What Never Not Working Taught Me About Energy, Recovery, and Sustainable Coaching
I picked up Never Not Working by Malissa Clark thinking it would offer insight into workaholism—something I’ve seen (and felt) far too often in the coaching profession.
What I didn’t expect was a mirror.
This book doesn’t just unpack the signs of workaholism—it offers a lens to examine our motivations, our energy patterns, and our relationship to rest. For those of us building coaching businesses while pursuing mastery, Clark’s insights are more than academic. They’re deeply personal.
In our latest episode of The Coaching Book Club Podcast, I dove into why this book matters so much to coaches—and how it’s helping me reexamine how I show up in my own work.
Here are a few reflections that have stayed with me since that conversation.
Energy Is Not Just a Resource—It’s a Signal
One of Clark’s most powerful distinctions is this:
“Workaholism is not defined by the number of hours worked. It’s about why you’re working and how it affects your well-being.”
That hit hard.
I’ve always loved my work—reading, learning, coaching, sharing. I often feel energized by it. But there have been seasons where my drive masked depletion. When I pushed through, not out of purpose, but out of pressure.
This distinction reminds me of ICF Core Competency 2: Embodies a Coaching Mindset. For me, part of that mindset is knowing when my energy is aligned with passion—and when it’s being drained by fear, perfectionism, or over-responsibility.
Checking in with my why isn’t just a personal habit. It’s part of my professional ethics.
Recovery Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a Requirement
Clark writes:
“Recovery is not the absence of work. It’s the presence of something else—something that restores you.”
She names four types of recovery:
Psychological detachment (completely shifting focus)
Physical activity (movement that replenishes)
Relaxation (unstructured time, mindfulness, rest)
Mastery experiences (learning outside of work)
I realized I’ve often treated recovery like a bonus—something I’d get to if time allowed. But this book reframed it as a performance tool, not a reward.
As a coach, I can't model wholeness if I’m constantly skimming the surface of my own well-being. Recovery allows me to be fully present for my clients (ICF Core Competency 4: Cultivates Trust and Safety)—and for myself.
Now, I’m more intentional about creating space between sessions, protecting my yoga practice, and scheduling “white space” on my calendar as a business priority.
Motivation Matters More Than You Think
Another concept that stuck with me:
“Engaged workers are energized and immersed. Workaholics are tense and driven.”
The behaviors may look similar on the outside—long hours, full schedules—but the internal state is wildly different.
This made me revisit one of my favorite coaching questions:
👉 “What’s fueling this for you?”
Are we acting from joy or from fear? From purpose or from pressure?
This is central to ICF Core Competency 8: Facilitates Client Growth. Helping clients become aware of their internal drivers—and redesign their work accordingly—is one of the most powerful gifts coaching can offer.
And I have to keep offering that gift to myself, too.
Not Everything Is Urgent
Clark encourages readers to challenge urgency culture and get honest about what actually matters. That hit home for me as a business owner, where it's easy to equate busyness with value.
Lately, I’ve been asking myself:
Is this truly urgent—or just loud?
Will saying yes to this take me closer to how I want to show up as a coach?
This reminds me of ICF Core Competency 7: Evokes Awareness. Awareness isn’t just cognitive—it’s energetic. And when I slow down long enough to notice what’s urgent and what’s not, I can make better, kinder, more sustainable decisions.
How I’m Using This in My Coaching Practice
Since reading Never Not Working, I’ve made a few shifts:
I check in with my motivation before saying yes to new projects.
I treat recovery as a necessary rhythm, not a nice-to-have.
I ask clients more questions about their energy, not just their goals.
I protect space between calls so I can show up present and grounded.
I’m also giving myself permission to redefine success. It’s not about how many hours I coach, how many programs I offer, or how full my calendar looks. It’s about the energy and intention I bring to my work.
A Final Word
Malissa Clark reminds us that “never not working” is not a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign.
As coaches, we are often praised for our dedication, our responsiveness, our hustle. But what if our most courageous act is to step back? To rest? To recover?
Because here’s the truth I’m holding close:
You can’t coach from depletion. You can only coach from presence.
This book helped me reconnect with the kind of coach—and human—I want to be. One who is energized, not just busy. Present, not just productive. And aligned, not just accomplished.
So let me leave you with the question I’ve been asking myself lately:
👉 What’s fueling your work this week?
Let it be something you love.
