Leading from the Inside Out , livre ebook

In his previous book, The Dark Side of Leadership , Sam Rima puts us in his debt by showing us obstacles that hinder our leadership and by giving us reliable guidance in how to overcome those challenges. In this new book, Leading from the Inside Out , Rima takes us to the inner foundations essential for enduring leadership that is able both to withstand attacks from without and to maintain the integrity and equilibrium of the person within.
-D R . G EORGE K. B RUSHABER , PRESIDENT , B ETHEL C OLLEGE S EMINARY
Sam Rima has written a vital book for our time! It is a must read for every person who seeks to influence others. I know I was strengthened personally by reading it!
-P AM F ARREL , AUTHOR AND PRESIDENT OF M ASTERFUL L IVING
This is not a book to merely read but a book to do. Grab your journal and your creative thinking to gain some true self insights as you work your way through Leading from the Inside Out . Sam Rima s self revelation and discipline sets a strong model for other leaders in this book.
-D R . C HUCK H IATT , PRESIDENT , N ORTH A MERICAN B APTIST S EMINARY
In this day of interactive media, Dr. Samuel Rima has produced an important contribution on the subject of leadership. Leading from the Inside Out spells out not only important principles but also makes it easy to interact with those principles. I especially appreciate the emphasis on character as there seems to be continually increasing disengagement between character and leadership. This book is well worth reading for those in leadership which, in my opinion, would include all as everyone exerts some level of leadership.
-D R . C LYDE C OOK , PRESIDENT , B IOLA U NIVERSITY
Anyone who is concerned about personal leadership will be challenged and richly blessed by this wise, insightful book. Sam Rima shares deeply out of his rich experiences-including his struggles-as a pastor. And he has obviously read widely and been mentored by leaders whom he trusts. The specific personal exercises at the end of each section are very helpful. All kinds of church leaders-actual and potential-need to read this book and take it to heart.
-D R . R OGER L. F REDRIKSON , FORMER PRESIDENT , A MERICAN B APTIST C HURCHES
Sam Rima has stepped into the gap and addressed the most important leadership issue of our day-the discipline of self-leadership. Many have written on the need for character and integrity in leadership, but few have provided a clear path for personal development that is genuinely helpful. Dr. Rima s book, Leading from the Inside Out , provides that path in a way that is insightful, practical, and wise.
-D R . J ERRY S HEVELAND , VICE PRESIDENT OF G LOBAL C HURCH E NRICHMENT , B APTIST G ENERAL C ONFERENCE
Each day we re a day closer to becoming the persons and leaders we ll ultimately be. That can be a frightening prospect-unless we re intentionally mastering the art of self-leadership now. The decisions and actions Sam Rima advocates in his newest book provide a fundamental structure for leaders to build personal integrity for the long haul as they serve God and His people.
-P AMELA H EIM , DIRECTOR , B APTIST G ENERAL C ONFERENCE W OMEN S M INISTRIES
In today s economically-driven society, Sam Rima offers readers an opportunity to refocus our eyes, ears, and heart on who we are in Christ. Simply put, this book compels the reader to base his/her leadership style on a biblical frame of reference.
-D R . M ARK B ENEDETTO , PRESIDENT , U NIVERSITY OF S IOUX F ALLS
Dr. Rima s book on self-leadership is insightful, thorough, and relevant to everyone serving in positions of leadership. He clearly shows the strong relationship beween personal and occupational leadership and its impact on success as a leader. Dr. Rima is a gifted writer who has the ability to state his position clearly and persuasively. This book should be required reading for individuals who serve in leadership roles regardless of whether they work in a secular or non-secular organization.
-D R . T OM M C C LUNG , INTERIM DEAN , C OLLEGE OF I NFORMATION S CIENCES AND T ECHNOLOGY , U NIVERSITY OF N EBRASKA , O MAHA
One of the results of living in a postmodern age is people who struggle with managing their own lives. Both within and without the church, it is clear that a large number of people need to get back to the basics of learning how to balance their physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual selves. Leading from the Inside Out provides a practical and biblical handson resource for assisting all of us to lead our own lives, and those of others, for the glory of God.
-D R . G ARY L. M C I NTOSH , T ALBOT S CHOOL OF T HEOLOGY , B IOLA U NIVERSITY
LEADING

from the
INSIDE OUT
Also by Samuel D. Rima
Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership (with Gary L. McIntosh)

