The story of the empty jar is useful to demonstrate this point. 

Stephen Covey was a well-known business author who created the ‘big rocks’ approach toward productivity. He imagined that your total available time for a week is represented by an empty jar. You can choose to fill your jar with any combination of big rocks, pebbles and sand.  The size of the jar limits your space, so you are wise to be strategic in how it gets filled.

Think about the rocks as the things you’re focused on in life. The big rocks are your biggest priorities, the most important things, the must-dos – landing a big client you’ve been pursuing or making that bonus a reality or focusing on your health, or time with loved ones, volunteering, nature, or spiritual practices.

When you prioritize the big rocks, by putting them into the jar first, you can later add the pebbles – important tasks all, but not life-changing at all like connecting with friends and family – and sand, those interesting distractions that pull you out the moment but are really unimportant in the long run – Playing Wordle. Watching TV. Getting gas. Sending out birthday cards. Or catching a local football game. and fit around those pebbles and bigger rocks.

The temptation is to start with the sand and pebbles, unwittingly leaving no room for the big rocks. Beginning with the sand is easier and faster (feels urgent, hooking you, but not important).  Sand keeps you busy and gives the illusion of productivity. With the sand in the jar, you move on to the pebbles.  Now you’re ready for the rocks and they don’t fit in the jar. Frustrated, and perhaps a bit tired, you ignore them and move them to the “to-do later” pile, directing your attention to the new sand unimportant sand.

Sound familiar?

The sand will bury you up to your neck if you’re not intentional.

As someone who has always, and I mean always, felt like there was never enough space in my life, a recent epiphany came in a flash and up-ended my thoughts, and planning for 2025. 

 I had it all backwards!  Pretty sobering for someone who bought into the story of a well-thought-out and crafted plan! 

When I reflected on those times traction had moved me forward, those times that I was most successful, when I had decided to pivot. . .

 . . . All of them occurred when I tapped into what was most important to me. When I focused on my purpose. When I let creativity guide me and made room for fun. When I trusted in my myself to define my own path. 

This shifted my entire perspective!

If you’re ready to shift your perspective and live with intention, join me for a 2-hour workshop – in-person (room for 10).

I took the lessons that have supported me the most and combined them into the Live with Intention Workshop.

We’re going to be purposeful and have fun exploring your intentions for 2025 so you can:

• Stop reacting and start responding to be more focused and content in 2025
• Pay attention to sensations in your body for clarity and wisdom
• Find your purpose and focus your time and energy on things that matter
• Choose your One Word for 2025 as a touchstone to guide your year
• Engage in a fun, creative process to craft your vision for 2025, and plan how to put it into action

In the process you’ll up-end how you place those rocks in the container and play with a pivotal new idea: 

YOU are the rocks.