October 1, 2026

Business by the Book

Proverbs 14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Business is not scripted. In movies and television shows almost everything is scripted. The actors playing various roles always seem to know what to say, they always say the right things the right way, even their outrageous behavior turns out right. But real life is not scripted. Business people do not have a staff of writers to write every word, they do not have directors directing their every move, they do not have others that have dialog written down for them to respond to with their own scripted words.

Because of this, business is sometimes a messy endeavor. Well-meaning business people say the wrong things, or take things in the wrong way, or do the wrong things, sometimes they unnecessarily offend others without even knowing it. The same is true with the ox.

If a farmer has no ox (remember this proverb was given at a time before tractors and implements as we know them now) that farmer does not have the strength of the ox. The ox crib is clean, neat, has a good aroma, there is no feed needed for the ox, and no care has to be given to the ox if there is no ox. But where the ox is there is a mess in the ox crib, the ox steps on things, leaves ox droppings, has to be cared for, has to be fed, and with the ox comes the stink of the ox. Likewise, with the ox also comes increased productivity, strength to transport heavy loads, and many other benefits for a farmer. Every farmer knows that the strength of the ox brings with it the stink of the ox.

In business, sometimes, the strongest workers are the ones that create the biggest stink. They have strengths that sometimes challenge those with less strength, their push, push, push, go getter, drive, drive, drive, personalities that make them strong producers can also cause issues with other less motivated or skilled employees. What they do or say is not always scripted, and oftentimes they make mistakes, but their overall production makes the stink acceptable.

I once knew a salesman whose customers really didn’t like him. He was very successful, made a very high income, and was always at the top of the list in sales productivity. I asked one of his biggest customers one time, “Why do you buy so much from this guy when you really don’t like him?”  I was told, “The best way to keep him out of my office is to agree to buy his products.”  I can’t say that this is a good marketing strategy, but it worked for him. Not buying from him was more painful than buying from him. He had the stink of the ox about him, but with it came much increase.

If a business wants the strength of the ox, they must be willing to put up with the stink of the ox, and yes even the stubbornness of the ox. Remember the same stubbornness that may make a mess of things in the office is the same character trait that makes the ox productive in the field.

Dr. William Howe