For some folks, it is hard to prioritize their goals because they feel like all their goals are equally important. Failing to prioritize their goals is one reason why many people fail to achieve their goals – the lack of priorities actually paralyzes you.
A seminar leader wanted to make illustrate the power of priorities, so he took a wide-mouth jar and filled it with rocks. “Is the jar full?” he asked. “Yes,” came a reply.
“Oh, really?” he said.
Then he poured smaller pebbles into the jar to fill the spaces between the rocks. “Is it full now?” “Yes,” said someone else.
“Oh, really?” He then filled the remaining spaces between the rocks and stones with sand. “Is it full now?” he asked.
“Probably not,” said another, to the amusement of the audience. Then he took a pitcher of water and poured it into the jar.
To get everything in the jar, you must always put the big things in first.
Successful people know that when it comes to reaching for your dreams, the path is paved with priorities – not good intentions. If we fill our jar – our day – with small pebbles, we won’t have the time, space, or energy to pursue the really big goals we want to achieve.
To help you prioritize your goals, answer this question: “What is the most important thing I could do today?”
Setting priorities helps you make better decisions.
In fact, the our word “decide” comes from a Latin word which means “to cut off from.” To make a decision, you must cut away other potential directions. In the absence of a decision, life becomes fuzzy.
When you commit yourself to one specific direction, clarity is the natural result.