Effective leaders work very hard to succeed, but often at the cost of their own souls. They are challenged to keep themselves emotionally and spiritually healthy in order to survive success―to keep their humanity intact. This is the work within the work. Stephen W. Smith helps leaders in the marketplace and in ministry set aside the life-draining values of power, fame, fortune and position and instead explore the life-giving qualities of building character. In this book you will learn to: Recognize and determine the inner and outer markers of success - Explore eight compelling virtues that every leader must possess - Use the principle of rhythm rather than chase the myth of balance - Recognize the limits of your own leadership - Discover how to thrive, not just survive There is a better way to live than the craziness we experience in our driven world. Inside Job is your invitation to journey inside and do the work within your work. "It is a sobering reality that many of us as leaders plunge ahead in the work we do, the relationships that we develop and the lifestyle that we adopt without a realistic perspective of what drives us. This subverts what ought to be joy, and makes us susceptible to failure or burnout. Stephen Smith offers us in Inside Job a path for proper self-examination. . . . Read this book with an open mind and heart and you will know God and yourself much better. The people around you will be glad for it." -- Mel Lawrenz, minister at large, Elmbrook Church "As a physician, I encourage people to examine, evaluate and improve their physical, emotional, relational and spiritual health on a frequent basis. Stephen W. Smith's book is an inspiring and practical manual for those in the marketplace and ministry wanting to evaluate their vitality and resilience and the health of their leadership. I highly recommend this book!" -- Walt Larimore, family physician and bestselling author "Steve is a prophet for our day, calling us from the idolatrous worship of success back to the worship of the true God who designed rhythm and rest. As a fellow traveler who has experienced the roughness of the journey, he invites us to journey within our own hearts―'to work within the work.' I heartily endorse this timely and very important book that calls us back to our hearts' true home." -- Nelson Okanya, president, Eastern Mennonite Missions " Inside Job helps us grow the inner heart of leadership. We cannot be content with how we look to other people or the 'successes' we have in our life, ministry or work. We must give focused attention to our inner life. Inside Job guides us through the urgent journey each leader must take." -- Stacy Rinehart, founder, MentorLink International "In most of my leadership training, including as a Harvard MBA, the focus was largely outward―on assessments, strategies, results, etc.―with very little focus on me, my character and my spiritual formation. I've learned through the years, however, and often the hard way, that my leadership effectiveness in both Christian ministry and the commercial marketplace has much more to do with my character than my ideas. Inside Job shows us the way to lead more effectively from the inside out." -- Tripp Johnston, executive director, SIM's Sports Friends Ministry "We run as hard as we can in the pursuit of success and contentment only to find out that true success, contentment and transformation come from the 'inside job.' I highly recommend this book as a place for you to begin your inside work." -- Mark Linsz, former treasurer of Bank of America, cofounder and senior managing partner of My Next Season " Inside Job provokes honest reflection and heartfelt response that invites the reader into a deeper walk with Christ―a journey of steadfast resilience toward a life of love. Quite countercultural in his approach, Steve Smith encourages the reader to consider traveling the descent of Christlike humility rather than the ascent of worldly success." -- Stephen Macchia, Leadership Transformations, Inc., author of Crafting a Rule of Life "Stephen Smith understands that there's a big difference between living life in balance, and living in rhythm . The former leaves leaders stuck on a treadmill of stress and disillusionment. But the latter helps them truly discover their purpose and live within life's limits. Inside Job should be essential reading for anyone who is tired of the rat race." -- Jim Daly, president, Focus on the Family "Like a laser beam, Inside Job penetrates to the heart of what Christian leadership is all about. In a day and age when much of leadership centers around an array of tips and techniques, Steve Smith takes us to the true focus of leadership―character. . . . His wisdom, insights and straightforward approach will lead you to understand that leadership success is truly an inside-out job. . . . This is a must read for those who truly want to lead in the way of Christ!" -- Randy Rains, associate