September 11, 2026

Business by the Book

Proverbs 12:16  A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

A very promising career as a sales professional was lost because a man’s wrath was “presently known” and he was found to be a fool. He was speaking to a customer on the phone. This was before cell phones or car phones; this was a land line, an old fashioned house phone. Anyway, during the conversation the new sales representative became very annoyed. The customer, who happened to be a lady, was explaining a problem they had with this sales person’s product and she would not accept any of his excuses. She wanted action and wanted it that day. However, the sales person wanted to play golf that day and became extremely angry.

Once the call was over the promising sales representative took the time between lowering the phone from his ear until slamming it into the cradle to say a few choice words about this lady’s character. It was not flattering to say the least. What the sales person did not know is that the customer was holding the phone between her shoulder and ear as she was writing a note on her desk. After the call she continued to hold the phone to her ear while finishing her note. She heard everything he said, every name he used was loud and clear for he was shouting the expletives.

He also did not know that this customer was close friends with a highly placed manager in our company. He was fired. Immediately! He was a fool and his anger was presently known.

Guard against anger, it is a negative emotion that robs it’s possessor of good things.

Dr. William Howe