The Philosophy professor
A philosophy professor stood before his class with
some items on the table in front of him. When the
class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large
and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it
with rocks, about 2" in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They
agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up
a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He
shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled
into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was
full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it
into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything
else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded with a unanimous "Yes."
The professor then produced two cans of beer from
under the table and proceeded to pour their entire
contents into the jar - effectively filling the empty
space between the sand. The students laughed.
Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
"I want you to recognize that this jar represents
your life.
The rocks are the important things - your family,
your partner, your health, your children - things that
if everything else was lost and only they remained,
your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter - like
your job, your house, your car.
The sand is everything
else. The small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued
"there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same
goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy
on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things
that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out dancing.
There will always be time to go to work, clean the
house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.
Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the
beer represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to
show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's
always room for a couple of beers."
"Sometimes, business decisions must be based not on economics,
but on what is right." ~ Ivan Howes
