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

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

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  SPEAKER_00: Today is the eighth day of the month,
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  SPEAKER_00: sharing wisdom's call to influence from Proverbs 8,
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  SPEAKER_00: 1 through 8.
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  SPEAKER_00: Hi, I'm Ernie Lansford, and thank you for joining me.
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  SPEAKER_00: And this is Marketplace Proverbs and Coffee with Ernie.
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  SPEAKER_00: A proverb each day keeps stinking thinking away.
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  This podcast is about bringing timeless biblical wisdom into
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  the marketplace where
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  SPEAKER_00: influence is real,
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  SPEAKER_00: choices are constant,
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  SPEAKER_00: and relationships matter more than results.
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  SPEAKER_00: So grab your coffee, tea, latte, soda, water, whatever,
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  SPEAKER_00: and let's get started.
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  SPEAKER_00: Today,
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  SPEAKER_00: I'm reading from Chapter 8 of Marketplace Proverbs,
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  SPEAKER_00: Volume 2,
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  SPEAKER_00: Micro to Macro,
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  SPEAKER_00: The Ripple Effect of Influence,
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  SPEAKER_00: written by yours truly and co-author John Kluter.
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  SPEAKER_00: And let's talk about wisdom's call to influence from Proverbs 8,
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  SPEAKER_00: verses 1 through 8,
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  SPEAKER_00: At the entrance, she cries aloud, quote, to you, O people, I call out.
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  SPEAKER_00: I raise my voice to all mankind.
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  SPEAKER_00: You who are simple gain prudence.
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  SPEAKER_00: You who are foolish set your hearts on it.
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  SPEAKER_00: Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say.
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  SPEAKER_00: I open my lips to speak what is right.
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  SPEAKER_00: My mouth speaks what is true.
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  SPEAKER_00: For my lips detest wickedness.
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  SPEAKER_00: All the words of my mouth are just.
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  SPEAKER_00: None of them is crooked or perverse.
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  SPEAKER_00: That's Proverbs 8, 1 through 8, from the English Standard Version, ESV.
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  I feel Proverbs 8 vividly depicts wisdom calling out from the
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  city's gates,
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  SPEAKER_00: inviting everyone,
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  SPEAKER_00: simple and wise alike,
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  SPEAKER_00: to embrace understanding and truth.
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  This imagery reflects our micro-to-macro principle,
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  the subtitle of our book.
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  It's small individual choices to seek wisdom that creates
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  ripples of influence that
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  SPEAKER_00: extend to more significant relationships,
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  SPEAKER_00: teams,
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  SPEAKER_00: and organizations.
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  Every interaction we have in the marketplace holds the
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  potential to be a moment of influence.
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  Have you paused to think occasionally about the person sitting
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  across from you in a meeting?
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  SPEAKER_00: Or the customer or client you're calling on seems distant?
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  SPEAKER_00: Something to think about.
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  SPEAKER_00: What struggles might they be carrying?
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  SPEAKER_00: Did their day start with a messy house,
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  SPEAKER_00: a rushed school drop-off,
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  SPEAKER_00: or an empty fuel tank in the car?
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  SPEAKER_00: Too much a month after the money has run out?
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  Did they leave home with unresolved tensions or burdens really
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  weighing on their heart?
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  When we see others through a kingdom-focused lens,
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  we shift from transactions to relationships.
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  We begin to recognize a shared humanity in those we meet and
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  the opportunities to
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  SPEAKER_00: serve them in ways that reflects God's love.
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  SPEAKER_00: Think about this as a macro vision through micro actions.
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  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 8 reminds us that wisdom is not reserved for the elite,
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  SPEAKER_00: but frankly it's offered to everyone.
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  SPEAKER_00: Quote, to you, O people, I call out.
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  SPEAKER_00: I raise my voice to all mankind, end quote.
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  SPEAKER_00: So,
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  SPEAKER_00: wisdom equips us with prudence,
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  SPEAKER_00: temperance,
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  SPEAKER_00: and patience,
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  SPEAKER_00: enabling us to approach each interaction with humility and grace.
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  I feel our role in the marketplace is critical,
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  even when we feel frustrated or unfulfilled.
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  SPEAKER_00: We're called to be Christ's hands and feet,
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  SPEAKER_00: and how we respond to others in small,
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  seemingly insignificant moments creates ripples that can
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  profoundly impact the
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  SPEAKER_00: broader culture of our workplace and marketplace mission fields.
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  SPEAKER_00: St.
