Last week I had the privilege of giving a motivational talk during a town hall meeting at The Hartford insurance company. The focus of the program was on energizing your life and motivating yourself into action. This is something we all need to think about as we begin the fourth quarter of the calendar year. You may be ahead of your goals or behind them, but it is how you finish the race that matters. It’s time to kick it up and put more energy and motivation into the final leg of the fiscal year.
Identify your big rocks to get more done
One of the energizing ideas that I shared with the group that they seemed to really appreciate was the concept of Honoring your Big Rocks. I first heard of this idea from Kim Kasparian, The Success Genie. I met Kim seven years ago when I launched my own business. She had a profound influence on my thinking and attitude towards success. She told me it was my birthright.
A science lesson
Imagine the following experiment: on a desk a science teacher displays a large glass vase, several big rocks, several medium size rocks, many small rocks, gravel, sand and a pitcher of water. Your challenge, she explains, is to put all of it into the large glass vase without leaving anything out, not even a drop of water.
Do you think it can all fit? How can you make it work? What will you do first?
As you can see from this video, “big rocks” is a metaphor for what is most important in your life. It’s what matters most to you. It’s what gives you joy, purpose and fulfillment. Honoring your big rocks will help give you the sustainable energy to achieve your goals and dreams.
Allocate time on your calendar to honor your big rocks
Barbara Talley is a keynote speaker, author and poet specializing in goal setting, time management, balancing work/family. I found Barbara online when I was researching ideas about time management and work/life balance. I couldn’t resist sharing her very cool rock image (see above). I found her article “Give Yourself a Priceless Gift in 2012” equally intriguing.
Here is what she is recommending that we do to help us honor our big rocks:
- Block out 1 hour each day for reflection
- Block out 3 hours a week for planning
- Block out 1 day per month for play and restoration
If you need more “permission” to do this, below is a small excerpt from her article as to WHY it’s important to allocate time to your big rocks:
“Relaxation and reflection are good for the mind, body, and soul. And when you are refreshed and feel valued, you are happier, make better decisions, and are more productive. Consider your scheduled time as a promise and honor it.” – Barbara Talley, excerpts from her blog article “Give Yourself a Priceless Gift in 2012”
Networking is like the water
It is highly unlikely that you have identified “Networking” as one of your big rocks. But you might have written down “Relationships” or “Meaningful Work” or “Business Success” as one of your big rocks. Networking is a process that will help you deepen your relationships, grow your business and open the doors to exciting new career opportunities.
Networking is a conduit to new opportunities and fulfillment. It’s like the water that effortlessly fills in the blank spaces between your rocks, gravel and sand. It connects everything together.
Your Networking Goal for the Week
This week, I’d like you to take at least ONE HOUR to reflect on your big rocks. Make a list of what they are and why they are important to you. Rank them in order. It’s okay to put yourself first. Once you’ve done that, think about what you are been doing (or not doing) to support these priorities. Identify how much time and attention you have been giving to the “gravel” and “sand” in your life.
What do you need to do this week to re-order how you spend your time, energy and attention? Prioritize the big rocks and put them first in your life. As a result, you will see how your productivity, energy and success soars!
p.s. one more inspiring video with a similar message. My favorite line: “The rest is just sand.” ENJOY!
