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.
