The Jar Theory
19 June 2009
Read by 2265 persons
Florian Mantione is not only a business leader but also a creator of social bonds, a facilitator, and a humanist. ReKrute.com, always on the lookout for new trends, has taken a strong interest in the life of this idea agitator who subtly reveals certain realities of corporate life through a selection of articles that we will share with you in the coming weeks.
Addressing a group of high-level executives, a management expert places a wide-mouthed jar on the table in front of him.
Then, he takes out a dozen fist-sized stones and carefully places them one by one into the jar. When the jar is filled to the brim, he asks: "Is this jar full?" The entire group replies "Yes".
"Really?"
He pulls a bucket of gravel from under the table and pours it into the jar.
He shakes the jar, and the gravel falls into the gaps between the stones. Smiling, he asks the group; "And now, is this jar full?"
"Probably not," someone says.
"Good"; he takes out a bucket of sand and pours it into the spaces left by the stones and gravel. And again, he asks "Is this jar full?"
"No," the group says in unison.
"Good," he says again, taking out a pitcher of water.
When he has poured water to the brim, he looks at the group and asks:
"What is the purpose of this experiment?" A high-achiever raises his hand and says:
"It means that no matter how full a program is, if we work hard, we can always do a little more.
"No, the truth illustrated by this story is that if you don't put the big stones in first, you won't be able to put them in at all.
If the sand is put in first, there will be no room for anything else.
What are the big stones in your life? The project you want to accomplish, time spent with loved ones? Your education? Your bank account? A cause? Supporting other people?
Ask yourself what the big stones are in your professional and personal life, then fill the jar. Remember that if you don't put these big stones in first, they won't fit at all.
Excerpt from the work "Florilegium of intellectual vitamins for common-sense management"
Author Florian Mantione
Posted on June 19, 2009
florianmantione.com
Addressing a group of high-level executives, a management expert places a wide-mouthed jar on the table in front of him.
Then, he takes out a dozen fist-sized stones and carefully places them one by one into the jar. When the jar is filled to the brim, he asks: "Is this jar full?" The entire group replies "Yes".
"Really?"
He pulls a bucket of gravel from under the table and pours it into the jar.
He shakes the jar, and the gravel falls into the gaps between the stones. Smiling, he asks the group; "And now, is this jar full?"
"Probably not," someone says.
"Good"; he takes out a bucket of sand and pours it into the spaces left by the stones and gravel. And again, he asks "Is this jar full?"
"No," the group says in unison.
"Good," he says again, taking out a pitcher of water.
When he has poured water to the brim, he looks at the group and asks:
"What is the purpose of this experiment?" A high-achiever raises his hand and says:
"It means that no matter how full a program is, if we work hard, we can always do a little more.
"No, the truth illustrated by this story is that if you don't put the big stones in first, you won't be able to put them in at all.
If the sand is put in first, there will be no room for anything else.
What are the big stones in your life? The project you want to accomplish, time spent with loved ones? Your education? Your bank account? A cause? Supporting other people?
Ask yourself what the big stones are in your professional and personal life, then fill the jar. Remember that if you don't put these big stones in first, they won't fit at all.
Excerpt from the work "Florilegium of intellectual vitamins for common-sense management"
Author Florian Mantione
Posted on June 19, 2009
florianmantione.com
