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Habitudes Book #1: The Art of Self-Leadership
This book is ideal for college first-year experience programs, introductory leadership courses, and anyone who is just starting on their leadership journey. Many schools are using this book to challenge their entire student body to become leaders and to nurture a thriving leadership culture on their campus and organization. The Art of Self-Leadership covers the following Character Balance Time Management Core Values Mental Toughness Discipline Identity & Strengths Integrity Checks Commitment Emotional Security Personal Networks Responsibility Personal Growth The faith-based version of this resource has been developed as a tool for Christian schools and ministries. It includes a "Look at the Book" section that gives a biblical illustration for each leadership principle as well as additional discussion questions based on the scripture reference. Target Age 16-24 years old Also available is the Values-Based Edition of this resource, for public programs and corporate settings.
52 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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April 6, 2018
Designed for “Self Leadership, The Art of Leading Yourself,” this booklet contains 13 images, one for each chapter presenting each topic with a single image. Why? “Because pictures stick,” says the author in the forward. The practical chapters provide stories, self-assessment exercises and assignments to develop the reader in each of the 13 themes. Here are the images and topics:
Image 1: The Iceberg: The iceberg represents your leadership. The 10% above the water is your skill. The 90% below the water is your character. It’s what’s below the water that sinks the ship.
Image 2: The Starving Baker: This is a common hazard for leaders. We’re like the baker who spends so much time baking bread for others, we forget to feed ourselves. Leaders must feed themselves for personal growth.
Image 3: The Golden Buddha: Leaders cannot perform well if they fail to see the gold inside of them. Good leaders take personal inventory of their strengths and gifts. This shapes their self-image and, consequently, their results.
Image 4: The Thermostat and Thermometer: People are either thermostats or thermometers. They will merely reflect the climate around them, or they will set it. Leaders develop values and principles to live by and set the tone for others.
Image 5: The Fun House Mirror: Carnivals often have mirrors that distort how we really look. Poor leaders do this, pretending or posing to be better than they really are. Our level of integrity is the true reflection of who we really are.
Image 6: The Oversized Gift: Leaders are often gifted. They can begin to depend on their gift for success, to the neglect of their character. They begin to “wing it.” Leaders sabotage themselves when their gift is bigger than they are.
Image 7: The Personal Laptop: Our minds work like a computer. They only spit out the data they have been fed. Garbage in, garbage out. Leaders are disciplined about what they store in their mind and heart.
Image 8: The Pop Quiz: Leaders experience tests as they mature. These tests range from motive checks, to authority checks, to integrity checks. They reveal the leader’s potential and maturity, and are a pathway to progress.
Image 9: The Emotional Fuel: A leader’s future is shaped by the people closest to him or her. A leader’s personal network is the emotional fuel: the models, heroes, mentors, inner circle, and accountability partners.
Image 10: The Opportunity Statue: Leaders manage opportunities. Everyone has 86,400 seconds each day to use or abuse. Opportunity is a statue with hair in front, but bald in back - you can’t grab it once it is gone.
Image 11: The Discipline Bridge: Leaders don’t build character without crossing the bridge of discipline. Personal discipline is like a bridge that crosses from where you are to where you want to be. It gets you where you want to go.
Image 12: The Half-Hearted Kamikaze: Kamikaze pilots are only useful if they are committed to their mission. Leaders are the same way. You cannot have involvement without commitment and be effective. It goes with the territory.
Image 13: The Drivers and Passengers: When life goes bad, people blame someone else for the problem. They act like passengers. Leaders realize they are drivers - and are responsible for their attitudes and destination in life.
Image 1: The Iceberg: The iceberg represents your leadership. The 10% above the water is your skill. The 90% below the water is your character. It’s what’s below the water that sinks the ship.
Image 2: The Starving Baker: This is a common hazard for leaders. We’re like the baker who spends so much time baking bread for others, we forget to feed ourselves. Leaders must feed themselves for personal growth.
