Big Rocks Of Life
Something to Think About...
A while back I was reading about an expert on subject of time
management. One day this expert 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. After I share it with you, you'll never
forget it either.
As this man stood in front of the group of
high-powered overachievers he said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then he
pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar and set it on a table in
front of him. Then 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 this 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. Then 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 it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then
he looked up 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 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
letter is the "Big Rocks" of Life.
What are the big rocks in your life? A project that YOU want to
accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education,
your finances? A 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 short
story, ask yourself this question: What are the "big rocks" in my life
or business? Then, put those in your jar.
--- Author Unknown --- Submitted by Fran Sawyer - Florida
