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Kim, I didn't send this, but I had saved it because I thought that it was such a good lesson about life. Linda [log in to unmask] Subject: [Fwd: What's more Important??] >Another Lesson in Life > > 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 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 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. > >______________________________