Image 3: The Golden Buddha: Leaders cannot perform well if they fail to see the gold inside of them. Good leaders take personal inventory of their strengths and gifts. This shapes their self-image and, consequently, their results.
Image 4: The Thermostat and Thermometer: People are either thermostats or thermometers. They will merely reflect the climate around them, or they will set it. Leaders develop values and principles to live by and set the tone for others.
Image 5: The Fun House Mirror: Carnivals often have mirrors that distort how we really look. Poor leaders do this, pretending or posing to be better than they really are. Our level of integrity is the true reflection of who we really are.
Image 6: The Oversized Gift: Leaders are often gifted. They can begin to depend on their gift for success, to the neglect of their character. They begin to “wing it.” Leaders sabotage themselves when their gift is bigger than they are.
Image 7: The Personal Laptop: Our minds work like a computer. They only spit out the data they have been fed. Garbage in, garbage out. Leaders are disciplined about what they store in their mind and heart.
Image 8: The Pop Quiz: Leaders experience tests as they mature. These tests range from motive checks, to authority checks, to integrity checks. They reveal the leader’s potential and maturity, and are a pathway to progress.
Image 9: The Emotional Fuel: A leader’s future is shaped by the people closest to him or her. A leader’s personal network is the emotional fuel: the models, heroes, mentors, inner circle, and accountability partners.
Image 10: The Opportunity Statue: Leaders manage opportunities. Everyone has 86,400 seconds each day to use or abuse. Opportunity is a statue with hair in front, but bald in back - you can’t grab it once it is gone.
Image 11: The Discipline Bridge: Leaders don’t build character without crossing the bridge of discipline. Personal discipline is like a bridge that crosses from where you are to where you want to be. It gets you where you want to go.
Image 12: The Half-Hearted Kamikaze: Kamikaze pilots are only useful if they are committed to their mission. Leaders are the same way. You cannot have involvement without commitment and be effective. It goes with the territory.
Image 13: The Drivers and Passengers: When life goes bad, people blame someone else for the problem. They act like passengers. Leaders realize they are drivers - and are responsible for their attitudes and destination in life.
December 3, 2014
Tim is known as the go to leadership guy. He does a great job helping us see his point through images. Here are the 13 images.
Image one-tip of iceberg
Your skill may get you to the top but is your character that will keep you there.
We must lead ourselves well before we try to leading others.
Image two-Baker
Leaders must feed themselves for personal growth.
Identify resources to learn from- Books read each month, podcasts weekly, conferences to attend, Mentors, Magazines with current insights, courses to take that will keep you growing.
Image three- Golden Buddha
Good Leaders take personal inventory of their strengths and gifts. This shapes their self image and, consequently, their results.
You will usually perform at a level that reflects your perspective
Image four-Thermostat and thermeter
Reflect the climate or Set it
Write your own story, not copy someone else’s.
Image five-The fun house Mirror
Poor leaders pretend or pose to be better than they really are.
Four images of ourselves-image others have of us, image we project to others, image we have or ourselves, image that is true
Image six-The oversized Gift
Your life is your story.Ttake initiative to make it good
A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. Our gifts and talents can get us somewhere but our character will keep us there.
Image seven-Personal Laptop
Leaders are disciplined about what they store in their mind and heart.
Garbage in Garbage out
Image Eight-Pop Quiz
Leaders experience tests as they mature.
All of life is a preparation for the future
How I responded to each test either became a tombstone or a stepping stone for my growth.
Image Nine-Emotional Fuel
Personal network is emotional fuel: role models, heroes, mentors, inner circle, and accountability partners
Leaders must make sure their emotional tank is full before they lead others
Image Ten-Opportunity Statue
Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you can’t get more time. Manage time wisely
Easy to confuse activity with accomplishment.
Image Eleven-Discipline Bridge
Don’t build character without crossing the bridge of discipline.
Discipline is like those bridges that help you get to where you need to go.
Image Twelve-The Half Hearted Kamikaze
Kamikaze pilots are only useful if they are committed to their mission
Convictions-We are ready to die for our commitment.
