The Big Rocks...

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Posted by: " Aseem Kaistha " vkaisthaa2002

Wed Aug 6, 2008 6:13 pm (PDT)

 

The Big Rocks... OLD BUT GOLD

 

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.â€

 

Then, he pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouthed Mason jar and set it on

the 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.â€

 

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 work themselves down into the space between

the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?â€

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 the 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!â€

 

“No,†the speaker replied, “That is not the point. The truth that this

illustration teaches us is : If you don't put the big rocks in first,

you will never get them in at all.â€

 

What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life? Your children; your loved ones;

your education; your dreams; a worthy cause; teaching or mentoring

others; doing things that you love; time for yourself; your health;

your significant other Remember to put these BIG Rocks in first or you

will never get them in at all.

 

If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you will

fill your life with little things you worry about that do not really

matter, and you will never have the real quality time you need to

spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).

 

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.