May 24th, 2026 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes)
It’s not about time. It’s about priorities.
Managing Time (It’s Not What You Think)
“What’s the key to managing your time?”
Most leaders get this wrong.
They think they need better tools.
Better systems.
Better calendars.
They don’t.
I was in command, and the day was already gone before it started.
Emails stacking up.
Meetings running long.
“Urgent” issues coming in from every direction.
Everyone needed something—now.
By mid-morning, I realized something.
I hadn’t touched a single thing that actually mattered.
Not one. It felt like I was caught in a whirlwind of activity.
Sometime later, I attended a leadership workshop on time management. A consultant walked in, and did something rather simple – and yet profound.
She put a glass jar on the table.
Then she filled it with sand.
“This is your day,” she said. “All the little stuff. The noise. The interruptions.”
Everyone nodded.
Then she added pebbles.
“These are the things that matter—but not today. So you push them.”
More nods.
Then she picked up a few large rocks.
“These are the priorities that actually move your business forward. Critical to your future
success.”
She tried to force them into the jar.
They didn’t fit.
Then she dumped everything out.
This time, she put the big rocks in first.
Then the pebbles.
Then the sand.
Everything fit.
The room went quiet.
They saw it.
So did I.
Here’s the Truth
You don’t have a time problem.
You have a priority problem.
If you don’t decide what matters most – the whirlwind will.
And it will take your time.
What Managing Time Really Means
It’s not about doing more.
It’s about doing what matters—first.
Admiral Chester Nimitz, in command of the Pacific Fleet in World War II was famous for not
doing anything that someone on his staff could do.
Here’s how you can build your daily priorities:
1. Decide Your “Big Rocks” Early
Before the day starts, know the 1–3 things that must get done today.
2. Put Them on the Calendar First
If it’s not scheduled, it won’t happen.
3. Say No Without Apology
Every “yes” to the wrong thing is a “no” to the right one.
4. Delegate What You Shouldn’t Be Doing
If someone else can do it 70% as well—you don’t do it.
5. Block Time and Protect It
Guard your priorities like they matter—because they do.
6. Review and Adjust Weekly
If your week drifted, fix it. Don’t repeat it.
What Happens If You Don’t
You stay busy. But you don’t move forward. That’s the whirlwind.
You feel productive. But you’re not effective.
And over time, that gap shows up—in your results, your team, and your leadership.
Lead to Win Principle
“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
— Stephen Covey
The Question
What are your big rocks?
And when are you putting them in?
Next Week: How to balance competing priorities when everything feels important.
Want more powerful leadership lessons from Mike?
- Begin leading from the heart: Order Learn How to Lead to Win | The Manazir Maxims | Leadership Study Guide for Manazir Maxims
- Book Mike to Speak or for 1:1 Executive Coaching
P.S. Know someone trying to build up their people and lead with heart? Forward this to them. It might be the encouragement they need to keep going.
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Let’s lead to win together,
Mike Manazir
Retired Navy Rear Admiral | Bestselling Author | Keynote Speaker | Executive Coach