Welcome to Issue # 12 of THE Peak Performance Newsletter

The Sales and Business Growth Corner

What to Do When Motivation Drops

We all go through phases when our motivation to get certain things done just seems to disappear.

You know the feeling - you start a new project or task and you're so gung-ho to get it done but after some time (could be hours or days later), you're just not feeling it any more and it's hard to keep going.

I've been there myself - lots of times and that's why I wanted to write about it now.

The first thing to recognize about motivation is that no one can motivate you, only you can motivate yourself.

Yes, sure, if we get a good pep talk from a coach or watch an inspiring video we feel like that person (the coach) or that video motivated us, but in reality we decided that we felt motivated as a result.

In my coaching of high performers, I've found that the best way to help them recruit their motivation is to help them connect with their big WHY.

As in, why do you do what you do? What are you hoping to achieve/accomplish?

Of course the bigger the vision or goal, the easier it is to motivate ourselves to keep going even the the going gets tough to the point that we feel like we want to quit.

I've also noticed that the most powerful visions or goals will involve other people and are not just self-focused.

They sound more like, "I do what I do at work because I want to be able to do X for those I love" and it's not simply "I want to be the best at [blank]."

But even then, there will be times when you feel like you can't muster up the motivation to do what you know you need to do, especially when it's a task that is difficult or unpleasant (like prospecting in sales).

That's where having good systems, processes and routines comes into play.

You see, when you've got for example, a block of time booked off in your calendar dedicated to doing the task you'd rather avoid but you make a routine out of doing it anyway, you can now rely on your systems and habits and not have to worry about re-motivating yourself EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

Do this and watch your productivity skyrocket.

If you don't already do this, try it out and let me know how it goes.

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I'm republishing my previous piece on the neuroscience of motivation below because I feel it goes well with this week's theme of my newsletter - enjoy!

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Maximizing Your Mental Performance

The Neuroscience of Motivation: How to Flip the Switch in Your Brain

Ever felt stuck in a rut, knowing what you should do but just… not doing it?

It’s not laziness. It’s biology.

Motivation isn't about willpower—it's about chemistry. And understanding the brain can help you hack your own motivation in a sustainable way.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what the science says:

Dopamine Is the Driver

Dopamine isn’t just the “pleasure chemical”—it’s the anticipation chemical. It spikes before the reward, not after. So motivation comes from the expectation of progress, not the finish line.

Hack it: Break your goals into small steps. Every tiny win gives your brain a hit of dopamine and builds momentum.

Time and Novelty Matter

Your brain loves newness. Novelty activates the hippocampus and increases dopamine release. That’s why routines can start to feel like slogs.

Hack it: Add a twist. Change your workspace, try a different approach, or gamify a task to re-engage your brain.

Stress Kills Motivation—But Only the Bad Kind

Chronic stress floods your brain with cortisol, which dampens motivation. But a manageable level of stress (called “eustress”) can actually enhance focus and drive.

Hack it: Reframe your stress. If something feels hard, remind yourself: “This is growth.” That mindset shift helps your brain see the challenge as exciting instead of threatening.

Habits Beat Hustle

When tasks become habitual, they shift from the prefrontal cortex (thinking/planning) to the basal ganglia (automatic behavior). Translation? Less effort, more consistency.

Hack it: Don’t rely on daily motivation. Build systems and rituals that carry you when your drive dips.

Bottom line: You don’t need to “force” motivation. You just need to work with your brain, not against it.

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And that's all for this week.

See you in my next issue.

To your success,

Humza

PS If there is anyone you know who would benefit from reading this, feel free to share this with them

And that's all for this week.

See you in my next issue.

To your success,

Humza

PS If there is anyone you know who would benefit from reading this, feel free to share this with them