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  SPEAKER_00: Francis of Elysee is credited with saying,
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  SPEAKER_00: preach the gospel at all times,
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  SPEAKER_00: and when necessary,
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  SPEAKER_00: and only when necessary,
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  SPEAKER_00: use words.
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  SPEAKER_00: And this wisdom challenges us to embody the gospel in our actions,
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  SPEAKER_00: ensuring that our lives speak louder than our words.
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  Even the smallest gestures can create lasting influence when we
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  show up with a heart of service.
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  SPEAKER_00: Frankly, that's building the relationships that really ripple.
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  It's easy to focus on tasks and miss the opportunities for
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  connection that God
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  SPEAKER_00: places in our path.
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  SPEAKER_00: However, every moment is an opportunity to plant seeds of influence.
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  SPEAKER_00: A simple act of kindness,
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  SPEAKER_00: a word of encouragement,
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  SPEAKER_00: or even a silent,
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  faithful prayer for a colleague can create a ripple effect far
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  beyond the immediate
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  SPEAKER_00: moment.
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  SPEAKER_00: When rooted in wisdom and love,
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  SPEAKER_00: these micro actions,
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  SPEAKER_00: as we call them,
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  SPEAKER_00: build into macro influence.
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  They prepare us to serve others well and reflect Christ's light
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  in the marketplace.
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  Wisdom calls us to be ready for significant opportunities and
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  the small daily
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  SPEAKER_00: interactions that shape our relationships and impact.
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  SPEAKER_00: So, here's some action points for you today.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let's think about micro steps toward macro influence.
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  SPEAKER_00: One,
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  SPEAKER_00: start a journal,
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  SPEAKER_00: if you don't already have one,
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  SPEAKER_00: and create a list of people you interact with daily.
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  SPEAKER_00: Two, pray for them.
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  SPEAKER_00: Ask God to bless and guide them in serving them well.
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  SPEAKER_00: And pray for your competitors, too.
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  SPEAKER_00: And three, check in.
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  SPEAKER_00: Follow up with those individuals you show care.
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  SPEAKER_00: I was taught as a young man,
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  SPEAKER_00: when someone comes to mind that hasn't been on my mind recently,
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  SPEAKER_00: or there hasn't been an interaction with them in quite some time,
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  SPEAKER_00: but they just come to mind.
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  SPEAKER_00: I was taught by my grandmother,
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  SPEAKER_00: Powell,
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  that could be the Holy Spirit telling me to pray for them and
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  to reach out to them.
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  SPEAKER_00: And you know something?
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  SPEAKER_00: When I do that, more times than not, they were contemplating something.
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  SPEAKER_00: They needed prayer for something.
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  And sometimes it created an opportunity to engage about
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  something they were
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  SPEAKER_00: thinking about on the business level.
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  SPEAKER_00: So, once again, check in with people.
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  SPEAKER_00: Follow up with those on your list,
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  SPEAKER_00: but be sensitive to those that come to mind out of nowhere,
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  SPEAKER_00: as I say.
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  SPEAKER_00: And then your fourth action point, observe the ripple effect.
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  Reflect on how your prayers and actions impact the lives of
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  others as well as your own.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let's pray.
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  SPEAKER_00: Lord God, thank you.
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  SPEAKER_00: for the opportunities you give each of us daily to influence others.
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  SPEAKER_00: Help us to recognize these moments as part of your excellent plan,
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  SPEAKER_00: no matter how small they appear to us.
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  Equip us with wisdom,
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  patience,
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  and love to serve those around us in ways that honor you.
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  SPEAKER_00: And may our actions create ripples of influence beyond what we can seek.
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  SPEAKER_00: And forgive me personally when I fall short.
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  And continue to open doors for me and for my listeners to make
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  a difference.
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  SPEAKER_00: In Jesus' name, amen.
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  SPEAKER_00: Our customer success code for today compliments us say he'll bloom.
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  SPEAKER_00: Quote, the things you focus on will grow.
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  SPEAKER_00: So choose wisely.
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  SPEAKER_00: End quote.
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  Well,
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  thanks for joining me today's episode of Marketplace Proverbs
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  and Coffee with Ernie.
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  SPEAKER_00: I speak numbers 624 through 26 over you.
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  SPEAKER_00: May the Lord bless you and protect you.
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  SPEAKER_00: May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
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  SPEAKER_00: May the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.
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  SPEAKER_00: If this message encouraged you, please share it and remember.
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  SPEAKER_00: Success is temporal.
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  SPEAKER_00: Significance is infinite.
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  SPEAKER_00: Let's meet again tomorrow.