“When written in Chinese the word “crisis” is composed of two characters – one represents danger and the other represents opportunity.”

This observation was made in an early presidential campaign speech by then U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, revealing how sage the Chinese were in the development of their language and character system — for it accurately dissects the primary elements of a “crisis”, no matter how large or small.

Being mindful of the inherent dangers in a crisis, while looking for its hidden opportunities will serve you well, because if you evaluate exigencies in this manner, you will remain calm enough to lucidly see the forest from the trees for sound decision-making, and avoid making make rash, emotion-laden decisions you may later regret.

President Kennedy’s crisis management skills were certainly put to the test during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, which is generally regarded as the closest mankind has ever come to nuclear-level conflict and faced the VERY REAL possibility of mutually assured destruction, and thus THE END OF THE WORLD.