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> Here's a little something to think about, for all us busy people. > > A while back I was reading about an expert on the 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. 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. 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 > ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life or > business? Then, put those in your jar first." >