Episode 494: #Tashmas Day 9: How do you generate and sustain motivation in business?

Today I want to get real about something we all struggle with, even though it feels like it shouldn’t happen when you’re heart-centred and passionate about what you do: losing motivation in business. If you’ve been feeling a bit off, or you can’t seem to bring yourself to do what matters most in your business, you’re not alone—and it doesn’t mean you’re failing. I’m going to walk you through why it happens and exactly what you can do to generate and sustain motivation in your business, even if your spark feels like it’s disappeared.

My aim with every episode of the Heart-Centred Business Podcast is to help heart-centred entrepreneurs make more money and change the world for the better. Motivation is a real sticking point in that journey, which is why this conversation is so important.

PLUS, as always, I have another gift for you for #Tashmas day 9!

Wait… What is #Tashmas?

I do it for both my birthday (1-12 March) and pre-Christmas (1-12 December) every year! Every day up to the 12th of December, there will be a new daily podcast episode, with a hot tip or practical strategy as per usual… but you ALSO get a gift! The daily gift could be a freebie, a special offer, a competition… but there will be something for YOU every single day.

Let’s dive in!

EPISODE 494: Listen using the player below, or click the links to your fave platform to subscribe and listen over there:

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Why Motivation Disappears (and Why It’s Not a Moral Failing)

First, I want to be super clear: there are so many valid reasons why motivation can feel hard to come by. Maybe you’ve got stuff going on in your personal life. Maybe business results aren’t what you hoped for. Perhaps you’re overloaded, or you’re dealing with burnout, health issues, hormones, neurodivergence, or external factors that throw you off course.

I know for myself, positive feedback on my content really boosts my motivation—but I also want to show up no matter what. The tricky thing here is that, as heart-centred entrepreneurs, our sense of motivation can feel deeply connected to our purpose. So, when motivation drops, it can feel like we’re failing—not just as business owners, but as people. That’s just not true. Feeling unmotivated doesn’t make you bad or lazy. Everyone experiences it. If someone tells you they’ve NEVER struggled to stay motivated, I honestly think they’re lying.

So let’s ditch that guilt.

Getting Curious: The Power of Asking Why

Rather than forcing yourself to “just push through,” I encourage you to get curious about what’s behind your lack of motivation. Coaching wisdom will tell you to ask “why” five times, and it really works. Maybe you don’t want to respond to that email because you’re afraid to set boundaries, and that fear is tied to losing a friendship in the past. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the idea of being visible online, and there’s a real, legitimate safety reason for that—especially if you’re a marginalised person.

Sometimes it’s not even obvious what’s blocking your motivation until you start digging, and sometimes it’s simple: your to-do list is too long, you don’t know what your priorities are, or none of your options feel exciting. If you let that feeling exist and ask yourself why, you’ll learn so much more about what you actually need to feel motivated again.

Work With Your Cycles, Not Against Them

Another huge tip: pay attention to your cycles—hormonal, energetic, and even the lunar cycle! Personally, perimenopause, endometriosis, and irregular cycles mean my energy naturally fluctuates. Some days, I’m not motivated for anything, even things I usually love. And when big, crappy life stuff happens (like my dog’s cancer diagnosis or a tough few months without a plan), that motivation wobbles even more.

I grew up in the ‘90s, when the advice for low energy was to flog yourself at the gym. But sometimes energy drops aren’t about effort—they’re about your body, your brain, and the season you’re in. I’ve learned to be kind to myself and plan business activities based on my energy and cycles. For example, I’m always more motivated to batch record content or do launch planning during certain times of the year—and if I miss that window, I go easier on myself and ride the next motivation wave when it returns.

The Power of Knowing Your Own Patterns

Being realistic about what you can achieve is so important. Overloading yourself catches up eventually. A lot of us high achievers are used to having sky-high standards because we could “overachieve” compared to classmates or colleagues. But in business, setting massive goals every day is a quick way to end every day feeling like an underachiever.

