One of my students just sent this to me and I love the explanation of what the different items mean. 

Enjoy! 

TWO GLASSES OF WINE

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine…

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

Now, said the professor, as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.’

The pebbles a re the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.’

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.’

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.

The professor smiled. ‘I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.’

Most of you probably know or can testify firsthand that big rewards are very often the result of a series of small steps.  My entire career in real estate investing has been a series of small steps that led to huge rewards.  Even though these steps may seem small and insignificant as we’re taking them, without them our lives would become stagnant.

For this reason, it’s imperative for all of you who want to become true Lifeonaires to first develop your personal Lifeonaire Vision, then break it down into smaller goals, and finally divide those smaller goals even further into the smallest of action steps.  If you take the time and initiative necessary to outline this plan, things will begin to happen simply by taking those smallest of steps.

Practically, we can all understand that this works because it’s always easier to take small steps rather than large strides as we work toward our goals.  Yet, for many of us the big picture is often so intimidating that we are immobilized and choose instead to do nothing at all.  But rather than allowing the big picture to paralyze us, we need to use the big picture as our guide and then put all of our energy and focus toward getting the next small step done.  Only then can we make tremendous strides toward becoming Lifeonaires!

Recently, I have found biblical application for this principal as well, and I will admit, it has been very convicting.  Lifeonaire is one of those ideas that has a tremendous amount of potential to reach the masses.  It has already flipped people lives upside down and has the possibility to grow and become very influential.  Deep in my heart, I know this to be true and every time Shaun or I speak on the subject, we’re approached by people who also see this potential.  They often ask “I’m ready.  Now how do I get there?”  My answer is always the same:  you get there by taking small steps toward the big picture.

But lately I’ve had a hard time practicing what I’m preaching.  Let me explain.  As I think about the future, it has occurred to me that if Lifeonaire is going to be all that I believe God wants it to be, I need to prepare. I need help.  I need a publisher.  I need a staff of people, coaches, and trainers, who need training manuals!  So I spend my time thinking about I all need to do to get ready before I can tell too many people about Lifeonaire.  And while I’m thinking and planning for the future, Lifeonaire sits stagnant, doing no one any good.

Then it hit me:  not only am I not taking the small steps that will lead to something bigger, I’m not using what has already been entrusted to me.  You see, I already have all I need to tell people about Lifeonaire.  I may not have the “masses” I’m planning for quite yet, but I do have a following, a website, the ability to do blog posts, coaching calls, and teaching events.  Yet I’ve been waiting.  And now I’m wondering:  If God can’t trust me to use what he’s already put into my hands, why would he entrust me with more?

I think it’s time I start taking my own advice:  not only is it practical but it’s biblical too.  God has given me so much already.  With HIS help, I’m going to take those small steps, keeping my eye on the prize of the big picture and vision HE has given me for Lifeonaire!  Won’t you join me?