Image Thirteen-Drivers and Passengers
When life goes bad, people blame someone else for the problem.
You must think about where you are going and about the well-being of the passengers in the care with you.
Image one-tip of iceberg
Your skill may get you to the top but is your character that will keep you there.
We must lead ourselves well before we try to leading others.
Image two-Baker
Leaders must feed themselves for personal growth.
Identify resources to learn from- Books read each month, podcasts weekly, conferences to attend, Mentors, Magazines with current insights, courses to take that will keep you growing.
Image three- Golden Buddha
Good Leaders take personal inventory of their strengths and gifts. This shapes their self image and, consequently, their results.
You will usually perform at a level that reflects your perspective
Image four-Thermostat and thermeter
Reflect the climate or Set it
Write your own story, not copy someone else’s.
Image five-The fun house Mirror
Poor leaders pretend or pose to be better than they really are.
Four images of ourselves-image others have of us, image we project to others, image we have or ourselves, image that is true
Image six-The oversized Gift
Your life is your story.Ttake initiative to make it good
A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. Our gifts and talents can get us somewhere but our character will keep us there.
Image seven-Personal Laptop
Leaders are disciplined about what they store in their mind and heart.
Garbage in Garbage out
Image Eight-Pop Quiz
Leaders experience tests as they mature.
All of life is a preparation for the future
How I responded to each test either became a tombstone or a stepping stone for my growth.
Image Nine-Emotional Fuel
Personal network is emotional fuel: role models, heroes, mentors, inner circle, and accountability partners
Leaders must make sure their emotional tank is full before they lead others
Image Ten-Opportunity Statue
Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you can’t get more time. Manage time wisely
Easy to confuse activity with accomplishment.
Image Eleven-Discipline Bridge
Don’t build character without crossing the bridge of discipline.
Discipline is like those bridges that help you get to where you need to go.
Image Twelve-The Half Hearted Kamikaze
Kamikaze pilots are only useful if they are committed to their mission
Convictions-We are ready to die for our commitment.
Image Thirteen-Drivers and Passengers
When life goes bad, people blame someone else for the problem.
You must think about where you are going and about the well-being of the passengers in the care with you.
February 21, 2024
Reading this book has changed some things in my life already. After reading this book and all the things it has taught me to do and how to overcome things is incredible. Some incredible things about this book are that it talks about the things that have changed some kids lives and also it talks about how parents talk to their children about some good habits and bad habits.
The good things about this book is that it tells you about how to have habits and how to get good habits. It also talks about how to break bad habits. It also talks about how you should live for other people and not just yourself and help others when they need the help. The book also says that you shouldn’t take what you have for granted because there is kids out there that might not get anything for their birthday party but there might be kids out there that get 10 gifts for their birthday.
A bad thing in the book is that there was this kid that wanted to run for his school president and he was not very popular and he thought to himself that he had no chance being president. He then came up with an Idea and lied and said that he has ran for president at his old school. He also said that he had saved up enough money to buy a flat screen tv and a xbox. Then after a while his couple friends asked him why he didn’t share that to them when they first met. After a while he finally told the truth and told them he was lying. He thought to himself that lying gets you know where in life and that if you want to be successful in life then you should lie and just tell the truth.
Overall the book Habitudes was a good book. I would suggest for kids from the age 12-18 read this book because it talks about how it can change high school kids lives about what good habits are and what bad habits are. This book also has good information and also has a lot of good pictures that belongs with the chapter.
The good things about this book is that it tells you about how to have habits and how to get good habits. It also talks about how to break bad habits. It also talks about how you should live for other people and not just yourself and help others when they need the help. The book also says that you shouldn’t take what you have for granted because there is kids out there that might not get anything for their birthday party but there might be kids out there that get 10 gifts for their birthday.
