We use the word proactive has been used a lot, but we cannot stress enough how critical it is that, as a nation, we start being proactive as opposed to reactive.​ Somewhere down the line, we got into the bad habit of constantly reacting to negative outcomes as opposed to proactively anticipating them. This approach lends itself to overreaction and overcompensation, which causes even greater chaos.

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It reminds us of the Popeye cartoon where the mighty Sailor Man and his beloved Olive Oyl are in a boat that, thanks to dozens of leaks, is rapidly sinking. Every time they manage to plug one of the leaks with their fingers, toes and Olive Oyl’s pointy nose, a brand-new leak springs making it impossible to catch them all.

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Guys, we don’t have time for this. Constantly playing defense instead of offense has us running on a treadmill that often carries us backward. We must – for once and for all – solve the roots of our challenges instead of just treating the symptoms. This means a more preemptive approach, which will minimize potential problems before they escalate into full-scale catastrophes.