TIME MANAGEMENT

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 student and, to drive
home a point, used an illustration I am sure those students will never forget.
After I share it with you, you will never forget it either.

As this man stood in front of the group of high-powered over achievers 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 classs said

Yes.

Then he said

Really ?

He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some
gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down
into the spaces between the big rocks. 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. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He
dumped 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 grapped a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was
filled to the brim. 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, if you try really hard, you
can always fit some more things into it!

No

The speaker replied,

that is not the point. What this illustration teaches us is that :

IF YOU DO NOT PUT THE BIG ROCKS IN FIRST, YOU WILL NEVER
GET THEM IN AT ALL

What are the 'big  rocks' in your life?

*  Time with your loved ones ?
*  Your faith, your education, your finances ?
*  A cause ?
*  Teaching or mentoring others ?
*  A project that you want to accomplish ?

Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you will 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.