On Writing: A Character Question

What did your protagonist do the week before the story began?

It's a question that I noticed on a character interview I picked up someplace. A question I've pretty much ignored up to now.

But I've noticed a strange feeling in my first chapter, something that's off... and I think this question holds at least a part of the key.

Why?

Because a good story begins in the middle of something. It draws you in immediately. Knowing what happened in the days just prior to that opening moment adds to that feeling in the opening moment.

It also gives your character immediate context for the events that unfold in those first few pages.
Motivation. His actions are now reactions to some other stimuli.

The thing to resist in doing this is letting the character flash back to those prior days while you're still in those first few pages. Don't do it. Keep the focus forward.

So... what did your character do the week prior to scene one?