S31:E12🎙️ LIVE AWLL From Proverbs — Chapter 12

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Hello friend, welcome to this very special edition of Leadership and Success Podcast. We are going through the Book of Proverbs, not for religious study but for ancient wisdom, being mentored from the Book of Proverbs. So it's ancient wisdom and leadership lesson from the Book of Proverbs, and today January 12th, we are going to study Proverbs chapter 12. Before we do, let's do our moment of gratitude. It takes less than a minute. This is where we take the time to just be grateful. We want to be grateful every single day. So what we do as a custom, maybe close your eyes, put yourself in your happy place, take a deep breath. Slow down your nervous system and put yourself in that place of gratitude. What are you grateful for right now? And I think today I am grateful again. I, I just can't believe it is 2026. It just looks like, uh, the years are passing so quickly. Looks like it was just 2025 yesterday and 2024 the day before. Uh, I am just grateful to still be alive in 2026. I just can't get over it. It's 2026 and I am still here and there is still hope for me. So let us know what you are grateful for. I am just grateful to be alive today and living in America, which I still believe is the land of the free and the home of the brave. What a blessing it is. So let me know in the comments and also let us know where you are joining us from, what city. What state, and if outside of the US, which country, and what you're grateful for. And also if you have any insight on the book of Proverbs chapter 12 for today. All right, so we're gonna start with a review. I'm gonna ask Ron Carpenter AI, who I interviewed during season 4, episode 15, I believe last year. So we're going to ask Ron Carpenter AI to give us a summary from Proverbs chapter 1 through chapter 11.

Hi, this is Pastor Ron Carpenter. How can I help? All right, listen closely. Proverbs chapter 1 is all about the beginning of wisdom, and that start is the fear of the Lord. It's about getting wisdom, getting instruction, spirit of wisdom and revelation so you can see life clearly and make choices that don't mess you up. The whole thing points to the fact that wisdom isn't just a heart posture, a way of living that sets you apart. That's the big idea right there. Chapter 2 picks up from that foundation in Chapter 1 and digs into why wisdom is like your best friend, your protector. It shows how wisdom saves you from the fools and the— you see, it's about hearing God's voice early before trouble hits so you can live long, peaceful days. The fear of the Lord keeps you safe and gives you the wisdom to avoid all kinds of foolishness. That's the big deal there. All right, chapter 3 is like wisdom's personal invitation. It tells us to trust the Lord with all our heart and not our own understanding. Come on, that's powerful. When you do that, he'll make your path straight, guiding you through life with success and peace. It's about leaning in, not just in God's favor daily. That's a dang good life lesson right there. All right, chapter 4 is like the pep talk from your wise, loving dad telling you to grab hold of wisdom and never forget about guarding your heart, because everything you do flows from it, and you got to stay clear of folly that leads to destruction. It's a strong— and companion and your priority, period. That's the heart of it. All right, Chapter 5 is a warning about the dangers of temptation, especially the seductive traps that can wreck your life and your future. It's got rules about staying faithful and wise, not falling for foolish shortcuts or lies that seem sweet and bitter. The message is, keep your eyes locked on what's righteous and don't let yourself get fooled. That's the big point right there. All right, Proverbs Chapter 6 is packed with tough love. It warns about foolish promises, laziness, and how God hates those who— among brothers. But the star of the show is that little ant, man. That ant shows us what diligence and foresight look like— working steady and preparing ahead. That's the kind of wisdom God wants us to get— practical, real, and hard-earned. All right, Chapter 7 is like this desperate shout from wisdom, warning you about getting caught up in temptation, especially that sneaky kind that looks good but wrecks Wisdom screaming for you to wake up, guard your heart, and choose the right way before it's too late. That's the big idea right there. Third is wisdom personified, like a woman calling out in the streets, inviting folks to live life the right way. It's about how wisdom was with God before creation, showing— wisdom is divine order and foundation for everything. The big idea: listen to wisdom's call, and you'll walk in safety and honor. Chapter 9's like a knockin' on the door, y'all. It's calling us to come on in, choose life, and leave the life of fools behind. Wisdom promises us blessings and safety if we listen. It's an invitation, plain and simple. Alright now, Chapter 10 is like a packed toolbox of wisdom. Short, punchy sayin's like, "Wise choices make life better, and foolish ones mess it up." It covers everything from how your words can heal or hurt, to hard work versus lazi— honesty and integrity. Bottom line, every choice matters, and your life reflects what you plant with your decisions. Chapter 11 is all about the contrast between righteousness and wickedness showing up in blessings and consequences. It's like a mirror. You can see how being honest and— while deceit and pride lead to trouble. That's the heart of it.

