Why External Motivation Falls Short

External motivation (aka extrinsic motivation) can be helpful in the short term, but it’s often unsustainable. Here’s why:

• It shifts focus to the outcome, not the process
• It creates dependency on rewards
• It loses power once the novelty wears off

Eventually, clients stop asking “How do I grow?” and start asking “What do I get?” That’s not coaching. That’s conditioning.

Build Internal Motivation Instead

Internal (or intrinsic) motivation is driven by values, purpose, and identity. When clients feel aligned with what they’re doing, they’ll keep showing up even without a prize.

Here’s how to coach with that in mind:

1. Start With Their 'Why'

Ask your client why they started. Keep digging until you go deeper than "lose weight" or "get stronger."

Maybe it’s about being a better parent. Feeling confident again. Rebuilding their health after a scare.

Pro Tip: Revisit their “why” in weekly check-ins using HubFit’s built-in notes feature. It keeps things personal and anchored.

2. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Outcomes

Shift the praise from “you lost 5 pounds” to “you showed up 4 times this week.”

Progress is important, but effort builds consistency. Teach your clients to celebrate showing up.

HubFit lets you view effort and results easily, which is perfect for giving meaningful feedback that reinforces the process.

3. Help Clients Track Their Own Progress

Self-tracking builds ownership. Let clients:

• Track strength PRs
• Log mood and energy
• Reflect on how they feel post-workout

All of these can be logged and viewed over time inside HubFit, helping clients see patterns and stay engaged. HubFit's workout tracker auto-calculates PR's for them too.

4. Build Identity-Based Goals

Instead of setting goals like “lose 10kg,” frame goals around identity:

• “I’m someone who moves my body every day.”
• “I’m the type of person who follows through.”

This is powerful. People fight hard to stay consistent with the identity they believe about themselves.

Mindset Shifts That Reinforce Intrinsic Drive

Here are mindset shifts to coach your clients toward:

• From "I have to work out" to "I get to move my body"
• From "I want to win a reward" to "I want to feel proud of myself"
• From "I’ll do it if I’m motivated" to "I’ll do it because it matters"

These small shifts, repeated often, change behavior for good.

How HubFit Supports Motivation That Lasts

HubFit is designed to help coaches build real, lasting motivation, not short-term compliance.

Here’s how:

• Track habits, workouts, and mindset logs all in one place
• Add weekly check-in forms that prompt clients to reflect
• Share motivational content directly through the client vault
• Use comments and videos to reinforce effort and identity

Motivation built on meaning scales better than motivation built on rewards. And HubFit helps you deliver that at scale.