Life in a jar……

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some articles before him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large empty glass jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the send filled up everything else. He 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 poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The student laughed. Then said the professor, as the laughter subsides:

“Now I want you to recognise that the jar represents your life. The golf balls are important things: your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other thing 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, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have the 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 check-ups. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with your love ones. Play another round of golf.

There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first. Those are the thing that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

There was a pause, and then a truculent student voice from the back muttered: “Warrabout the beer?” The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked! It just goes to show that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of beers!”

While you are busy chuckling over the anecdote, just remember that this is also good advice for the project manager: Stop micro managing and get the big thing in the project done first. If you don’t, you’ll never get everything done within the time available!