Alright, so that's a review from Proverbs chapter 1 through chapter 11, which is what we studied yesterday. Again, you can find all of those episodes if you've missed any on any one of your favorite podcast platforms, from Apple Podcasts to Spotify or whatever you listen to, your favorite, and also on LinkedIn and YouTube. All right, so today, uh, we are going to start with Chapter 12. Before I do, let me review very quickly the 7 lessons we talked about yesterday from Chapter 11. Lesson number 1 yesterday, we talked about, uh, sorry, from Chapter 11. Okay, our first lesson yesterday was integrity is the leader's measuring stick. That was first one. Proverbs 11:1. So integrity is not situational, it is foundational. So leaders are constantly weighed by how fairly they make decisions, allocate resources, and treat people. So small ethical shortcuts will eventually distort the entire system. So that was lesson number 1, integrity is the leader's measuring stick. And then lesson number 2 was pride is a silent leadership killer. That was verse 2. So pride will isolate leaders from feedback and blind them to risk. Humility, by contrast, invites learning, correction, and growth. So again, pride is a silent leadership killer. Lesson number 3: Character will sustain leaders under pressure. That's verse 3. So when circumstances are complex, character becomes the compass. And leaders without integrity rely on tactics. Leaders with integrity rely instead on principle. So that was verse 3. And then leadership lesson 4 we started yesterday was influence is proven by impact, not by position, verses 10 and 11. So healthy leadership produces collective benefit. Organization and community thrive when leaders prioritize the common good. And Lesson 5 yesterday was: Wisdom knows when to speak and when not to speak. Verses 12 and 13: Loose words destroy trust faster than poor strategy. So discretion is a leadership skill that protects relationships and your reputation. All right, Lesson 6 yesterday was: Counsel is a force multiplier. Verse 14: Isolation is dangerous at every level of leadership, whereas wise leaders surround themselves with diverse, courageous advisors. And finally, lesson 7 yesterday for Proverbs chapter 11 was Legacy is the Final Leadership Scorecard, verses 24, 25, and 30. And we talked about leaders who give time, credit, opportunity, they create enduring influence. Legacy is formed by what continues to grow after you move on. All right, so today we're going to start Proverbs chapter 12. All right, so for Proverbs chapter 12, the big idea is this chapter reveals that leadership is not primarily about position or charisma, but about character consistently expressed through choices. There is a book I recommend, I should have it here, The Five Levels of Leadership by John Maxwell. This one, The Five Levels of Leadership, it shows that there are five levels of leadership and the lowest level of leadership is positional leadership. That's level one. It's a great place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there. That's because people are going to follow you just because of your position, because you are their boss, but that's really not where you want to lead from. Okay, so the chapter contrasts the outcome of wisdom and folly, integrity and deceit, diligence and laziness. I really love the contrast in this chapter. So it shows that leadership credibility is built or broken over time through everyday behavior. So leaders are shaped not by what they claim to value but by what they actually do, what they practice when no one is watching. So that's a big idea for chapter 12. All right, so the theme, that's about character, which reveals leadership before authority ever does. All right, so we're going to start with verse 1, our first lesson: correction is a leadership gift. All right, let's go to that. Correction is a leadership gift.

Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

Those who hate corrections are stupid. That's pretty plain, isn't it? So as a leader, you really have to learn to love Learning. And if you love learning, you must also love correction because you are not always right and you don't have all of the answers. So you have to be open for feedback, even from people who don't like you, because even in all of the dirt that they pour into you, there might be some gold, and you need to seek for the gold, wise counsel, anything that's going to help you be better, lead better, and be more effective. So growth requires humility, the willingness to be coached, to be challenged and refined. That is so important. All right, so how do we apply that? So you have to create an environment where feedback is welcome and feedback is not punished. People need to feel that psychological safety where they can come to you confidently and tell you what they think, even though it's something you may not want to hear. And they need to feel like there will be no negative reprisal, right? You are not going to punish them for telling you the truth or what they think or believe. As a leader, you really have to have that group of people that you empower to tell you exactly how things are going. No sugarcoating it. They will tell you the truth, nothing but the truth, and you will just sit down and listen and consider it. Again, as a leader, you don't have to do everything people tell you, but you do have to consider what they say. And if there is a golden nugget in what they say, then you get the golden nugget. And if there is any dirt, you get rid of the dirt. But you do have to listen and consider what your people tell you. So feedback has to be welcome. And then you have to reward teachability. People have to be coachable and teachable. So how do you respond when you are corrected? I know it's human not to really like correction, but if you're going to be a great leader, I believe you need to learn how to embrace correction because that's going to save you a lot of time and make you wiser and make you a more effective leader. And who has permission to challenge your thinking? Who are the 2 or 3 people you go to when you have to make a very important decision and you need some feedback, who can challenge you. So correction doesn't diminish leadership, it deepens it. So that's the anchor reflection. All right, lesson number 2: character will outlive competence. As we've been talking a lot on this leadership podcast, it's true for the Navy, but it's true for the Army also. The 3 C's of leadership that they teach us is, you know, character, competence, and connection. And according to Proverbs chapter 2 and 3, character will outlive competence. So very important. So let's listen to that, verses 2 and 3.

