Motivation Is Not a Strategy

In this episode, Megan shares a major mindset shift that changed both her life and her business:

She stopped waiting to feel motivated.

Because motivation feels powerful — but it’s unreliable. And when motivation controls your actions, your progress becomes inconsistent.

The Problem With Motivation

We often believe successful people are simply more motivated.

So we wait to:

• Feel inspired
• Have more time
• Be in the right mood
• Let life calm down

But motivation is an emotion — not a plan.

It depends on:

• Sleep
• Stress
• Weather
• Kids
• Energy
• Life circumstances

Perfect conditions rarely exist.

So we stay stuck.

The Big Realization

Motivation doesn’t create action.

Action creates motivation.

You don’t feel motivated → then act You act → then feel motivated

Example: You never want to go to the gym before going But after you go, you’re glad you did And that feeling motivates the next action

Until the next morning… when motivation disappears again.

Why Waiting Keeps You Inconsistent

When motivation leads:

• Work gets delayed
• Routines never stick
• To-do lists pile up
• Progress resets constantly

You keep thinking:

“I’ll start when…”

But life replaces old problems with new ones.

What Actually Works: Systems

The biggest change came from removing negotiation.

Instead of deciding daily: You pre-decide once.

A system means: You don’t decide whether You only decide how today

Examples of Systems

Business Systems

• Set posting days for social media
• Weekly newsletter schedule
• Defined workflow from inquiry → booking
• Editing routines after sessions

Personal Systems

• Drop kids off → drive straight to the gym
• Gratitude practice each morning
• Chores happen after school
• Family rules already decided

These remove decision fatigue.

What Is Decision Fatigue?

You make hundreds of decisions daily.

Every extra choice drains mental energy.

Systems remove:

• Internal negotiation
• Overthinking
• Emotional resistance

And replace it with: Automatic action

Why Systems Reduce Stress

Systems create:

• Less mental load
• Less guilt
• Less starting over
• More predictability

For business owners: Clients trust consistency.

For families: Kids trust clear expectations.

Flexibility Without Quitting

Systems don’t require perfection.

They allow adjustment.

You don’t ask:

Am I doing it?

You ask:

How am I doing it today?

Even during chaotic seasons — caregiving, weather, busy schedules — small effort still counts.

Identity Matters

Systems protect identity on hard weeks:

You remain:

• Someone who shows up
• Someone who cares about health
• Someone who runs a business consistently

Even when effort is smaller.

The Truth

You don’t need:

• A new planner
• A new year
• More inspiration

You need: One small repeatable action

Motivation might start something. Systems carry it for years.

Closing Thought

Stop waiting to feel like it.

Progress comes from repetition — not emotion.