my own teaching example for leadership. It’s one of those stories that starts w...

“Everyone ignorant or foolish is invited… give up your foolishness and let understanding guide your steps.”—📖 Proverbs 9:1–6 Wisdom isn’t reserved for the elite—it’s a feast prepared for anyone hungry enough to ask. In today’s episode, we explore the difference between textbook decisions and Spirit-led wisdom. I share how God has recalibrated my leadership over the years—from cold, calculated mov...

“Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads, she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, At the entrance of the portals, she cries aloud: ‘To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to the children of man…’”—Proverbs 8:1–4 ESV Today’s episode invites you to hear that call and respond—not with a big platform, but with...

“ With persuasive words, she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once, he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter…”Proverbs 7:21-23 Proverbs 7 warns us about seduction, but not just in the physical sense. Today, we explore how promiscuous business practices—discounts, shortcuts, and rogue customers—can destroy credibility and loyalty faster than you think. 🎯 Custom...

Credibility takes years to build—and only seconds to damage. Solomon’s warning in Proverbs 5 isn’t just about adultery—it’s about all forms of moral compromise that derail our witness, our leadership, and our influence. 🎯 Customer Success Code: A moment of moral failure can ruin a lifetime of credibility—protect your heart as if your legacy depends on it… because it does. 📨 Email: ernie@ernie.co...

“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...