Exploring Your Creative Genius: Episode 51
Usually I write my column accompanying a show episode commenting on something said in the show. In today’s column, on Tom Triumph’s show full of fun and interesting stories, I am going to share an illustration I have seen Tom perform in front of a number of audiences, one that is useful to all as we think about how we spend our time.
Tom stands at a table with a large empty glass jar, a pile of rocks, a pile of pebbles, and a large container of sand.
First he puts the rocks in the jar and asks if he’s filled the jar and in fact the rocks seem to have filled it and folks say so.
Then he adds the pebbles, shaking the jar just a bit as he’s doing it so the pebbles fall into the empty spaces between the rocks. Again he asks if it’s full, and again folks agree it is.
Finally he takes the container of sand and slowly pours its contents in the jar and it flows around and between and he keeps pouring until the container is empty and the jar, now, is filled.
His narrative explains that the rocks represent the most important things in life, like family, your personal growth, your health, your relationships, Tar Heel basketball.
The gravel are the less but still important parts of your life, such as work, hobbies, social activities, and Tar Heel football.
And the sand? That’s the daily stuff, it’s your chores, media and social media, and other tasks that fill the day and contribute little to your well-being.
His message is already clear, but then he doubles down.
He empties the jar. This time he first pours in all the sand, and as he begins to add the rocks it becomes clear right away, there isn’t enough run for all of the them nor for the gravel.
We get it now, yeah? If your focus is first on daily emailing and minutiae we may not have time for the really significant parts of your life, the activities that bring you joy and purpose.
If we start with the big important things, we’ll always find time to attend to the other stuff.
“Exploring Your Creative Genius” takes an expansive view on what it means to be creative and entrepreneurial in an ongoing conversation led by Carl Nordgren — entrepreneur, novelist, and lifelong student with decades of experience growing his own creative capacity and assisting others to do the same in exciting new ways!
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