Big Rocks

Planning to ensure that the most important people and things in your life are put first.

Table of Contents:

1. Baby Steps
2. Feature Article: Big Rocks
3. Quotes
4. Recommended Resources
5. Self-Care: Walking
6. Make a Difference: The Ocean Conservancy
7. Final Thoughts: Influence

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1. Baby Steps

Are you putting the 'big rocks' first, or does gravel, sand and
water dominate your life? Make a list of your big rocks, then put
those in your jar first.

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2. Feature Article: BIG ROCKS

I was vacationing recently in Florida with my wife and children. As
I sat at the edge of the pool, watching my kids swim, I thought about
what a blessing it was to be enjoying our wonderful time together.
The time that we shared that day, and indeed during the entire time
we were in Florida, was very special.

As I reflected on the importance of "family time", I was reminded
of Stephen Covey's story about "big rocks." Here's the story:

In the middle of a seminar on time management, recalls Covey in
his book First Things First, the lecturer said, "Okay, it's time for a
quiz." Reaching under the table, he pulled out a wide mouthed gallon
jar and set it on the table next to a platter covered with fist-sized
rocks. "How many of these rocks do you think we can get in the
jar?" he asked the audience.

"Okay, let's find out." He put one rock in the jar, then another, then
another--until no more rocks would fit. Then he asked, "Is the jar
full?"

Everybody could see that not one more of the rocks would fit, so
they said, "Yes."

"Not so fast," he cautioned. From under the table he lifted out a
bucket of gravel, dumped it in the jar, and shook it. The gravel slid
into all the little spaces left by the big rocks. Grinning, the seminar
leader asked once more, "Is the jar full?"

A little wiser by now, the students responded, "Probably not."

"Good," the teacher said. Then he reached under the table to bring
up a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar. While
the students watched, the sand filled in the little spaces left by the
rocks and gravel. Once more he looked at the class and said, "Now,
is the jar full?"

"No," everyone shouted back.

"Good!" said the seminar leader, who then grabbed a pitcher of
water and began to pour it into the jar. He got something like a quart
of water into that jar before he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the jar
is now full. Can anybody tell me the lesson you can learn from this?
What's my point?"

An eager participant spoke up: "Well, there are gaps in your
schedule. And if you really work at it, you can always fit more
into your life."

"No," the leader said. "That's not the point. The point is this: if I
hadn't put those big rocks in first, I would never have gotten them in."

In both our business and personal lives, we have big rocks, gravel,
sand and water. The natural tendency seems to favor the latter three
elements, leaving little space for the big rocks. In an effort to
respond to the urgent, the important is sometimes set aside.

What are the 'big rocks' in your life? A large project? Spending
time with your family? Your health? Your finances? Your faith?
Your personal development? Your dreams?

Make a list of your big rocks. Then make a plan to ensure that your
big rocks are put first. Block out the time in your schedule for those
activities. Amazingly, the other stuff still gets done.

Periodically reflect on how you're doing. Are you putting your big
rocks first, or does gravel, sand and water dominate your life?
If the big rocks aren't getting in, what will have to happen so that
they do?

When you're planning your month, your week or your day, and
even when you're making specific decisions during the day, refer
back to your list of big rocks. Then, put those in your jar first.

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3. Quotes

Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things
which matter least.
Goethe

The discipline of personal mastery...starts with clarifying the
things that really matter to us (and) living our lives in the service
of our highest aspirations.
Peter M. Senge

You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must
make it.
Charles Buxton

How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply
important to us, and, keeping that picture in mind, we manage
ourselves each day to be and do what really matters most.
Stephen R. Covey

If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?
Whatever your answer, start doing it now.
Brian Tracy

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4. Recommended Resources

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey

This is one of those books in your library that should be read every
few years. It serves as a reminder of how to achieve fulfillment in
every area of your life.
To order book, click here

First Things First
by Stephen R. Covey

If you were to consider three or four things that matter most in your
life, what would they be? Are they receiving the time they really
deserve? First Things First will show you how to improve the quality
of your life by structuring time around what's truly important to you.
To order tape set, click here
To order book, click here

Take Charge of Your Life
by Jim Rohn

America's foremost business philosopher arms you with tools
to improve the quality of your life. Jim is a pleasure to listen to,
and his talks are chock full of ideas to help you achieve personal
success.
To order tape set, click here

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5. Self-Care: Walking

Walking is one of the simplest and safest aerobic exercises you can
do. It will help you strengthen your bones, control your weight,
and condition your heart and lungs. Being consistent in your
walking exercise routine is one of the most important factors in
developing a healthy physical activity program. Research has
shown that people who walk approximately 20-25 miles per week
outlive those who don't walk by several years.

Here are some quick facts about walking:
- On average, every minute of walking can extend your life by 1.5
to 2 minutes. That's about a 2 for 1 trade-off!
- Walking an extra 20 minutes each day will burn off 7 pounds of
body fat per year.
- To burn off 1 plain M&M candy, you need to walk the full length
of a football field. (Think about that next time you dip your hand
into a candy bowl at someone's office!)
- Longer, moderately paced daily walks (40 minutes at 60% to 65%
maximum heart rate) are best for losing weight.
- Shorter, faster walks (20-25 minutes at 75% to 85% maximum
heart rate) are best for conditioning your heart and lungs.

Enjoy a walk today. Your body will thank you!

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6. Make a Difference

The Ocean Conservancy

In Florida, we watched dolphins swim near the beach. One swam
within ten feet of the shore---twice! It was truly extraordinary, and
the experience gave me a whole new appreciation for marine
wildlife.

The goal of the Ocean Conservancy is to protect marine wildlife
and keep ocean and coastal waters pollution-free. Its annual
International Coastal Cleanup results in millions of pounds of
debris being collected from more than 20,000 miles of coastline.

For more information about this organization, visit its website at
http://www. oceanconservancy.org.

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7. Final Thoughts: Influence

Drop a pebble in the water,
And it ripples reach out far;
And the sunbeams dancing on them
May reflect them to a star.

Give a smile to someone passing.
Thereby making his morning glad;
It may greet you in the evening
When your own heart may be sad.

Do a deed of simple kindness:
Though its end you may not see,
It may reach, like widening ripples,
Down a long eternity.

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Thank you for reading the LifeExcellence Newsletter.
Put your big rocks first this week!
- Brian Bartes

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