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The Big Rocks of Life

Submitted by Pravs J on Wednesday, 22 April 200925 Comments

The Big Rocks of Life

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?”, and he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.

He also 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 yelled, Yes! The time management expert replied, “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 then 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.

He looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager 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 truth is, this illustration teaches us that 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.

25 Comments »

  • The lost said:

    No words enough to express what insides me

    really very great words … i liked it

    and of course i will do that

    - 23 April 2009 at 12:08 am
  • peter said:

    Great lesson.

    - 23 April 2009 at 8:50 am
  • Sri said:

    Good story…You are right..many people doesn’t understand the sequence and priorities in the life.
    thanks

    - 23 April 2009 at 2:27 pm
  • nidhi said:

    it’s gud i’ll try it…..

    - 23 April 2009 at 2:56 pm
  • ravi said:

    Excellent words …..

    - 23 April 2009 at 3:10 pm
  • Yogini said:

    Really amazing one…..

    - 23 April 2009 at 3:51 pm
  • Domenico said:

    A story to live by

    - 23 April 2009 at 6:46 pm
  • smita said:

    too good…thanks

    - 23 April 2009 at 10:07 pm
  • Gipmai said:

    Great illustration of how responsibilities determines the priorites set in ones life.

    - 24 April 2009 at 12:01 am
  • Eliane Cerchiari said:

    absolutely true!!

    - 24 April 2009 at 1:15 am
  • Subho said:

    There are many things which are important in life. But we need to understand that those things need to be prioritized. We can earn money at any point of time. But if we do not spend time with our family and loved ones, we can never get back that lost opportunity. And this can turn out to be the biggest regret in life. Even tons of money cannot help us come out of this situation. We should always thrive to spend time with our family and loved once because they are the only people in this whole world who will love you selflessly.

    Please do not become too busy counting the stars that you forget the moon.

    Live Strong. Be happy.

    - 24 April 2009 at 2:40 am
  • Losa said:

    Good to be reminded of the lessons in life simple though they maybe….

    - 24 April 2009 at 3:23 am
  • Imran Waryah said:

    Excelent, amazing and outstanding expressing the way of life.

    - 24 April 2009 at 3:25 am
  • Sridhar said:

    Nice one.

    - 24 April 2009 at 3:37 am
  • Koel Mukherjee said:

    Never thought this way….
    Nice lesson!

    - 24 April 2009 at 5:19 am
  • amita said:

    good one very interesting

    - 24 April 2009 at 12:11 pm
  • Mohamed said:

    Really my friends these rocks we cannot realize it until we lose it ,,hope to discover it soon and consider it the most important ones of our priorities,,
    REMEMBER keep smiling ;)

    - 24 April 2009 at 12:31 pm
  • Jedidah said:

    this is very educative. Keep such stuff coming

    - 24 April 2009 at 1:07 pm
  • samannaz said:

    true.tanks

    - 25 April 2009 at 4:07 am
  • pramod gaikwad said:

    thanks a lot

    - 25 April 2009 at 2:39 pm
  • Madharasan said:

    Wonderful story… Thanks

    - 25 April 2009 at 4:57 pm
  • Ravi said:

    Amazing story..worth keeping it on your work desk..thanks

    - 2 May 2009 at 6:43 pm
  • Warren Branson said:

    Great story. A real excellent lesson in time management.

    - 4 May 2009 at 5:39 pm
  • Ashwini said:

    As alws…
    Great piece of thought!!!

    Thanks.

    - 21 May 2009 at 8:39 am
  • lyn said:

    best inspirational story i ever heard.

    - 21 May 2009 at 1:30 pm

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