BIG ROCKS

 

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
wide mouth 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 of the gravel in and shook the jar causing the
pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big
rocks. He then asked the class once more if the jar was full.

By this time the class was on to him and said "Probably not."

"Good" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket
of sand and started dumping it into the jar. The sand went into all of
the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked if
the jar was full.

"NO!" the class shouted. Once again he said "Good" and grabbed a pitcher
of water and began to pour it into the jar until the jar was filled to
the brim.

Then he looked around the room and asked, "What is the point of
this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is that no matter
how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit
some more in."

"NO," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth is that this
illustration teaches us that 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 our 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 short story, ask yourself this question: What are the
BIG ROCKS in my life?

Then, put those in your jar first."