Balancing Business and Family: A Simple Rock‑Sand Plan

The founder of SkyBridge Capital shared a new way to juggle work and life. He compared time to a jar that needs first the big stones, then the sand. The stones are the most important parts of a person’s life – family, kids and close friends – and they should be put in the jar first. After that comes the sand, which represents all the smaller activities: exercise, reading or a vacation. If you fill the jar with sand first and then try to add the stones, there isn’t enough space for everything.The key message is to put priorities in order and stay relaxed if the plan isn’t perfect. He encouraged people to focus on what matters most while not getting upset over small missteps. Before creating SkyBridge, he helped start Oscar Capital Management, which was sold to Neuberger Berman in 2001. This experience shows he has long been balancing multiple roles.