When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the two cups of coffee.
A professor stood before his philosophy class with 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 his students if the jar was full…they all agreed that it was full.
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 again if the jar was full. Again, they all 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 in the jar. He then asked once more if the jar was full to which the students responded with a resounding..YES!
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under his table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students started 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 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 golf balls or the pebbles. 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. Spend time with your parents, visit with your grandparents. Take time to get regular medical checkups. Take your parents out to dinner, play another round of 18 holes. There will always be time to clean the house or 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 asked what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled and said…I’m glad you asked.
The coffee shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.
Thanks for sharing that. I had seen it before and it’s so true. We often forget what is truly important in life. This is great reminder and very inspirational. Now I’m off to have a coffee with a friend.
Luca Di Nicola´s last blog ..How to Choose the Best List Provider – Autoresponder Service
True, i have also read this in different formats, but anyway we need to have out goals set and make sure we give the right preferences to everyone who is important in our life.
Amit Bhawani´s last blog ..Increase Disk Drive Performance with Smart Defrag
Hi Rod,
what a fantastic analogy to life – and motivational.
I couldn’t agree more with the last few paragraphs. When I was much younger, I didn’t fully appreciate these ‘golf ball’ things in life, but I do now.
Great story Rod – a refreshing change.
Andrew.
Andrew Vaughan´s last blog ..My First Ebook Feedback….
Hi Rod,
Nice post, it makes a nice change to come to an internet marketing blog and read something like that.
This is the sort of thing that people need reminding of every now and then, it also reminded me that I need to visit my grandma more often.
I have found this very thought provoking, Rod.
Good stuff,
Paul.
Paul Lear´s last blog ..Improve Your Alexa Rank Challenge (Part 1)
Hey Rod
A VERY motivational post!
We all forget the smaller things in life sometimes, and these are quite often the MOST important
It certainly made me sit back and put things into perspective!
Take care,
Paul
Paul Wilson´s last blog ..So what have I been up to lately…?
Hi Rod
That’s really true, need to put the important things to our life first, and do not hang on too much on the little stuff. However people have problem to distinguish between what is important and what is not.
Hope you have great success in IM.
Regards
Kin
Having just lost a loved one without ever taking the time I someday planned on spending, your post hits close to home. Very profound for me at this point. Tomorrow never comes unless you make it.
Thanks for sharing.
Hey Rod,
Thank you for this really great metaphor about prioritizing your life. It really is true that with all of the important, little, time consuming, etc things in our lives, we always push on and find time for everything.
This is a huge topic in my life right now because I am juggling finishing college, working a job, working online and planning a wedding. Some days I really feel in the dumps and completely drained, but I always power through.
I like this break in IM blogging, more of us should do these from types of posts from time to time.
Take care!
Joe
Hi Rod,
What a good read that was and an excellent parallel to how life should be lived. I think it is so important to take a step back at times and just appreciate what you have in life and work hard to make the lifes of those you love even better.
Thanks for sharing that great story Rod.
Cheers,
Paul
Rod,
Great post! I have to say that I was reading it, I had no idea where it was going! Thanks for the reminder of what is truly important and how to prioritize so that what is truly important takes up the majority of your thoughts, time and effort. -Norene
Rod´s last blog ..Three Great Research Tools
Thanks for all the nice comments.
Norene, when I first read it I also had no idea where it was headed which, I think, is part of what makes it such a nice read.
Hi Rod,
I like this post. What a inspiring story. Where did you find it?
Are you the author or interpreter?
In any case stories like that are seldom told and I think they should be told often.
We all tend to get lost in the things that matter the least.
Since I don’t play real golf but only occasionally a mini variety I’ll change the story in my mind by using tennis balls.
Good idea posting things about life too.
I will start doing that as well soon.
I noticed all good bloggers do that. It adds spice to the blog and makes it more interesting and balanced.
Vance
Vance Sova´s last blog ..List Building Steps, Step 2 – Make Free Opt-in Offer
Hi Rod,
I genuinely, really enjoyed that post.
It’s worth reading on a regular basis when you start getting hung up on all the unimportant things in life. Lets you re-evaluate what is important.
Thank you very much.
Andy
Andy Michaels´s last blog ..Google Doesn’t Use Keywords Meta Tag
Hi Vance,
It was a handout in a course I took and I thought it was worth sharing.
Hi Andy,
Glad you liked it.
Cheers,
Rod
I love this story. I have heard it in relation to sand, not coffee though. Any way you look at it, it is a great story and has a very positive moral. After spending all day going crazy trying to get my blog post out, this is a fresh reminder not to sweat the small stuff.
Blake @ Props Blog Ideas´s last blog ..The Top 5 Make Money Sites You Should Visit
Rod -
This is a great analogy. I had heard it before but had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder!
All too often we have a tendency to let the little things “fill” up our time while neglecting to add the “golf balls.” I have definitely realized the benefit of emptying out the sand every once in a while to make sure I have all my golf balls in order
Paul
Paul Norwine´s last blog ..What Golf Can Teach Us About Our Online Businesses
Rod
Never heard this analogy before, but what a great insightful one it is. Thanks for the timely reminder of focusing on what is really important.
Tom
Tom Harvey´s last blog ..Microsoft & Yahoo Team Up To Challenge Google
Great story & great message! Thanks for sharing this one Rod.
Rob
Rob´s last blog ..Spend 3 Mins Reading This & Change Your Life…
Rod
Wow fantastic post my friend not heard of that story before,
But its absolutely opened my eyes man, I try to focus on whats important in my life I think I get it right, but your analogy has made me more positive.
I am going to have to write it down and quote that to my friends and family.
Hey glad you participated in seeing what your blog was worth.
Speak soon Rod
Marcus
marcus passey´s last blog ..Seminar In London met Alex Jeffreys & Dean Holland Plus hung out with a couple of students
Hi Rod,
I have never heard that story before. But it really put things into perspective for me. I think, putting people first always are good words to live by.
I just might have those two cups of coffee with my mom today
Great post Rod,
Karen
Thanks, Karen.
I hope you enjoyed coffee with your mom.
Cheers,
Rod