Every Feb. 4, as we mark World Cancer Day, the message we hear again and again is simple and true: Early detection saves lives. And yet, for too many Americans, preventive health care remains out of reach. 

There are many reasons, but according to the 2025 Aflac Wellness Matters Survey, 90% of Americans delay preventive screenings. The vast majority of people (94%) say they do so not because they don’t want to, but because of barriers like scheduling conflicts, logistics, or access. Early detection is the best way to extend life’s most precious commodity: time. But the painful irony is that our limited time often gets in the way.

After more than three decades as CEO, I’ve come to see time as our most finite resource. How we delegate our time objectively reflects what we truly value. But time is a hidden privilege that we don’t acknowledge enough. And it is a privilege that business leaders have a responsibility........

© Time