I met with a client last week and we were discussing the fast pace of life that we all seem to lead. It is clear it is not going to slow up anytime yet! Indeed, with all of the ways we have of communicating with each other in a consistent, and at times, persistent way, it is set to get more demanding. If we let it, our time can be spent reacting to others and keeping the hungry mouth of communication fed.
This got us onto thinking about prioritisation and what is important. Too often we find ourselves busy with the small things and end up not having time for the bigger issues.
This led onto a puzzle I once saw – well it was more of an experiment which started with a glass vessel. The vessel was similar to a laboratory beaker, just larger, plus the following 4 things:
- A number of smaller beakers all containing water
- A pile of dry sand
- A pile of dry small stones
- A few rocks
The first question asked was: ‘Will all of these items fit into the vessel?’
It was clear that each individual item would fit into the vessel, and perhaps one or two other things would too at the same time. But it was unclear if all of the items would fit at the same time.
Anyway, to cut the experiment short, the only method to complete the exercise, where everything fitted, was to start with the large rocks going in first.
Then the small stones follow and are shaken down so that they fill up any spaces.
Next, in goes the sand – again carefully shaking it down so that it fills up the small spaces between the stones. This will only work if the sand is dry otherwise it clogs up, you cannot effectively wash the sand in place.
Finally the water is poured in carefully. It all fits.
The principle behind the experiment is making sure you have the right approach and plan the way the task is handled. As a laboratory experiment it is quite interesting. It is a long time ago since I was in such a laboratory, so what is the ‘take’ on this in our busy lives I started this article with?
Well, perhaps a few questions:
- Do you work out which are your largest and most important tasks (the rocks) and deal with those first?
- Do you then work out what are the next most important tasks (the stones) and then deal with those second?
- After this, do you work out what the small tasks are (the sand) and only then see what you can fit in?
- And finally do you work out what other tasks you can fit in between everything (the water)? Do note, that whilst these tasks might be small they might be vital to bind everything together, or may just be the small things that we should leave till last?
Now the crucial part of all this is if we fail to get the large rocks in first, we will have to work hard to get them in second, or third, or fourth….. We may even have to start all over.
And finally, to get those large rocks in first would it be better to be less reactive to the never-ending river of demands on our time?
I think so!
My best wishes,
Peter
