leading on empty-great illustration

Bryan Dyson, the former COO of Coca-Cola delivered the commencement address at Georgia Tech in 1996. In it he gave a simile that explained the distinctions of what is most important in life:

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends, and spirit-and you are keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls-family, health, friends, and spirit-are all made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance.

Taken from Leading From Empty by Wayne Cordeiro