Life lesson

One day, an old professor of the National School of Public Administration was engaged to provide training on the   effective planning of his time to a group of fifteen   leaders of large North American companies.      This course was one of five workshops of their day   training. The old teacher therefore had an hour to "make   spend his field. "      Standing in front of this elite group (who was ready to record any   that the expert would teach him), the old teacher looked   one by one, slowly, then said: "We will carry out a   experience ".      Under the table that separated him from his students, the old teacher   pulled out a huge glass jar over 4 liters he placed   gently in front of him. Then he went about a dozen   pebbles almost as big as tennis balls and placed   gently, one by one, in the large pot. When the jar was   filled to the brim and it was impossible to add a pebble   more, he slowly raised his eyes to his students and asked them:     "Is this jar full?".     All answered "Yes."     He waited a few seconds and said: "Really?".     Then he leaned back and left under the table   container filled with gravel. Carefully, he poured the gravel   large stones then brewed the jar lightly. Pieces   gravel infiltrated between the stones ... to the bottom of the pot.     The old teacher raised his eyes again to his audience and   repeated his question:     "Is this jar full?". This time, its brilliant pupils   began to understand her game.     One of them answered: "Probably not".     "Good!" replied the old prof.     He leaned forward again and this time came out from under the table   a bag of sand. Carefully poured the sand into the jar.   The sand went and filled the spaces between the big rocks and   gravel. Again, he asked again, "Is this jar   full? ".     This time, without hesitation and choir, the brightest students   answered     "No!".     "Good!" replied the old prof.     And as expected by its prestigious students, he took the   pitcher of water that was on the table and filled the pot to flush   edge. The old teacher raised his eyes to his group and asked:     "What great truth shows us that experience?"     Not crazy, the boldest students, thinking about what   course, said: "This shows that even if one believes that   our schedule is completely filled, if we really want,   you can add more appointments, more things to do. "     "No," the old teacher. "It's not that.'s Great   truth shows us that this experience is as follows:      "If we do not put the big rocks in the jar first,   can never bring them all, then. "     There was a deep silence, each being aware of   evidence of this statement.     The old teacher said to them: "What are the big rocks   in your life? "     "Your Health?"     "Your family?"     "Your friend (s)?"     "Making your dreams?"     "Do what you love?"     "Learn?"     "Defending a cause?"     "You relax?"     "Take the time ...?"     "Or ... anything else?"     "What you need to remember is the importance of putting his BIG   rocks first in his life, otherwise we may not   succeed ... his life. If we give priority to peccadilloes (gravel,   sand), we fill peccadilloes of his life and there will be more   enough precious time to devote to important   of his life.     So do not forget to ask yourself the   question:     "What are the BIG STONES in my life?"     Then put them first in your pot (life) "     In a friendly gesture of the hand, saluted his old professor   audience and slowly left the room. http://cpositif.com/psp/produits/item/498a151050