Rocks in Your Time Jar

Time is NOT money. When you run out of money, there is always a few ways to generate more. When you run out of time as Bugs Bunny says, "That's all folks."

Ever reach the end of your day ready to put on you pajamas and discover that you really have not accomplished anything worth while all day? Ever face yourself in the mirror as you brush your teeth before bedtime and realize that you wasted your time all day?

You cleaned your desk, fiddled with papers, answered emails and surfed the web but did not do one concrete action to move your life and your business forward. Ever vow not to continue that nonproductive activity only to discover you did it again the next day? What did you do to change the pattern of activity? Nothing? "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result," said Einstein.

Resolve right now to make tomorrow not only different, but better. Tonight before you turn out the light and drift off to slumber land, write a list of five action items to complete tomorrow. These are your top 5 priorities for tomorrow.

Next write a list of the 5 next most important activities; these are the secondary tasks. The fine pebbles and grains of sand drift in last.

Every life encounters various size rocks. In "Rocks of Life" I wrote about the big rock in the field of our life. In "Attitude Rocks" I wrote about the importance of your attitude in every situation. "Grains of Sand" talks about the minor irritations in life which polish us into fine gems. The time has come for the rocks to be assembled in the jar of your life.

Set your priorities. What are the biggest and most important elements of your life? Is your family your primary importance? In this time of severe economic challenge, for some of you it may be earning a larger income, and for others it may be a physical or academic goal. Clearly define the five most important rocks; these major elements must consume the primary time block of your day. These are the 5 action items which you determined were the top priorities for the day. Put these large rocks in your life jar first.

Second what things would you like to do, time permitting? Community activities, social activities, and entertainment are the secondary time commitments. You set your own priorities and schedule your time accordingly. Secondary "to do" items must only be tackled after all 5 of the major "top priority" items are completely finished. No fair starting things, putting them down, picking them up and putting them down. Handling things does not count, only finishing counts. Only after the five major items are cleared and checked off the list can you even look at the second list of five. These medium sized rocks occupy the next layer in your life jar.

The top layer becomes the small pebbles and grains of sand. These are interesting and nice but not as critical to your success and peace of mind. These incidental activities drift in and around the major and secondary tasks. Trips to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and a meal are little pebbles in your day; important but certainly not instrumental in moving your business forward.

You only have 24 hours every day in your time jar. Fill the jar with the significant rocks of life first. Prioritize your day to be absolutely certain you block time for income producing activities first. Clarify your priorities and refine them into their significance within your life and your day.

One way to do this is to say to yourself, "If I were leaving town for a month tomorrow, what is the one thing that I must do before I leave?" If I have time for one more, what would it be? Repeat the process until you have your five biggies. The next five are important but absolutely secondary to the first five. No mixing and mingling. Top 5 first and then the next 5.

Layer the rocks in your time jar carefully. Unless you put the big rocks in first, there will never be room for them. Rocks are important regardless of whether they are hurdles in life or priorities to be accomplished. Attention to the rocks in your life creates success.