This was presented to me at one of my mentorship groups
this week, and I was immediately grateful for encountering this. It
really helps one put his/her life in perspective. I have been writing
a lot about the challenges I am facing recently, tonight, I
challenge you to take to heart and consideration, what these following words have to say.
Your first challenge is to make it to the end of this (again, sooooo worth it!)
Your first challenge is to make it to the end of this (again, sooooo worth it!)
Big Rocks...or Little Gravel?
Steven Covey, First Things First, Time Management
Steven Covey, First Things First, 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 sad, “okay, time for a quiz”
He then pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouthed 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 by one, 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 dunped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the psace between the big rocks.
Then he asked the group once more. “is the jar full?”
He then pulled out a one-gallon, wide mouthed 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 by one, 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 dunped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the psace 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 dumpging the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and 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 the expert in time management looked at the class and asked, “what is the point of this illustration?”
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “the point it, 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 this: 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?”
“Your children.”
“Your loved ones.”
“Your education.”
“good” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumpging the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and 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 the expert in time management looked at the class and asked, “what is the point of this illustration?”
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “the point it, 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 this: 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?”
“Your children.”
“Your loved ones.”
“Your education.”
“Your dreams.”
“A worthy cause.”
“A worthy cause.”
“Teaching or mentoring others.”
“Doing things that you love.”
“Time for yourself.”
“Your health.”
“your spouse.”
“your spouse.”
“Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first, or you'll
never get them in at all.”
“If you sweat the small stuff (i.e. The gravel, the
sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you worry about
that don't really matter, and you'll never have the real quality time
you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks).”
“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.”
If you've made it this far, you've made it through your first challenge – congratulations!
“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.”
If you've made it this far, you've made it through your first challenge – congratulations!
Your second challenge is to really take this to heart
and think about what the 'big rocks' are in your life, or what should
be the 'big rocks.' Are you putting the "big rocks' in your jar first?
Your third challenge, if you're willing, is to share some of your thoughts in the comments below, I'd be interested in dialogue-ing more about this :)
Blessings
Love this Janell! Thanks for urging me to read it :) It's so important to really take stock sometimes eh. We really need to understand what we want and put it in ink.
ReplyDeleteI also like to think of the big rocks as things we really need to focus on for a time. I guess that the big rocks will change and be different at different places in our lives.
Thanks for sharing this...it's very timely for me. It really lines up with a program I'm just about to launch from the BAHM Coach :)
Love ya Janell. I'll be back to catch up on your posts soon. xo
So glad you enjoyed it Teena :)
DeleteI was definitely struck by this reminder and wanted everyone to read it! HA! I feel as if we, well for me at least, can often get swept up in the day to day rhythms and forget to continually put forth those big rocks. This is definitely something to be continually intentional about - keeping in mind those most important aspects of life to strive after.
I appreciate your perspective of the big rocks changing with the times - I definitely find that to be true. Especially if these rocks are things that must be focused on more heavily dependant on where we are at in life.
Janell, thank you for sharing this post. I found it a helpful reminder to work in the important things first. I know when I do, the other things seem to fall into place - after the significant passions/people/interests are given attention, the smaller things fill in the space between and whatever "makes the cut" gets in, and I find I barely notice the other smaller things that didn't get in. This message has been and still is especially important for myself and Kevin, if we didn't continually work to put in perspective what mattered, we could easily be swept away by the complexities life has been throwing us. If we hold to the bigger rocks then we won't get taken by the current of life so easily, but if we are always seeking out to satisfy each little granule of sand, life will take us wherever it pleases and we will not be left with any roots to ground us to what truly matters.
ReplyDeleteThe container is made of glass. Place your rocks with care. It is not the rocks that will shatter but the container, should you drop them in haphazardly without care. Jesus made wine from water. Unless you feel you can turn sand and gravel into rocks know very clearly which is which. Misjudging or mistaking what is a rock and accidentally giving sand and gravel the care and concern deserving of a rock will drain your misspent energy, injure your heart and lead to a quizzical and often exhausted exasperation. Know which is which. If a grain of sand carves out a place for itself in your jar by growing like a pearl, be thankful someone irritated you long enough to inject something beautiful into your life. Don't waste your time guessing. Know what is a rock, admit misjudgments, make corrections and create space between yourself and your mistaken rocks. Use the mute button in your life on and offline. Be a lover of reality so that you may protect the most precious of resources. Your time, your heart, your love and your laughter.
ReplyDelete