Time Management

[Guest guest]

Here's a little story I heard... makes you think....

 

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 those students will never

forget. 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 hedumped some

gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves

down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he 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. 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."

 

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 first.

 

Author Unknown