A
SMALL BOTTLE WITH PEBBLES
An expert
was lecturing some professionals.
To explain a topic in particular, he used an example, that the professionals
never forgot. In front of the audience he said: I would like to test
you…
And took a wide opening jug from under the table and put it on the table
in front of him. Then he put on the table a dozen of fist-size stones,
and started to cast one by one in the jug.
When the jug was full, and there was no room for putting more stones,
he asked : Is this jug full?.
All answered yes.
Then he said: Are you sure?, and took a bucket full of small pebbles
from under the table. And put some of these pebbles in the jug, and
moved it letting the small pebbles to accommodate themselves on the
empty space among the big stones.
Once he finished he asked again: Is this jug full?
This time the audience could forsee the answer, and one of the participants
said “probably no”. Good said the lecturer.
He took off a bucket full of sand from under the table and poured it
in the jug. The sand placed in the space empty among the small pebbles
and the stones. And he asked again: Is this jug full? This time many
people answered at the same time: NO!
Once again the lecturer said VERY GOOD!, then he took a jug full of
water and poured the water into the jug until it was full.
When he finished , he looked at the audience and asked: Which is the
teaching of this demonstration? One of the spectators raised the hand
and said: The teaching is that it doesn’t matter how much work
you have, if you try you can do more things…
No! replied the lecturer, this is not the teaching. What this demonstration
teaches us is : If you don’t put the larger stones first ( phase
the problems) , you won’t be able to put them anywhere at no moment.
Which are the large stones in your life, your family, your faith, your
education, or your finances? Some cause for which you want to stand
for? Teach others what you know?
Remember to place those stones first, otherwise you will not find a
place for them. Take your time to classify which are your priorities
and asses how you use your time so you don’t miss anyone, or even
worse, that you are forced to take out a stone to put sand.
Which are the largest stones in your life?
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