Everyone knows that rush when you start something new. The excitement feels unstoppable, as if nothing could derail your plans. But give it a few weeks, and suddenly that morning alarm feels different. The work hasn’t changed, but your enthusiasm has. Alex Dripchak, a sales director, skills coach, and founder, has figured out how to keep moving when that initial spark disappears.
Recognizing the Hidden Drop in Drive
There’s a moment most people hit but rarely discuss. “You know that moment when you’re hyped to start something new? It’s a new job, a new workout plan, a new side hustle, and a few weeks in you wake up and the excitement’s gone,” Dripchak explains. The spark has disappeared, but the work? Still sitting there. This happens to everyone, whether they admit it or not. So what do you do when motivation disappears? Most people just wait, hoping the feeling comes back. That’s not a strategy. That’s just crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.
Swap Hype For Habit
Here’s what Dripchak learned through years of sales work and coaching: motivation isn’t reliable. “Motivation is similar to caffeine. It’s effective, but it doesn’t last forever.” You can’t build your productivity around something that disappears whenever it feels appropriate. What actually works? Systems. “Build a structure that makes showing up automatic,” he says. Think about it: you don’t motivate yourself to brush your teeth every morning. You just do it. That’s what habits can do for your work. Dripchak breaks it down into three parts. “Reduce friction to enable good habits. Consistently call upon your positive energy force or source and build your own loyalty program.” Basically, make it easier to do the thing than to avoid it. Put your running shoes by the door. Set up your desk the night before. Remove the tiny excuses your brain uses to bail.
Make It Smaller and Easier
Big projects kill momentum before you even start. “When the mountain looks too big, your brain shuts down,” Dripchak points out. Your mind sees everything that needs doing and simply gives up. The fix? Stop trying to climb the whole mountain at once. “Break your work into smaller, no-excuse steps,” he suggests. Don’t write the entire report. Just outline three bullet points. That’s it. That’s the whole task. Why does this work? Because small wins create momentum. “Momentum builds faster when you give yourself wins that you can accomplish in minutes, not hours.” Get one tiny thing done, and suddenly the next thing doesn’t seem as daunting. “Remember, there’s no greater catalyst to action than a sense of progress.”
Change the Scenery, Change the Energy
Sometimes you’re doing everything right, but nothing is working. It could be that your location is working against you. “Sometimes your environment is the productivity killer,” Dripchak notes. Same desk, same walls, same distractions. Your brain gets stuck in a rut. Try working somewhere else. “Switch it up and find your sanctified spaces. These are places where you’re pre-wired to take action and stay laser focused.” For Dripchak, it’s the library. For someone else, it might be a coffee shop or an office. The point is finding places where your brain automatically switches into work mode. “New surroundings can refocus and re-center your brain into feeling refreshed, even if your to-do list hasn’t changed.” Sometimes all you need is a different view to get unstuck.
The whole point comes down to this: “When motivation fades, it’s not a sign to stop, it’s a sign to switch strategies.” Waiting for motivation to come back doesn’t work. Building systems that don’t need motivation? That’s the strategy. “Trade hype for habits and break the work down. Shake up that environment. Do that and you’ll keep moving forward long after that initial excitement is gone.” The work doesn’t care how you feel about it. But your systems can carry you through when your feelings won’t.
Connect with Alex Dripchak on LinkedIn or his website to learn more about sustaining long-term performance.
