A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future...

I just finished reading Michael J. Fox's book, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future...".
Great read. Highly recommend it. What particularly struck me was on the first couple of pages. Here is the direct quote:

"A PROFESSOR STANDS before his class with a cardboard box. From inside he produces a large, clear, empty pickle jar, and then a series of golf ball-sized rocks, which he then drops one by one into the jar until they reach the brim.
"So?" the teacher asks. "Who thinks the jar is full?" Hands shoot up, and a quick scan of the room confirms unanimity--yes, it's full.

Next out of the box, a bag of sand, which the professor pours in amongst the rocks. Tiny grains cascade over, around, and in between the larger stones until there is no space left.
"Is it full now?" A show of hands and a chorus of voices responds--yes, it's full.

Now the professor smiles. "But wait, "Both hands disappear into the box and reemerge simultaneously, each holding a can of beer. The crack and hiss of the pop tops are drowned out by laughter in the classroom as the amber nectar pours into the jar with the rocks and sand. Once the din of the students subsides to a collective chuckle, the professor confidently declares, "Now it's full."

"This jar represents your life," he continues. "Make sure the first ingredients are the big stuff...the rocks--your family, your work, your career, your passions. The rest is just sand, minutiae. It's in there. It may even be important. But it's not your first priority."

"What about the beer?" a kid in the back yells out.
"Well," comes the answer. "After everything else, you always have room for a couple of beers with friends."