Bad things will happen — to our businesses, in our lives, and in the world. It is all too easy to be derailed, and lose track of our goals. But crises can also provide opportunities for clarity. Embrace the moments when you have no choice.

To do that, I ask myself these three questions:

1. What’s the worst that can happen?
2. What would I do if I were starting from scratch today?
3. How can I extract value from this otherwise bad situation?

Here’s what I often find, as I ask those questions: The worst-case scenario is unlikely, but it is also survivable. Starting from scratch liberates you from the mistakes of the past. And no matter the crisis, you can extract value.

Most importantly, when you start to think this way, you start thinking this way even in good times. Then you don’t need a crisis to start thinking big.

Because after all, nobody likes a crisis — even if it’s a useful one.