A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions he will condemn. Man is not established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

The root of the righteous cannot be moved. Character will outlive competence. So skill may open doors, but character will keep those doors open. Wicked shortcuts undermine long-term stability. So how do we apply this? Evaluate decision not just by the outcome, but by ethics. Doing the right thing. So what anchors your leadership when pressure rises? And are your values visible in hard decisions? And I think your core values should definitely be visible when you are under pressure, under stress. That's really what reveals yourself and your organization. If you say our core values, diversity, or whatever your core values are, and then you are under pressure or the political winds in the countries are changing and all of a sudden, okay, diversity is no longer my core value. Well, that is not being a person or an organization of integrity. If that's who you are, that is who you are, and you have to live out your core values no matter what the pressure or the stress. That is character. Alright, so the anchor with reflection is strong roots will sustain leaders through storms, because the storms will come, but what will sustain you is your character. Alright, lesson number 3: Integrity is a strategic advantage, verses 5 and 6.

The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked are, lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

The mouth of the upright will deliver him or her. So righteous leaders plan with clarity and fairness. Deceit corrupts both strategy and trust. So how do we apply this? Build transparent decision-making processes. So do your plans reflect fairness for all stakeholders? I think I mentioned this before, some of the best commanding officers I've ever had in the Navy, they had very, very high standards, but they were fair. You knew exactly where they stood. This is the requirement, this is the standard, and that's what's expected. And if you meet or exceed the standard, you're gonna get rewarded, you're gonna get a wonderful fitness report or annual evaluation. But if you don't, then you know exactly where you stand when the time for fitness report or annual evaluation comes. Fairness, not treating people special, not treating other people better than others, but treating everybody equally. That is so important to be an effective leader, someone that your people can trust and really rely on your word. Where might Eden Agenda exist in your leadership journey right now. So the anchor reflection is that truthful counsel will protect both people and mission. Again, in the Navy, we learn, no, mission first, because you do have to accomplish the mission of your organization, of your command, but people always. Without your people, you cannot accomplish your mission. Take care of your people and your people will take care of the mission. So it's always a mission and the people. You have to take care of both. So truthful counsel will protect both your mission and your people. All right, lesson number 4: Quiet excellence will beat loud posturing. That's verse 9.

Better is the one who is slighted but has a servant than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

Mm. So true leadership value: substance over status. Humility paired with competence earns respect. So how do you apply this? Focus on delivering results before seeking recognition. So are you more focused on image or impact? Status or substance? How do you measure success? And I think the way you measure success will probably change throughout your journey. The way I measured success 5, 10, 15 years ago is not the same way I measure success today. In different phases of life, that might change. But you really need to be focused again on your impact and not just the image. So the anchor reflection is authentic leaders, they don't need applause to lead well. Whether or not somebody applauds you, it doesn't matter. You are going to lead and you are going to lead well, even when nobody is watching. All right, lesson number 5: Words shape culture. That's verse 18 and 19. Words shape culture.

