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One of my favorite exercises/demonstrations is completed with a mason jar, some rocks, some gravel, some sand, and some water:

  • The demonstration begins by putting a number of rocks in to the jar and asks “Is it full?”
  • The audience says “yes” and the speaker proceeds to add in the gravel.  Again, he asks “Is it full?”
  • The audience hesitates but normally says “yes” and the speaker proceeds to add in the sand.  Again, he asks “Is it full?”
  • The cycle continues one more time as the speaker adds the water

The lessons from the story are three-fold and are metaphors for life:

  • We must put the “big rocks” (i.e. important things) in our life first.
  • Even after putting the “big rocks” in our life, there’s still time/space for the other important things in our life.
  • We tend to underestimate the “space in our jar” / space in our life.

Every time I see the demonstration, it causes me to reflect on what I’m putting in my personal jar first.

With that in mind:

What rocks are you putting in your jar first?

As always, thanks for the time.

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