A bad thing in the book is that there was this kid that wanted to run for his school president and he was not very popular and he thought to himself that he had no chance being president. He then came up with an Idea and lied and said that he has ran for president at his old school. He also said that he had saved up enough money to buy a flat screen tv and a xbox. Then after a while his couple friends asked him why he didn’t share that to them when they first met. After a while he finally told the truth and told them he was lying. He thought to himself that lying gets you know where in life and that if you want to be successful in life then you should lie and just tell the truth.
Overall the book Habitudes was a good book. I would suggest for kids from the age 12-18 read this book because it talks about how it can change high school kids lives about what good habits are and what bad habits are. This book also has good information and also has a lot of good pictures that belongs with the chapter.
July 27, 2022
The author uses simplistic logic and false equivalences in his black and white approach to leadership. For instance, in chapter 12 he said, "When life goes bad, people blame someone else for the problem. They act like passengers. Leaders realize they are drivers and are responsible for their attitudes and destination in life." He then went on to use extreme examples of overcoming obstacles (Dawn Loggins and Tsang Tsz-Kwan) to justify his stance of responsibility vs "victim mentality."
This book feels like someone just giving their opinion with anecdotal points devoid of research, empathy or examples that aren't extreme.
This book feels like someone just giving their opinion with anecdotal points devoid of research, empathy or examples that aren't extreme.
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January 27, 2020After reading the Habitudes book number one, Images that Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes The Art of Self-Leadership, I have learned so many new skills. Each day I got to read a “habitude” and learn new things about leadership, but I also got to activate what I learned that day. I got to journal through questions to reflect what I read, then I would journal through how I would accomplish the challenge questions for that day. This book has taught me that I should work on my character rather than my skill, because that is what matters most. I also learned that in order to feed knowledge and inspiration to other people that I also have to feed and encourage myself. In order to be a good and strong leader you must be able to set the atmosphere, like a thermostat. To be a good leader you must reflect the integrity that you have, because you pretend that your integrity is higher than what it actually is, then you will not give yourself the correct data to grow in your leadership. I also learned so much more about myself and how I can continue to grow and push myself as a leader, and I believe that this book has information that anyone can learn from.
April 30, 2018
I read Tim Elmore's Habitudes book as a part of a Leadership course I had the option to take this semester. I loved the simplicity of teaching 13 leadership lessons through images - and it all comes back to the fact that leaders MUST lead themselves before they can lead others. I recommend reading this over a period of time with a small group, as discussion enriches the overall experience.
July 12, 2017
If one is well-read, the illustrations will be old hat. That being said, the book would make for a great book to include in a discipleship process for helping people move from follower to leader in an organization.
December 26, 2020
Habitudes approaches character growth through pictures which gave me a deeper understanding of myself. I was sharpened as a believer and aChristian leader. I added some character tools to my box and have used these insights to lead students.
December 23, 2022
A solid quick read, I would gift this to anyone. I will also most likely reread this every couple months. I enjoyed the practical practices at the end of each chapter.
Lots of good little lessons on self-leadership👌🏽
Lots of good little lessons on self-leadership👌🏽
March 21, 2023
This book uses imagery to demonstrate important concepts of leadership and maturity. It is an interactive journal with questions and prompts. It is both enlightening and humbling if you are willing to apply it to your life.
July 24, 2025
Great leadership book. Actually, good life advice for anyone even if you’re not in a leadership position. I enjoyed how bite-sized the ���chapters” were. The images were a great touch. Glad we read this throughout camp!
4 stars!
4 stars!
May 31, 2017
Easy read, straightforward, presented with simplicity! Stories and metaphors that illustrate key leadership concepts. I enjoyed it greatly.
January 30, 2018
I found this book very helpful in applying this into my professional and personal life
July 17, 2021
Habitudes is a great book which provides a brief overview of the key elements of leadership. The lessons are very concise and align with the principles of scripture.
August 3, 2021
Each chapter can be fully understood by reading the title.
March 21, 2023
These short books would be great for young emerging leaders.
June 12, 2024
Great to read for a recent college graduate or someone who is in the first year or two of their professional career. Tangible advice conveyed through stories and images.
