Grow Your Local Business
Host: Leslie Presnall
Episode 138: Working In Your Business When You're Not Motivated
Date: November 4, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Leslie Presnall dives into the ever-relevant challenge of working on your local business when motivation is nowhere to be found. Drawing from her experience as a coach, business owner, and former teacher, Leslie shares powerful mindset shifts and practical strategies to keep moving forward, especially when juggling a full-time job and your passion project. She coaches listeners through real-life scenarios, reframing “lack of motivation” from a roadblock to an opportunity for self-commitment and growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Student’s Scenario: When Life Gets in the Way of Business

[02:15]

• Leslie shares the story of a student: full-time teacher, running a home organizing business.
• The student recently moved into a more demanding position at her school, consuming her energy and time.
• Due to the workload, she pauses her business: hiding her online profiles and receiving no new leads.
  • “She hasn’t been working in her business at all…”
• The student questions whether she should continue her side business, saying she isn’t even motivated to think about marketing or posting online.

2. Reframing the Motivation Gap

[04:30]

• Leslie reassures her student that a lack of business, given the circumstances, is logical.
  • “Not having clients right now makes sense. If you haven’t been marketing and you hid your profile, it totally makes sense that people aren’t booking.”
• Emphasizes the power of control—stopping and starting marketing are both decisions within the owner’s hands.
• Encourages listeners to consciously decide whether to continue or pause; there’s no right or wrong answer, just “your answer.”
  • “Do you want to keep working in your business? Why or why not? There is no wrong answer. There’s just your answer.” [05:30]

3. Commitment Over Motivation

[06:00]

• Leslie explains that motivation is unreliable and rarely shows up when needed.
  • “I don’t have motivation 99% of the days that I am working. I did not have motivation to sit down and record this podcast. But I do have a commitment to myself to show up anyway.”
• Recommends making decisions about business work time ahead of time, and honoring those commitments, regardless of feelings.
• Provides practical examples:
  • Waking up at 4am to work on her business before school.
  • If you’re an evening person, schedule that time instead.
  • The key: decide once; show up every time, irrespective of emotion.

4. Building Evidence That You Can Do Hard Things

[10:30]

• Leslie recounts her own experience juggling new teaching responsibilities and graduate school, relating it to starting and sustaining a business alongside a full-time job.
  • “I went to night school…from 6 to 9 o’clock at night, and then I would have to grade papers, do lesson plans, whatever I had to do to get ready for the next day. I did that for two years. That was hard.” [12:40]
• Encourages listeners to reflect on non-business areas where they’ve succeeded despite lack of motivation (e.g., parenting, daily chores, self-care).
  • Memorable quote: “I’m never motivated to brush my teeth, but I do it every day…because I want the result.” [14:30]

5. The Trap of Hoping for Motivation

[17:00]

• Leslie shares her past pattern of being in "limbo," vaguely thinking about working over the weekend without scheduling it.
  • “I would never commit to it. I would never put it on my calendar…all weekend, it would just kind of be spinning around in my head…hoping to get really motivated at some point. And guess what? I never got motivated.” [17:25]
• Now, she rigidly schedules business time or chooses not to work at all—eliminating mental clutter and guilt.

6. Decision & Discomfort

[20:20]

• The discomfort of showing up unmotivated is part of growth: “It’s not going to be comfortable to show up. You are going to have to work when you’re tired or after a long day or on the weekends. And you’re going to have to work most of all when you’re unmotivated.”
• Most progress comes not from perfect moods, but from persistent action for the sake of commitment and results.
  • “If you notice yourself waiting to feel motivated to show up in your business, you have to stop waiting. You just have to be committed.” [21:10]

7. Actionable Takeaways

[22:00]

• Decide this week: When will you work in your business? Schedule it, and show up no matter how you feel.
• Keeping promises to yourself is foundational to business (and personal) growth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Not having clients right now makes sense. If you haven’t been marketing and you hid your profile, it totally makes sense that people aren’t booking.” — Leslie, [04:32]
• “Do you want to keep working in your business? Why or why not? There is no wrong answer. There’s just your answer.” — Leslie, [05:30]
• “I don’t have motivation 99% of the days that I am working…But I do have a commitment to myself to show up anyway.” — Leslie, [06:45]
• “I’m never motivated to brush my teeth, but I do it every day…because I want the result.” — Leslie, [14:30]
• “All the drama happens when we stay in the indecision of it all…But if you just decide ahead of time I’m going to work, I’m going to do this thing at this time, all the drama goes away.” — Leslie, [16:55]
• “You are going to have to work most of all when you’re unmotivated…But it really comes from the desire to create the result you want in your business and the commitment to show up no matter what.” — Leslie, [20:40]
• “That’s how you become the kind of person who keeps promises to yourself, who grows a business you’re proud of, and who starts creating results that you want.” — Leslie, [23:05]

Key Timestamps

• 00:20 — Episode introduction and topic
• 02:15 — Introducing the student’s scenario
• 04:32 — The reality of paused marketing and control over visibility
• 05:30 — Deciding to continue or pause the business
• 06:45 — The truth about motivation and commitment
• 10:30-14:30 — Examples from Leslie’s teaching and business journey
• 17:25 — Weekend “limbo” example and the power of scheduling
• 20:20 — Embracing discomfort and building resilience
• 22:00 — Action challenge for listeners

Conclusion

Leslie’s message is clear and empowering: Waiting for motivation is a trap—commitment, pre-decision, and honoring your word are what move you (and your business) forward. By recognizing your capacity to do hard things, scheduling your business worktime, and showing up no matter what, you’ll build the identity of a resilient, reliable entrepreneur.

For those seeking ongoing support, Leslie invites listeners to check out her LocalPreneur Academy for coaching, accountability, and a community of action-takers. The episode is a must-listen for anyone balancing a full plate and still striving to grow their local business dreams.