What one does is not included in the outcome of what one does?

(And at no time do my hands leave my arms.-AM)

'The world has been through the most severe financial crisis since the Great Depression. As severe as the economic impact has been, however, the outcome could have been decidedly worse. The global downturn could have been extraordinarily deep and protracted...we averted the imminent collapse of the global financial system, an outcome that seemed all too possible to the finance ministers and central bankers.' -Ben Bernanke