How to Rebuild Momentum When You Lose It

I was making good money. Working alongside a mentor I deeply admired. Doing work that, not long ago, had felt like a dream come true.

From the outside, I had everything I’d worked so hard for. On the inside, something felt quietly wrong.

Tasks that once excited me now felt routine. Projects blurred into a steady hum of sameness. Meetings became obligations. I wasn’t exhausted or overwhelmed; I was just... drifting.

I still showed up, did good work, and hit my goals. But something crucial was missing, something I couldn’t quite name.

Then, one day, I stumbled across a line from Sam Altman that stopped me in my tracks:

People lose momentum because either what they do isn’t interesting, or it doesn’t work. If you do something interesting and find ways to make it work, you keep the momentum.

I realized instantly that this described exactly where I was. My work was no longer interesting, but it worked. And because it worked, I stayed.

But it hadn’t always been that way.

The Opposite Problem

Early in my career, I jumped from one passion to another: barista, chef, salesperson, graphic designer, programmer. Each job fascinated me. I loved the novelty, the learning curve, and the challenge of something new. I chased sparks, convinced each new thing was "my calling."

But sparks don’t keep the fire burning. They flash briefly and then die out. The truth was, none of my pursuits had traction. Nothing stuck. I repeatedly started from zero, always broke, always behind. My work was interesting, but it simply didn’t work.

I had autonomy, I was challenged, but I didn’t have results.

So when I started writing and digital marketing—working with people like Noah Kagan—it felt like finding solid ground. The work wasn’t just exciting; it got results. For the first time, things clicked.

I was learning fast. My efforts turned into progress—more money, more responsibility, more recognition. I finally had what I’d been missing: visible rewards for my efforts.

It felt sustainable. It felt meaningful.

Until it didn’t.

Three Ingredients of Meaningful Work

In the book ​Outliers​, Malcolm Gladwell describes three qualities that make work deeply fulfilling—not just enjoyable, but sustainable:

1. It’s challenging

The best work pulls you to your edge, just enough to keep you sharp. It doesn’t crush you, but it refuses to let you coast.

2. It offers autonomy

You feel trusted. You have room to maneuver, to ​make choices​, to own your successes and failures. Your work belongs to you, not just someone else’s agenda.

2. It clearly connects effort and reward

You know exactly what “good” looks like. When you put in the work, something meaningful happens—recognition, impact, financial reward, growth. The feedback loop is clear and tangible.

Looking back, I can see why different phases of my career felt off:

• When I jumped from passion to passion, I had challenge and autonomy, but no clear link between effort and reward.
• Later, in digital marketing, I had autonomy and clear rewards, but lost the challenge.

Both times, momentum evaporated—not because I lacked passion or drive, but because something essential was missing from the equation.

Why "Follow Your Passion" Isn’t Enough

The real insight isn’t just knowing these three elements exist. It’s understanding why losing even one can quietly unravel everything.

We often tell people, "Follow your passion." But passion is fleeting. It’s excitement—and excitement fades. What remains is the system we build around ourselves. A system that either replenishes or drains us.

Sam Altman’s quote perfectly captures this tension:

• Work that’s interesting but doesn’t work leaves you frustrated and broke.
• Work that works but isn’t interesting leaves you bored and stuck.
• Work that’s neither interesting nor working? That’s what leads to burnout and resignation.

Real momentum emerges when you find an interesting problem you want to solve and figure out how to make it work.

The real question isn’t how long you can stay passionate, but how honest you’re willing to be when the work you love no longer loves you back.

Running and Growing Wolo Yoga

Right now, that honesty led me to co-found ​Wolo Yoga​, my e-commerce brand.

It’s challenging in ways I've never experienced. I'm exploring fundraising, capital allocation, and leadership. I'm navigating hiring, building systems, and shaping culture. Every day nudges me slightly beyond what I know, pulling me forward into what I don't yet fully understand.

And the stakes feel high—because they're mine.

I have all the autonomy I could ask for. Maybe even a bit too much, some days.

But so far, it's working. We've generated over half a million in revenue. I'm earning less now than when I was at AppSumo, yet something feels fundamentally different:

Instead of ceilings, I see possibilities. Instead of limits, I sense potential.

It feels meaningful, not because it's easy, safe, or perfectly comfortable, but precisely because it's none of those things. It's interesting. It's challenging. And it's working.

Momentum has returned—not effortlessly, but deliberately.

A New Lens For Your Work

If you’re feeling stuck (not burnt out, just off), the answer ​may not be working harder​ or finding something new. It might just be that one of the three legs under your work is missing.

So instead of asking, “Am I passionate about this?”

Ask something more useful:

• Is this still challenging me? Or have I started coasting?
• Do I have control—or am I just reacting?
• When I put in the effort, do I see progress? Or just motion?

You don’t need to overhaul your career to regain momentum. Sometimes, you just need to adjust the dial on one of those levers.

Because momentum doesn’t come from hype or hustle, it comes from alignment. And alignment starts with awareness.

The goal isn’t perfect work. It’s work that energizes you to keep going. That’s the kind of work that works—for you.