There Are Two Ways to Prioritize — Only One is Right
From empty yesterdays to meaningful tomorrows
Dr. Stephen Covey taught about time management using rocks, pebbles, and a bucket.
He would fill the bucket with small pebbles first, then try adding medium and large rocks. But because the pebbles took up too much space, the big rocks wouldn’t fit.
So he would start over and put the big rocks first. Then he poured the pebbles around them.
By putting “first things first,” everything would fit seamlessly.
Covey said the bucket represents our time.
Rocks represent important activities:
- Quality relationships
- Personal development
- Self-care
- Pursuing meaning
Pebbles represent urgent tasks:
- Emails or messages
- Meetings or appointments
- Paperwork
If you prioritize urgent over important, you’ll never get to what truly matters.
If you postpone things for tomorrow, you’ll end up with empty yesterdays.
If you think too short-term, you’ll neglect to envision a bigger future.
What opportunities are you missing because you’re putting pebbles first?