Inside my Planning System, I recommend just four top priority tasks each day. If you do your four, you get an A. It’s about being deeply strategic and focused, not busy for the sake of busy. This “average” standard actually lets you be an overachiever—because stringing together average days leads to outstanding results! If your standards and list are always impossible, of course you’ll feel demotivated. Give yourself permission to set the bar lower and actually feel some achievement.

Perfectionism and “all or nothing” thinking kill motivation too. If you don’t hit your wildly ambitious target by noon, don’t write the day off. Just regroup and do what you can. Progress is always better than nothing.

Find (and Trust) What Actually Motivates You

I’m a huge advocate for knowing yourself—what energises you, what drains you, and how you motivate yourself best. For me, energy and motivation come from talking to my team or biz besties, listening to podcasts, or doing a bit of tapping or journaling at the start of the day. I always check in—sometimes all I need is a small, fun starter to get me going.

Rewards are personal. Some people love using a treat (like gaming) as a carrot to get through their top three tasks. That doesn’t work for me. I discovered through Denise Duffield Thomas’ Sacred Money Archetypes that I’m pleasure-first: I’m motivated by giving myself pleasure NOW, not dangling it as a future reward. If I let myself head to the pool before writing that email sequence, I come back refreshed and ready. Depriving myself of pleasure or treating it like a dangling carrot totally backfires for me.

It’s taken me a long time to realise I’m not lazy—my fastest path to motivation is joy and pleasure. If you try this and don’t feel any work motivation for a few days, go easy on yourself. Sometimes it takes a while to bounce back after a long stretch of deprivation.

Let Go of What “Should” Motivate You

If it’s true pleasure that gets you going, embrace it—even if it flies in the face of everything you’ve been taught about rewards or discipline. For me, even stickers and pretty stationery help set the tone for my day. I use them not as a reward AFTER finishing my work, but as a ritual to make my to-do list enjoyable from the START.

Don’t assume you’re only motivated by punishment if rewards don’t work—instead, explore what really lights you up, no matter how unconventional or “counterintuitive” it feels.

Borrow Motivation and Momentum from Others

When motivation is flat, sometimes you just need to borrow it. Talk to someone who gets it, join a mastermind, or attend an event. I can’t tell you how often clients tell me they leave a session with me buzzing, simply because I’m excited about their business and that energy flows both ways.

That’s actually a big reason I started the Heart-Centred Business Conference—so I (and others) could soak up and share that collective energy! I make a point to attend plenty of events myself for that same reason. Even helping others who are stuck gives me my own little dose of motivation. Community, connection, actual conversations—these are massive when it comes to reigniting your business spark.

Let’s recap: The Five Keys to Generating (and Sustaining) Motivation

1. Get deeply curious—ask “why” until you uncover what’s truly blocking your motivation.
2. Pay attention to your energy cycles, hormones, time of year, environment, and when/where you work best. Plan around your own natural rhythms.
3. Be realistic. Set average, achievable standards and celebrate them.
4. Know (and deeply trust) what works for you—especially the unique, internal drivers of motivation.
5. Borrow motivation from others—mentors, peers, clients, or by connecting with other real humans who can reflect your excitement and help you clear the fog.

And, if you want to give your motivation and momentum a jump start next year…

Your Day 9 #Tashmas Gift!

If you want to KICKSTART 2026 with a big dose of momentum, focus and strategic direction, join us for Kickstart 2026! It goes from 12-16 January 2026, and over the five days, you will astound yourself but just how much you achieve.  

Find out more about Kickstart 2026 at tashcorbin.com/kickstart, PLUS if you’re one of the first 26 people to comment KICKSTART on the Day 9 #Tashmas Post over on my FB Page, you’ll get a coupon for $26 off the registration price!  

Give yourself permission to do motivation YOUR way, and tap into the support available when you need it most.

Until next time, I cannot WAIT to see you SHINE.