One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business
students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students
will never forget.
As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said,
"Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled out a one-gallon, mason jar and set it
on the table in front of him. He also 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 this jar full?"
Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes."
The time management expert replied, "Really?"
He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. 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 then asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"
By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.
"Good!" he replied.
He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started
dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of 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 it in until the jar was
filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and 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
in 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."
What are the 'big rocks' in your life
- time with your loved ones
- your faith
- your education
- your dreams
- a worthy cause
- teaching or mentoring others
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 story, ask
yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put
those in your jar first. |
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