GrowLeader Podcast Episode 90 Summary

How to Lead Yourself Before You Lead Others - Chris Hodges
Host: Chris Hodges | Date: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

Pastor Chris Hodges kicks off the new year with practical and inspirational guidance for leaders—focusing not on mere goal setting, but on the deep personal reflection and intentional planning required to ensure 2026 is not just a repeat of previous years. With a fresh calendar in hand, Chris encourages listeners to pause, review their lives, and develop rhythms of self-leadership—a necessary foundation before leading others with impact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Power of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

• Chris' Testimony: Chris discusses the transformative power of beginning each year with 21 days of prayer and fasting—a foundational reset for the body and spirit.
  • “I look back, Matt, over 42 years of ministry now, and think, where would I be if I didn’t start the year off with 21 days of prayer?” (01:01)
• Community Impact: Personal stories highlight how this discipline has been life-changing for individuals and entire families—sometimes more profoundly than preaching, small groups, or courses.
  • “Maybe the greatest discipleship moment of a person at Church of the Highlands isn’t...teaching or small groups...but the discipline of getting up early, pushing the plate away, seeking God for 21 straight days.” (02:46)
• Health Benefits: Chris ties in new medical research that affirms the physical benefits of fasting, emphasizing the holistic nature of the practice (spiritual and physical).

The Importance of Reflection Before Planning

Chris introduces a two-step process:

1. Reflection (Review)
2. Planning

He stresses the idea of working “on” your life, not just “in” it.

1. Reflection: Five Steps to Reviewing Your Life

• A. Work ON It, Not Just IN It

  • The urgent often crowds out the important; leaders must create space to intentionally review, not just react.
  • “Most leaders are excellent operators, but they’re not intentional reviewers...If you don’t create space to review, this year is just going to look like last year.” (06:07)

• B. Collect Data

  • Review your calendar from the previous year (both digital and paper) to see where your time, energy, and attention actually went.
    • Was that vacation well-timed? Are recurring meetings effective? Should any be moved or eliminated? (09:00)
  • Review your photo/camera roll for an emotional inventory—gratitude, fatigue, joy, and learning moments surface visually.
    • “What the pictures are gonna tell us is where your attention was, where your joy was...” (11:11)

• C. Write Lessons and Patterns

  • Don’t just think; write down eight to ten lessons or things you learned from your reflection.
    • “You have a 42% more chance of retention and really changing your life if you put it pen to paper.” (13:13)
  • Find the patterns: what grew, what stalled, what frustrated, what energized?

• D. Deep Self-Evaluation Questions (14:00–20:00)

  • Regularly ask:
    • What’s my original calling from God? Has it changed?
    • Which activities fuel my calling, and which drain my passion?
    • What dreams or visions am I carrying into the new year?
    • What do I need to stop doing? What do I need to reduce?
    • Who can hold me accountable to these insights?
  • Notable quote:
    “I write down my original calling from God...God didn’t call me to preach...there’s two things...get lost people saved...and pour my life into young leaders.” (15:41)

• E. Celebrate and Confront

  • Celebrate legitimate wins—don’t let dissatisfaction rob gratitude.
    • “Don’t just be dissatisfied...I did get this accomplished this past year...to God be the glory, had a little bit of a success there.” (21:41)
  • Confront the facts with honesty—what absolutely must change this year?

2. Planning for the Year Ahead

Chris pivots to intentional planning, avoiding “resolution mindset” and offering a structured approach.

• A. Clarify & Choose Goals Intentionally
  • Select one goal each in eight areas: Spiritual, Marital, Parental, Intellectual, Social, Vocational, Physical, and Financial.
  • Determine: Is each an “achievement goal” (e.g., lose 20 lbs.) or “habit goal” (e.g., work out 4x per week)?
  • Always write the “why”—the deeper reason a goal matters:
    • “My peloton username...is ‘for the grands’...every time I get on that bike it reminds me, I’m not here just to look better...I want to be around to be a granddad.” (24:57)
• B. Use the 12-Week Year Approach (25:50)
  • Inspired by the book The 12 Week Year, avoid annual goals; set and pursue objectives in 12-week “sprints” to create urgency and manageable milestones.
    • “If you had to do it in 12 weeks, man, the next meal matters...think about what you can do by spring break, not December.” (26:06)
• C. Break Goals Down: Action Steps & Scheduling
  • Each 12-week goal needs concrete, actionable steps scheduled weekly.
  • Use tools/planners (e.g., Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner) to identify “the big three” weekly tasks related to your main goals.
  • “If it’s not scheduled, it’s not real...My time with God is actually on my phone as an appointment.” (28:45)
• D. Schedule Regular Reevaluation
  • Set standing weekly/quarterly times to reflect, adjust, and course-correct—Sunday nights are Chris’ own rhythm.
  • Practice the weekly “list sweep”—cross out completed tasks, move unfinished ones forward, and rewrite the “big three.”
  • “What worked, what didn’t, what needs to adjust, how far did I get, and what course correction do I need to make?” (31:37)
  • Don’t forget habits of sleep, diet, movement, and social connection in your reviews.

Final Leadership Principle

• Lead Yourself First:
  • “The greatest leadership you can do is the leadership you do for yourself. So lead yourself well in 2026.” (32:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On reflection:
  “You can be tired, but you can’t be depleted.” (18:38)
• On the purpose behind goals:
  “The more we do that… that kind of clarity and that motivation, that why motivation, I’m going to tell you, it’ll change the whole aspect…” (24:57)
• On planning your time:
  “Nobody gets to decide what’s on your calendar… there’s so much personal agency in that.” (32:27)
• On leading yourself:
  “The greatest leadership you can do is the leadership you do for yourself.” (32:45)

Key Timestamps

• 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting: 00:51–03:58
• Reflection vs. Planning (Work ON it, not just IN it): 05:02–08:54
• Reviewing Calendar & Camera Roll: 08:58–11:23
• Writing Lessons for Retention: 13:05–14:00
• Self-Evaluation Questions: 14:00–20:03
• Celebrating Wins & Confronting Facts: 21:06–22:52
• Goal Planning (Eight Areas; 12-Week Year): 22:52–27:40
• Weekly/Daily Tactical Planning: 27:40–28:35
• Importance of Scheduling (Calendar Hack): 28:35–30:56
• Weekly Reevaluation & Closing: 30:57–32:52

Episode Takeaways

• Begin with deep reflection—review, write, and dig into what fuels and drains you.
• Choose focused goals in all areas of life, with a clear “why” for each.
• Plan in shorter, urgent cycles (12 weeks).
• Schedule both your tasks and regular reflection time.
• Celebrate progress and make adjustments, leading yourself with the same diligence you hope to provide others.

“Reflection will give you wisdom, planning will give you focus, but execution gives you real results.” (31:51)

Resources Mentioned:

• 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting—Details and materials at Church of the Highlands website
• Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner
• The 12 Week Year book
• “Pray First” by Chris Hodges

For more, visit growleader.com/podcast and check out the detailed show notes and resources.