OFF TOPIC TO WSP
Came across this and thought some might enjoy it.
Time Management
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." Then
he pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouth 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." Then he said,
"Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out
a bucket of gravel. The he dumped some gravel in and
shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work
themselves down into the space between the big rocks.
Then he 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.
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!"
"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? 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. |
