Big Rocks are important

A professor stood in front of his class and pulled a large jar from below his desk. He then pulled out a tray of tennis ball sized rocks from the same place. After filling the jar with the rocks, he asked if the jar was full. Everyone in the class said, "yes."

He then pulled out a small box with gravel in it. He scooped the gravel into the jar as he shook it and the gravel filled in the gaps around the big rocks.

Again he asked, "is the jar full?" No one answered quickly, this time, but some brave soul said, "no!" "Good," said the professor as he pulled out a pail of sand. He poured the sand into the jar as he shook the jar. The sand filtered down and filled the remaining spaces. Again he asked if the jar was full. All being smarter, they answered 'no' as a group. "Good," said the professor as he pulled out a pitcher of water. He then filled the jar to the top.

The professor then asked, "what is the point of this demonstration?" One student quickly answered, "No matter how full something looks, if you try, you can always squeeze something else in?"  "No," the professor said. "This jar is your life, and all the things you need and want to do. What I am trying to demonstrate is how important it is to put the big rocks in first, or you will never get them in at all."

In your life, you have to think of the most important things as the big rocks. Your family, religion, your job and your education. So if you want to squeeze in lots of little things, remember to put the most important things, the big rocks in first or you'll never get them in at all.

(I don't know where I heard or read this story. I took a lot of time management classes in my business life, and it's possible that it was a story to make an important point,  which it does very well. My apologies to the professor, students, and original story teller or writer. I have retold the story as I remember it.  I would give you all credit if I knew who you were.)