What a mayonnaise jar and two beers can teach you about life and business
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 and 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 and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full and they agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar which, of course, filled up everything else. Again, he asked if the jar was full and this time the students unanimous said ‘yes.’
It is at this point that the professor then produced two beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand causing the students to laugh.
“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.”
- The golf balls are the important things — your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite 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 critical to your happiness! Peace.
I can make your hands clap… if you like this. Kristina Rudolph @kriskcandy
