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 place 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 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 rock 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 student 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 point 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? The Org? lol..

Remember to put the true "Big Rocks" in first or you'll never get them in at all.

LOVE THIS ANALOGY! My rocks are mountains

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

...Yeah, mine have become pretty large as well lol...

Steadwood said:

that's a problem

Steadwood said:

You might need to see a doctor about that, Stead...

i like this ...thanks byron

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I know.....ouch! #

Byron said:

Will he give me a bigger jar?


actually this thread is good food for thought

I'm such a negative nellie. All I can think is that I can't make the big rocks happen in reality without all the other crap coming first, so all the other crap becomes the big rocks.

CarrieMpls said:

no no no, Mrs Grinchi!



C'mere you

I'll let you have my modest sized rock to put your little jar

Imago said:

Is that some kind of Dan-innuendo?

Byron said:

Bravo!

CarrieMpls said:

Everything Imago post is Dannuendo ...

I have been putting the big rocks first and you know what? my life is not full...theirs however is.

Byron said:

The codename is Dannuendo.

Imago said:

Keep ur rocks in ur pants Mr...they belong to me!

Great story. I actually read it in the bathroom stall at my work. Yes, I know. Bathroom stall is a little strange but I work for an insurance company and mental health is a big part of it. I've also learned the warning signs for alcoholism while tinkling.

The story in the stall was slightly different. Instead of water, he put in coffee and said that no matter how full your jar gets there's always time for coffee with a friend.

Thanks for posting it.