I was finishing off last week’s blog when a thought popped into my head: something is missing. Motivation is still overrated. It’s still flakey. I’ve worked with countless clients who wanted to lose weight or get fit and were just waiting to feel motivated. I still stand by what I said, don’t wait around for motivation to get started or to take action.
Sometimes motivation isn’t there not because you’ve got a mindset problem, but because your gut is trying to tell you something. Something’s not quite right. And it comes across as, “I’m just not feeling it.” You might find yourself asking, “Where’s my motivation gone?”
Maybe you’re a gym owner or personal trainer delaying the launch of a new class. Maybe you’re a practitioner finding it harder and harder to show up each day. Or maybe you’re a coach who keeps putting off writing that next social media post.
This blog is for those times when everything looks good on paper, but you still don’t feel excited. You can’t seem to get started with parts of your business, (and it’s not because you’re overwhelmed or you don’t know how), it’s just that deep down, you don’t really want to. That’s what we’re digging into today.
When “Not Feeling It” Is Actually A Message
I recently spent 10 days in Majorca. Before I left, I was on top of everything in my business. Social media? Automated. Blogs and newsletters? Scheduled. Clients? Prepped and set. I even made sure the tasks I had waiting for me when I got home were realistic. I landed in the UK after those 10 days feeling creatively alive and ready to go.
And then… I looked at the to-do list.
The workshop I’d told myself I’d start planning once I got home, and I just… didn’t want to. I found myself delaying getting started.
Looking back, there were two things happening:
- I didn’t want to look bad if no one turned up (so better not to start).
- Something felt off about how I was preparing for the workshop.
Both of those things killed my motivation. Last week’s blog talked about the first point: avoiding action because you’re worried about what people might think, or because the task feels overwhelming.
This week is about the second point: “I’m not aligned.”
When the Strategy Doesn’t Fit You
What felt off were the ideas I was trying to force. I’d created an Eventbrite page with too many package options [A, B, C, D] it was confusing. I thought, “I probably need a lead magnet.” Maybe a free masterclass, a downloadable PDF… but none of it felt quite right. I’d landed home and realised June was flying by, and I was nowhere near ready to launch.
But because I’d given myself space, and was listening to myself, the ideas started to flow again. I began to feel more aligned, step by step.
I remember when I first launched my coaching business. I just wanted to coach. I loved it. But I had no idea where to start. So I paid (a lot of money) for a business program. The advice? Run workshops, get bums on seats, follow a sales formula. Everyone else was getting results, so I kept thinking, “It must be me. I just need to push through.”
But the truth is, I wanted to give value. I wanted to create something meaningful, where the people who said yes were 100% sure they wanted to work with me, and I with them. I also wanted to keep my fitness business going while building my coaching brand. I even said I wanted to coach people like Ben Francis, the Gymshark founder. I was told, “All of that won’t work.”
Signs You’re Out of Alignment
Looking back, I can see where I went off track. I followed advice that didn’t match who I was, and even though I learnt a lot, some of it felt forced.
Here are some signs your business (or parts of it) might be out of alignment with you:
- You keep pushing even though it doesn’t feel right.
- You want to do it… but just can’t motivate yourself.
- You’re taking action, but nothing lights you up.
- You keep putting off the same tasks.
- You feel more energised by other ideas in the background.
- Your content or messaging feels hard to write, or not like you.
When I had my first call in my new coaching business, it felt completely different. It was like being a kid in the playground, I was having fun again!
Are there parts of your business where you feel like the motivation just isn’t there? It could be a sign that you’re not aligned with it.
It’s Effort, Not “Hard Work”
Look, running a business takes effort. I don’t love the word “hard” or “tough” when it comes to work (because honestly, hard work was being employed).
Running a business takes energy, consistency, and emotional resilience:
- Being vulnerable and posting on social media, even though people might criticise.
- Keeping your accounts up to date and facing up to the numbers.
- The days when clients cancel, prospective ones ghost you, or no one shows up to your event.
It takes mental strength to ride those ups and downs. So don’t make it even harder by continuing with something that isn’t working for you.
I remember staring at a blank screen, forcing myself to message people I didn’t really want to work with. Trying to connect in a way that didn’t feel right. Hosting events that felt like something was missing.
Right now, I’m writing this blog at 5:30am while my 18-month-old is asleep next to me. It’s flowing easily. It feels right to share this with you. I’ve no idea what I’ll write about next week, but I know it’ll be what I’m meant to say when the time comes.
You know you’re aligned when it flows, when the ideas excite you, when you’re not dragging yourself to tick things off a list.
Check In With Yourself
Here are some red flags I’ve noticed in myself, and in clients, little whispers that something deeper might be off:
- You feel “meh” about your business or start resenting your clients.
- You’re taking the “right” actions, but nothing feels fulfilling.
- You keep avoiding certain parts of your business.
- You’re constantly energised by new ideas, but never move on them.
- Your messaging feels disconnected or like hard work.
You don’t need to flip everything upside down overnight. But even noticing one of these signs is a good reason to pause and ask yourself some honest questions.
- Where in my business do I feel energised and alive?
- Which parts drain me?
- Where am I doing things because I think I should?
Don’t rush through these. Pick one and reflect on it while journaling, walking, in the shower, or driving. Let your mind wander.
What You Can Do Next
- Take a pause and reflect.
- Test a new idea. Share it. Talk about it.
- Speak to a mentor or coach who can help you get clarity.
If you’re not feeling motivated right now, maybe it’s not about motivation at all. Maybe something just doesn’t feel right. And that’s your cue to lean in and listen.
For me, it was during that trip to Majorca, away from the noise, when things started to click. More clarity, more ease, more truth.
Take five minutes today to do the same. Give yourself some space. Check in. What’s not working for you right now?
Take a moment today to reflect on where you’re feeling out of sync. As always, I’m here to help. Reach out and let me know what’s going on.
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