2000 by Samuel D. Rima
Published by Baker Books a division of Baker Book House Company P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287 www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2011
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-for example, electronic, photocopy, recording- without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-1-4412-1512-3
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE . Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. www.lockman.org
The internet addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers in this book are accurate at the time of publication. They are provided as a resource. Baker Publishing Group does not endorse them or vouch for their content or permanence.
This book is dedicated to the inaugural class of the Leadership Central program:
Neil Downey
Barry Milbauer
Ann Tschetter
Randy Maass
Kay Hodges
Landon Ludens
Jane Fahlberg
Jenny Downey
Jeff Reynolds
Loren Mendel
Jim Subert
Brad Paulson
John Lang
As we spent time learning to lead our lives, I have come to love each of you more than I can say.
And to . . .
The future leaders I live with every day:
Jill
Seth
Hillary
Sammy
I pray that you will learn to lead and live your life well so that others will want to follow.
C ONTENTS
Acknowledgments
Introduction
P ART 1 F OUNDATIONS FOR S ELF -L EADERSHIP
1. Why Self-Leadership?
2. Articulating and Embracing Your Life s Values
3. Connecting with Your Life s Calling
4. Laying Out Your Life s Goals
5. Measuring Your Life s Motivation
Personal Constitution
P ART 2 T HE V ENUES OF S ELF -L EADERSHIP
6. Spiritual Self-Leadership: Personal Soul Care
7. Physical Self-Leadership: Personal Resource Management
8. Emotional Self-Leadership: Mastering Our Moods
9. Intellectual Self-Leadership: Personal Lifelong Learning
Self-Leadership Action Plan
Conclusion
P ART 3 G ROUP S TUDY G UIDES AND A PPENDICES
Group Study Guides
Appendix A-Resources for Living Out Your Calling
Appendix B-Physical Self-Leadership Resources
Appendix C-Intellectual Self-Leadership Resources
Notes
Suggested Reading
A CKNOWLEDGMENTS
I want to express my thanks and appreciation to my wife, Sue. She is truly my inspiration and once again provided the support and encouragement for me to complete this book. She willingly sacrificed spending many of my days off with me so that I could write, joining me instead for a cup of coffee at my makeshift office at our local Barnes and Noble. On each of those occasions she brought with her the encouragement I needed to complete the remainder of that day s work. Sue, this book is yours as much as it is mine. I love you!
Also I want to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to Kay Hodges for her tireless work on this manuscript during time that would have otherwise been her own. Very simply, the final stages of this book would have been intolerably difficult to complete without her able assistance. This book bears her insightful and professional touch. Kay wrote the study questions for chapter 6 and provided other helpful suggestions throughout the process. She never failed to smile when I entered her office with yet another version or wild idea for a chapter already completed. I am grateful for her help but, more important, I am grateful for her friendship and the privilege of serving together on the same ministry team.
I am also grateful to the fellows, members, and sponsors of the Leadership Central Foundation, who provided the support necessary to launch this leadership program and test this material in the real world. I pray that we will see our efforts multiplied countless times as God graciously uses the program to develop leaders for his kingdom.
As always, I am indebted to the work of my editor, Paul Engle. His interest in this project and e-mail notes of encouragement have helped me to believe that God can use me as a writer. Also this book that you now hold has been made eminently more readable by the skillful editing of Mary Suggs. Thanks for your work, Mary! Additionally, I want to thank Sara Metzger, the interview coordinator at Baker, for the work I know she will do to help get the word out about this book. Sara, your work on behalf of Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership is greatly appreciated!
And to the staff team at Central Baptist Church I am eternally grateful. I love you all and count it a blessing to go to work each day. What a fantastic team! You are All Stars!
I NTRODUCTION
When Vice President Al Gore made the official announcement, declaring himself a candidate for president of the United States in the year 2000