The early work of Werner Erhard has had a big influence on my coaching, and on my own personal development. He had a phrase, “already always,” that can be a wonderful pointer right now.
Many leaders are already always doing. Or already always defending, or fighting, or achieving.
Meaning that everything that occurs for them is filtered through, “What do I do with or about this?” or “How do I defend against this?” The immediate assumption is that whatever is happening is something that requires action, or that it is bad and needs to be defended against.
Because we are “already always” this, it can be very hard to see. It can be hard even to talk about it.
I have a client who is struggling with his “already always” right now. His “already always” is doing, striving, winning. And right now, what is showing up for him is space—less to do, fewer employees to hire, less he can control. Instead of welcoming the rest, the renewal, the insight, that can come from space and rest, his tendency, his wiring, as he would say, is “not to waste this time.” His already always, like yours and mine, serves him, until it doesn’t.
What is your “already always?” How does it serve you? And how does it get in your way?
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