Frameworks Episode 21 Recap: The Motivation Lie: Outcomes Don’t Get People Moving
Frameworks with Carl Hardwick | CoachRx Podcast Network
Welcome back to Frameworks.
Today we’re taking on one of the biggest myths in health and fitness: the belief that outcomes motivate people to move.
Here’s the hard truth—telling someone they’ll reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, drop their body fat, or raise their VO₂ max isn’t enough to drive lasting action. We are emotional beings, not data machines.
The real work isn’t convincing people with numbers. It’s helping them connect to movement itself—seeing it not as a chore, but as a gift.
In this episode, I break down:
Why outcomes fail as motivators
How meaning, emotion, and autonomy drive consistency
And how coaches can reframe movement so clients want to do it, not feel forced to
If you want your clients to move more, enjoy it more, and sustain it for life, this one’s for you.
Motivation Doesn’t Live in Outcomes
By definition, motivation is the reason we act or behave in a particular way.
But motivation doesn’t live in distant outcomes. It lives in meaning.
When movement feels good, connects to our values, and fits into our daily lives, it becomes sustainable. That’s the job of a coach: not selling data points, but helping people find their why—so movement becomes natural, not forced.
Frameworks for Coaching Motivation
1. Outcomes Don’t Motivate, Feelings Do
Humans seek pleasure and avoid pain.
Data and risk reduction rarely inspire consistent action.
What does? Immediate feedback: feeling energized, less stressed, more alive.
2. From Chore to Gift: Reframing Movement
If movement feels like work, it feels like a tax.
If it’s framed as joy, it becomes a reward.
Ask clients: What kinds of movement leave you energized? That’s where consistency grows.
3. Autonomy is the Engine of Motivation
People sustain what they freely choose, not what they’re told to do.
Coaching means guiding clients to discover their own why.
Movement tied to personal meaning—playing with kids, enjoying the outdoors, lifting to feel strong—fuels ownership and long-term buy-in.
Application
Here’s how to put this into practice:
Start with Questions, Not Prescriptions
→ “What forms of movement do you enjoy?”
→ “When do you feel your best?”Celebrate Immediate Wins
→ Reinforce the positive emotions after movement—energy, clarity, mood.Create Movement Snacks
→ Walk-and-talk calls, play with family, active breaks, or daily chores reframed as movement.Respect Autonomy
→ Provide options, not ultimatums. Anchor in principles, but give choice.Reframe Success
→ Don’t just track outcomes like weight or VO₂ max. Track consistency, energy, and enjoyment.
Close
Outcomes matter—but they don’t get people off the couch.
If you want clients to move for life, you need to shift the focus:
Help them find meaning in movement.
Frame movement as a gift, not a punishment.
Give them autonomy to own it.
Because when movement feels good, people no longer have to do it…they want to do it. And when they want to move, the outcomes take care of themselves.
Listen to Episode 21 Now
▶️ Watch on YouTube
🎧 Listen on Spotify
📖 Catch up on past episodes + blog recaps
Have questions? DM Carl on Instagram @hardwickcarl
Frameworks is part of the CoachRx Podcast Network, your hub for principled, purpose-driven coaching conversations.
For more shows, visit: coachrx.app/podcast-network
Stay ahead of the curve and provide the best for your clients with CoachRx.
