The extreme urgency of failure possibilities.

In his book The Millionaire in the Mirror, Gene Bedell mentions that there are really only two actions that one should be taking in order to advance their career.

The first type of action gets you closer to your goals.  For example you can accomplish projects or deliver outstanding results.

The second type of action is anything that prevents absolute failure possibilities.  Reaching out to a customer who had a bad experience so that they don't bad mouth your company into the ground is an example of this.  Sending your significant other a romantic note or eating healthier is sometimes necessary to prevent the failure of a relationship or a heart.  

I've been fired in part due to my failure to move heaven and earth after learning about an absolute failure possibility at work.  I had become complacent after three years, after what I consider to be over one thousand days of victories.  Each day moved me somewhat closer to my goal.  But the negative event was fast and absolute.  I had thought that I'd have time to submit emails, audio files, and witnesses to prove my point.  But neither work nor the unemployment people looked at them or even cared to hear my side of the story.  Failure is instant and absolute.  Once it happens there can be no going back.