Ever feel like your workday is full of endless tasks, but somehow, the most important stuff never gets done? It’s like trying to fill a glass cylinder with sand and then wondering why there’s no room for the big rocks. If that metaphor doesn’t ring a bell, let me introduce you to the power of Rocks—the key to prioritizing your most important goals and making sure they don’t get lost in the daily grind.
What Are Rocks, Anyway?
In the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) world, Rocks are your company’s top priorities—the big, important goals that need to be achieved in the next 90 days. These aren’t just day-to-day tasks or nice-to-haves; Rocks are the crucial objectives that will drive your business forward.
The Glass Cylinder Story
Imagine you’ve got a glass cylinder, some big rocks, a handful of pebbles, and a lot of sand. The cylinder represents your available time and energy. If you start by filling it with sand (all the small, insignificant tasks that fill up your day), there’s no room for the big rocks. But if you place the big rocks in first (your top priorities), the pebbles (medium-sized tasks) and sand can fill in the gaps around them. The moral of the story? Focus on the Rocks first, and everything else will fall into place.
Why Rocks Are So Important
Now that we’ve got the metaphor sorted, let’s talk about why Rocks are so valuable:
1. Focus on What Matters
Rocks force you and your team to prioritize. Instead of getting lost in the sea of emails, meetings, and “urgent” requests, you stay laser-focused on the most important goals. It’s the difference between working *in* the business and working *on* the business.
2. Accountability with a Capital “A”
When you assign a Rock to someone, it’s clear who’s responsible for making it happen. Rocks create a culture of accountability because everyone knows what they’re supposed to achieve—and by when. No more vague goals or guessing who’s responsible!
3. Big Goals in Bite-Sized Pieces
Breaking down long-term objectives into 90-day Rocks makes big goals feel achievable. It’s like eating an elephant one bite at a time (not that we recommend eating elephants!). Tackling your Rocks one quarter at a time helps you build momentum and keep moving toward the bigger vision.
Rocks are your business’s priorities made tangible. Without them, your team risks getting buried in sand—the day-to-day distractions that, while urgent, don’t drive long-term success. So, place your big rocks in the jar first, let the rest fill in the gaps, and watch your business grow stronger, quarter by quarter.