October 2000 Genealogy Forum News

Never Enough Time In The Day

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 never forgot.

As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said,

"OK, time for a quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set in on the table in front of him.

He then produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them into the a jar. When the jaar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked: "Is the jar full?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes."

Then he asked, "Really?". He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocksl. Then he asked the group again, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was onto him. "Probably not!" one them answered.

"Good," he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand into the jar and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and gravel.

Once again he asked, "Is this jar full?" "No!" the class shouted. "Good" he replied as 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 really try 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?

Your children, your loved ones, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others, doing things that you love, time for yourself, your health, your significant other. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all! If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with the little things you worry about that don't really matter, and you'll never have the quality time you need to spend on the big important stuff (the big rocks)".

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 them in your jar first.

© 2000 GFNEWS, a monthly publication of the Golden Gate Genealogy Forum, Inc. of Franklin, MA.
(America Online Keyword: roots.) The Editors welcome your ideas and articles,
success stories, favorite genealogy research tips, comments and suggestions.