One day an expert on the subject of time
management. was speaking to a group of business students and, to
drive home a point, used an illustration I'm sure those students
will never forget.
As this man stood in front of a group of high-powered
overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz."
He then pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed jar and set it on
the table in front of him. He produced about a dozen fist-sized
rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.
When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit
inside, he asked, "Is the jar full?"
Everyone in the class said, "Yes."
Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the
table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped
some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work
themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.
He smiled and asked the group once more,"Is
the jar full?"
By this time the class was onto him. "Probably not,"
one of them answered. "Good," he replied.
And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand.
He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces
left between the rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?"
"No!" the class shouted.
Once again he said, "Good!"
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour until the
jar was filled to the brim.
When he looked up at the class he asked,
"What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no
matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can
always fit some more things into it!"
"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point.
The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put
the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."
The title of this story is "The BIG ROCKS of Life."
What are the big rocks in your life? Your faith, time with
your loved ones, your education, your finances?
Teaching or mentoring others? A project you want to
accomplish?
Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them
in at all.
So, tonight or in the morning when you are reflecting on this
short story, ask yourself this question: What are the
"big rocks" in my life or business?
Then, put those in your jar tomorrow and every day after that.
With thanks to Rock StLaurent.
(original source unknown)(yes, its his real name - no pun intended)
Last Modified: 1st December 2003