The bucket represents your time and the rocks, pebbles, and sand represent the universe of things we have on our to- do list.

FORBES: Three Essential Retirement Moves You Don't Want to Miss

If people fill the bucket with pebbles and sand (i.e. the small things), it is impossible to get the rocks in (i.e. the big things).

FORBES: Three Essential Retirement Moves You Don't Want to Miss

But when you put the large rocks in the bucket first, the pebbles as well as the sand seem to magically fit.

FORBES: Three Essential Retirement Moves You Don't Want to Miss

It is an amazing visual demonstration to watch someone put the big rocks in first, shake the pebbles, and then the sand around the rocks, and then pour the water in on top and have all four jars settle together.

FORBES: Level 5 Time Management: Beyond Stephen R. Covey and Ben Franklin

Then we add the pebbles and the sand, then pour the water around to fit it all in, or not.

FORBES: Level 5 Time Management: Beyond Stephen R. Covey and Ben Franklin

Later came intensive memorising of the star-compass, a circle of coral pebbles, each pebble a star, laid out in the sand round a palm-frond boat.

ECONOMIST: Mau Piailug

You have probably seen the example where you have a jar full of big rocks, a jar of pebbles, a jar of sand, and a jar of water.

FORBES: Level 5 Time Management: Beyond Stephen R. Covey and Ben Franklin