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health. The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Truthful lip shall be established for Ever. So speech can wound or heal. Leaders set emotional and ethical tone through words. Sometimes it's not just what you say, but also how you say it, the tone you use. So how do you practice this? You have to practice disciplined communication, especially when you are under stress. So do your words build safety or fear? And how do you speak when stakes are high? Especially in the military, it's very important that the leaders, the commanding officer, be calm under pressure. When there's chaos everywhere, if you as a leader appear to be calm and really cool under pressure, then everybody who reports to you will have the same attitude. But if you are frazzled and you are emotionally unstable and all of that, then people are going to feel that fear, that anxiety as well. So do your words build safety or do they build fear? All right, the anchor reflection for this lesson is why speech becomes a refuge for others, for members of your team. So now let's go to lesson number 6, Diligence Will Earn Authority. Okay, we have somebody from, I guess, what's that thing called, from another platform like Twitch. They play games there. Punch the Monkey is saying hi. Most people usually don't really listen to what we are doing here, but I like to acknowledge them when they say hi. Okay, so let's read verses 11 and 24 about diligence and authority. Let me share my screen. Here we go, verse 11.

He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, but he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.

Okay, now let's go to 24.

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

The hand of the diligent will rule. Diligence earns authority. If you want to lead, you have to be diligent. If you want more respect, more authority within your organization, you have to be diligent. Consistent effort precedes influence. Lazy leadership will forfeit trust. So how do you apply this? Model work ethic and accountability. So where are you tempted to coast? And how does your effort inspire others? And I think one of the keys here when it comes to leadership is really being consistent, not just to please people, but because of who you are, because it's your character, it's your nature. It's your value. This way you keep doing this even when no people are present, even when nobody else is watching. Again, one thing I keep saying here that helped me a lot is I think about my grandmother. What would my grandmother think of me about the decision I am about to make, about what I am about to do? Would she be satisfied and proud of me or not? This way, even if nobody is present, I keep doing my very best and doing what is right, right? What is ethical, what is moral, and what is legal. All right, the anchor reflection is authority will follow those who steward responsibility well. All right, the very last lesson for today, lesson number 7, truth will build trust, whereas lies will destroy.

Trust.

So we're going to read 17 and 22. Okay, share my screen. 17 and 22. Truth will be—

He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.

He who speaks truth declares righteousness, not Let's go to 22.

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are his delight.

Those who deal truthfully are his delight. So trust is the currency of leadership. Once spent through deceit, it is hard to recover. I think trust is very hard to build. But once you lose it, it's almost impossible to regain. So as a leader, you really have to build trust with your team, and that's by being consistent. So how do you apply this? Commit to truth, even when it's inconvenient. So are you ever tempted to soften truth for comfort? How do you repair trust when it is broken? All right. The anchor reflection for this last lesson is truth aligns leader with lasting influence. All right. Our closing statement today is, uh, this chapter, uh, 12 reminds us that leadership is forged in the ordinary, how we receive correction, how we speak truth, how we work diligently and act with integrity. Consistently every day. So over time, this daily discipline will determine whether a leader builds trust or erodes it. So leadership endures not through appearances but through character anchored in wisdom. So that's the lesson today. So tomorrow we are going to study, uh, Proverbs chapter 13. So that's going to be tomorrow, same time as today, 6:30 AM Pacific time. So 9:30 AM Eastern time. Again, let us know where you are coming from, what city, what state, which country. If outside of the US, let us know what you are grateful for today. And if you have any insight on Proverbs chapter 12 today and tomorrow chapter 13, let us know in the comments. And also if you have any feedback on what I shared today. All right. Until tomorrow, this is Coach Bizzy, and I'm going to remind you that on Wednesday, the day after tomorrow, I will have the great pleasure and privilege of speaking to Commander Erika Dobbs. Like me, she joined the Navy as a seaman recruit, which is the lowest rank in the military, and she ended up being a commander, which is on top 4% of the US Navy. And we're going to be talking about going from seaman recruit to Navy commander, and she's now a tech CEO. It's just amazing, her journey, and we can learn so much from it. And on Wednesday, I will also be speaking to Lisa Fan. She's a mentoring architect, bestselling author of The Mentor's Guide and also Bridging Differences for a Better Mentoring. She also has a TEDx talk about mentorship and connection. You have to listen to it. And Lisa will be here on Wednesday. All right, thank you so much for watching the special edition of the Leadership and Success podcast. And I will see you tomorrow. Have a wonderful day.

Thank you for tuning in to the Leadership and Success Podcast with your host, Coach BZ. If today's episode added value to your leadership journey, be sure to subscribe, share, and join us again for more wisdom nuggets on how to lead better and achieve greater success. Remember, leadership is the most critical skill of our time. The world will always need leaders to inspire others, drive innovation, and execute meaningful strategy. So why not count yourself among the bold leaders shaping the 21st century? Until next time, stay inspired, stay committed, and keep leading with excellence.