The term
potential describes what has not been fulfilled yet. To this effect,
potential may even be viewed as negative. Conversely,
potential can be positive in the sense that it provides some hope or promise of something good to come in the future.
I have to admit, though, that the first thoughts which come to mind are scientific: scalar potential, potential energy (mgh), electric potential (V), velocity potential (Φ), et cetera.
I guess that completed actions are all that we have in the end which are concrete. Potential, while being either optimistic or depressing means little until that characteristic it describes is satisfied.