E-M8 Entrepreneurial Management for Eternal Mission

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a  very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf  balls. He  then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.  

Which is why after a day of managing the flood recovery and the many interesting and crazy phone calls, this evening Mark and I just kicked back at John Harbor’s for a great beverage and some live sound.

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 sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the  jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.” The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the 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 recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things–your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favourite passions—and 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 and 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  golf balls. The same goes for 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 spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls 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 coffee 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 cups of coffee with a friend.”