You Don’t Have a Motivation Problem.

You Might Just Be Exhausted.

Welcome to another edition of Your Limitless Leadership.

I want to talk about motivation today—specifically why motivation disappears. I’ll be straight with you: most of the time, it’s not motivation.

It’s exhaustion. You are tired. Worn out. Just too much.

A couple of weeks back, Jenny and I were out in New York. Jenny was already there, and I flew out on a Monday afternoon around 4 pm. By the time I landed, drove into Connecticut, spent time with her brother and family, it was late. We didn’t get to bed until around 11—and if you’ve ever traveled, you know what I mean when I say foreign bed, foreign sleep. We didn’t sleep well.

The next two days were full. Mentally taxing meetings. Long days. Being “on” the entire time. Listening. Engaging. Showing up. Then driving 45 minutes each way back and forth, dinners with family, and another late night.

The following morning, we had to leave Connecticut around six to beat traffic for NY. For me, that meant getting up at 3:45 am to get my run in. I went out for a four-mile run in 15–20-degree weather, came back, traveled, spoke at two Morgan Stanley meetings, and then flew home.

By Thursday, I was wiped.

And I’ll be vulnerable with you—I didn’t feel like doing anything. Nothing. I started asking myself,What is wrong with me? Why am I so tired?

That is why I’m writing this. It may not be NY for you. May be kids, family, travel, staying up late or a number of other things.

Sleep Is Not a Luxury. It’s a Leadership Tool.

So many of us wear lack of sleep like a badge of honor. Is it though?

“Look at me—I don’t need sleep.”

Sleep isn’t a luxury. It’s a tool. A personal tool. A leadership tool.

If you’re trying—trying—to run on five or six hours of sleep, that’s not discipline. That’s ego. That’s telling yourself you can outwork biology. Keep giving it a shot and see where it gets you.

Here’s what happens when you do that:

Your focus disappears.
Your decision-making slows down.
Your emotional reactions increase.
Small problems feel much bigger. For no reason

That week, my focus was all over the board. I had a full-blown case of what I call “the stupids.” I wasn’t sharp. I wasn’t decisive. I wasn’t myself.

Tired leaders make reactive decisions.
Rested leaders make strategic ones.

When you’re rested, you communicate better. You think clearer. You lead.

You’re Not Busy. You’re Running Yourself Ragged.

Most people—especially business owners—don’t lack motivation. You already have it.

What you need is fewer unnecessary commitments. Boundaries.

We spread ourselves too thin, we feel we have to. We pack our calendars with things that don’t matter, to us. We wonder why we don’t feel like doing what’s on the calendar. Pretty simple when someone tells it like this isn’t it?

Here’s how energy actually gets spent:

Mentally – decisions, stress, constant thinking
Physically – movement and recovery
Emotionally – people, pressure, expectations

If you don’t manage these intentionally, they manage you.

This is where boundaries are.

Jenny has told me this for years—I’m really good at saying no to things that don’t benefit us or don’t truly benefit the other person. That matters.

If you’re asking yourself, Should I do this or shouldn’t I?
You already know the answer.

Cancel it. Don’t feel bad. That’s leadership. Do what’s right for you. It’s not selfish. It’s smart business decision making.

Alcohol Is Costing You More Than You Think.

This one hits close for many.

I’m not saying don’t ever drink—but understand what alcohol does.

If I drink on a Saturday—or hypothetically on a Sunday—I’m off Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. My sleep quality tanks. My energy drops. The weights feel heavier. Recovery slows. Mental sharpness disappears.

As a business owner and a leader, I owe my clients my full presence. Not half-energy. Not foggy thinking. Not half ass.

Alcohol:

• Slows your drive

• Shortens your patience

• Creates inconsistency

• Clouds your thinking

Nobody wakes up excited to feel foggy.

I have too much to accomplish in my life to let alcohol get in the way.

There’s a time and place—but it doesn’t belong in the middle of your performance.

Your Body Is Either an Asset or a Liability.

This is the last one. Soak it in.

If you don’t move your body, you’ll be out of shape.
If you start and stop working out, you’ll stay stuck in that cycle. It’s a habit.

Working out isn’t about looks. It’s about:

• Confidence

• Stress tolerance

• Mental clarity

• Emotional control

Low energy shows up as procrastination.
Avoiding hard conversations.
Short-term thinking.
Playing small.
“I’ll do it tomorrow.”

The first couple weeks are hard. Do it anyway. You will get used to it. Like anything.

Stop Asking About Motivation.

Stop asking, "How do I get motivated?”

Start asking:

• What time am I going to bed?

• What time am I getting up?

• What am I consuming—mentally and physically?

• Am I moving my body?

• Where am I leaking energy every single day?

When you focus on your energy, your energy changes.
When your energy changes, your confidence changes.
And when your confidence changes—your business changes.

You’re not broken.
You’re not lazy.
You might just be exhausted.

And that’s something you can change—starting today.

You’ve got this.