March 8, 2025
3.5 kinda dated but some really good ones
January 24, 2015
I was so very impressed with this little book -- so many things to keep in mind when supervising, or really just living. It had a lot more religious stuff than I thought when I originally picked it up at the Library book sale, but the meat of the book is not focused on the bible --
Advice I am taking from this book:
The Starving Baker: A leader must "feed" themselves before they can feed others. It is important to focus on your own health (physically, mentally and spiritually) or you will not be able to help your people
Thermostat vs Thermometer: People either reflect the climate around them, or they will set it. Strive to be the Thermostat.
The Half-Hearted Kamikaze: you can't be effective if you aren't committed to the goal
The Drivers and the Passengers: There are plenty of times in life when you are the passenger and it is okay, but really, as a leader, you need to focus on being the driver - choosing where you are going, paying attention to the road, getting your passengers to their destination safely
Advice I am taking from this book:
The Starving Baker: A leader must "feed" themselves before they can feed others. It is important to focus on your own health (physically, mentally and spiritually) or you will not be able to help your people
Thermostat vs Thermometer: People either reflect the climate around them, or they will set it. Strive to be the Thermostat.
The Half-Hearted Kamikaze: you can't be effective if you aren't committed to the goal
The Drivers and the Passengers: There are plenty of times in life when you are the passenger and it is okay, but really, as a leader, you need to focus on being the driver - choosing where you are going, paying attention to the road, getting your passengers to their destination safely
January 23, 2016
I really have nothing but good things to say about this book. Leaders have to do more than manage people. First leaders must manage themselves. That is the crux of this book. Attitudes and characteristics that shape our being and become habits are what leadership is all about.
The book covers 13 leadership principles. The glacier, oversized gift and discipline bridge, the photos that accompany each lesson speak volumes to the attitudes leaders should exhibit.
Well worth reading in a small group, youth group, or for personal exploration. The information is basic leadership info so accomplished Christ centered leaders might find the text obvious but good teachable material.
The book covers 13 leadership principles. The glacier, oversized gift and discipline bridge, the photos that accompany each lesson speak volumes to the attitudes leaders should exhibit.
Well worth reading in a small group, youth group, or for personal exploration. The information is basic leadership info so accomplished Christ centered leaders might find the text obvious but good teachable material.
December 6, 2010
This was a great little book that our church leadership asked us to read for a planning session. It describes very well how we influence others around us by how we do things. It describes 13 different images we project that could affect our leadership abilities. It also includes Bible studies that lead you through aself examination of your skills, image and how you can improve, with God's help and guidance.
January 17, 2013
Really good books! So many times I just want to buy all of them to have as attention grabbers for preaching/teaching. Cheap too, if you go on amazon. One thing I will say, "Where is Jesus?" I get it all that these are about habits and leadership but isn't God supposed to be in these books also? If I didn't read the the, "what others are saying" part, I would probably never knew a believer wrote these.
November 22, 2013
This book is great to spark and guide group discussion. Each "image" or chapter is very concise and direct and has questions at the end. I would recommend the book for people who are interested in what it means to be a good leader and are willing to answer some tough questions about character, integrity, and motivation.
July 20, 2010
Amazing! Not only is the book great, but the life of the author, Dr. Tim Elmore, (whom I have personally met and stayed at his home) truly exemplifies servant leadership. It's amazing how much we can learn from just several pictures.
July 13, 2016
Great book to get inspiring short stories or great stories to lead people from. Analogies that will shake you and the people you are leading and in a timely matter. Not my style of reading but a great resource when needing huddle/ inspiring meeting content
April 6, 2009
It's actually a series of 4 or 5 books. Great writing and imagery, but I feel like I discovered them too late. Timing of when you read these is everything.
January 28, 2010
not really like this book, tp lumayanlah
June 13, 2010
Great book that helps you develop as a leader.
September 16, 2011
it's a simple book of leadership,
using images and titles make it memorable..
using images and titles make it memorable..
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews