tkt8763-01: Big Rocks

[Marcine Ray <sctech@meta3.net>]

JUST A LITTLE FOOD FOR THOUGHT-
TIME MANAGEMENT EXPERT

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. 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.
******* TKT 8763 Seminar in Planning for Instructional Technology  *******
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