Bunschoten, Raoul. "The Skin of the Earth: a dissolution in fifteen parts", A.A. Files, 1991, v.21, p.55-59.

'Choosing a Sequence for your Rocks'

In June of 1997, amidst a multitude of professional projects, I found the time to read a journal article by a professor of time management. The article recounted the following lesson.

One day, this professor strolled into their class of high-powered overachievers business students carrying a one-gallon wide-mouthed mason jar. Standing in front of the group; they said, "Okay, time for a quiz." Then they carefully placed the one-gallon, wide-mouthed mason jar on a table in front of them. Then the professor produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks from their satchel 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, they asked, "Is this jar full?"

Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

"Really?” the professor said; while reaching under the table to pull out a bucket of gravel. Then they dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

Then the professor smiled and asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was on to the trick. "Probably not," one of them answered.

"Good!" the professor replied, and reached under the table to bring out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more they asked the question, "Is this jar full?"

"No!" the class shouted. Once again the professor said, "Good!" Then grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Looking up at the class of quizzical students the professor 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 into it!"

"No," the speaker resounded, "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.”

Therefore, what are the big rocks in your life? A project that YOU want to accomplish? Time with your loved ones? Your faith, your education, your finances? Exercise or reading? A cause or volunteering? Teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all.

So, take a moment to reflect on this short story, ask yourself this question: “What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life or business?”