big ROCK

Why Big Rock?

Well, I'm sure there is more than one relevance to the name, the obvious being a reference to my association with Prudential California Realty, whose unmistakable logo for over 100 years has been the Rock of Gibraltar. But an important personal relevance to me is how it represents YOU, my current and/or future client.

It is inspired by a story a mentor once shared with me, which I have adapted into a business and life philosophy:

So there's this college professor who, frustrated with his students' sluggishness and procrastination, decides to give a lesson on time management. He stands at the front of the class, and from behind his podium he pulls out a large, wide-mouth glass jar, and sets it on the table. He then carefully pulls out a score of fist-sized rocks and places them next to the glass jar.

"How many of these do you think we can fit in the jar?" the professor asks his students.

"Where is the old man going with this?" the class collectively thinks to themselves. But in the spirit of good sport the students go along with the presentation and begin to make random guesses. Five? Seven? Seventeen?

The professor begins to gently place the rocks, one by one, into the jar up to the lip of the brim.

"Is the jar full?" he asks. The class quickly agrees that it is full.

He then reaches behind the podium and pulls out a bucket of loose gravel and proceeds to carefully pour it into the glass jar. The gravel fills up all the spaces between the large rocks and the glass. When the gravel has reached the brim and no empty space can be accounted for the professor slyly asks, "Is the jar full?"

At this point the class squints suspiciously. They can kind of see where the old man is going with this. This time they answer "Probably not."

The professor shows that he is impressed. He reaches behind the podium once again and this time pulls out a bucket of sand. He again pours the sand into the jar until all the tiny crevices between the rocks, gravel, and glass are filled up. Again he asks "Is the jar full?"

Together the class shouts, "No!"

"Very good!" the professor replies. Finally he pulls out a pitcher of water from behind the podium (mind you this is an unusually large podium) and pours the water into the jar. He asks "So what's the point of all this?"

A student in front confidently answers, "No matter how full you think your schedule is, you can always make room for more things in your life."

The professor answers "No, that is NOT the point and I hope that is not the message you folks walk away with today. The point of all this is that you if you don't put the big rocks in first, you will never get them in."

And so in my business YOU are always my BIG ROCK. Your needs and goals are what I strive to understand and fulfill everyday, to not only meet but to far exceed your satisfaction. In my jar of life without the blessing of my loyal clients there is only sand.

So thank you for your continued patronage and friendship. I wish you all the best in wealth and health, and should there ever be anything I can do for you please do not hesitate to contact me. I am always available for you.