I remember when we, as a family, had to come to grips with the reality that my wife Shahinool's cancer had progressed to the point where there was little hope for recovery. As you can imagine, it was a painful and deeply emotional time.I also remember it being a time of great urgency and activity. When you know it is just a matter of time, you do everything you can to make the most of that time. We spent hours together every day, she and I and our sons – and they were among the fullest hours of our lives. Shahinool also had a large extended family, and for several weeks our home was brimming with relatives we had flown in. For awhile there, amid the pain and tears, there was also a lot of laughter and reminiscing and good times.
It got me thinking, why do we wait for a crisis to do this? We all recognize the primary importance of family in our lives. Why do wait until time is running out to really make it a priority? Ever since then, I have made it a point to keep family time front and center in my life.
The fact is, we are all capable of doing great things—in our careers and in our personal lives—and we usually know what those things are that need doing. Too often, however, it takes a crisis of some kind to prod us into action. Then, when we see the results, we ask ourselves why we didn't do it long ago.
Action in the face of crisis is something we all admire – and for good reason. It's always inspiring to see people rise to their best when there is a lot on the line. But action in the absence of crisis is an overlooked virtue, one that defines the real visionaries among us. To be bold and to move with urgency when you have nothing but your conscience and sense of opportunity driving you—that takes real courage too.