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 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 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.
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 is, 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' (priorities) 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 short story, ask yourself this question;
What are the 'big rocks' in my life; Then, put those in your jar first.