> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://convivio.gitbook.io/the-convivio-cookbook/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://convivio.gitbook.io/the-convivio-cookbook/business/our-pulse/big-rocks.md).

# Big Rocks

A 'big rock' is a medium-term goal we want to achieve in the coming few months that will be a major positive improvement in the business.

It's too easy to get pulled into running round the hamster wheel of finding and serving clients and doing the day-to- day admin. Important things get pushed down the priority list in favour of urgent things.

Stephen Covey (author of the '7 Habits of Highly Effective People') has a metaphor in which he talks about fitting in the ‘big rocks’ first, then you can pour the pebbles and sand around them — whereas if you put in the sand and pebbles first you can't fit in the big rocks.

&#x20;<https://youtu.be/zV3gMTOEWt8>

In the same way, we want to identify 3-5 big things that will help our business take a leap forward over the next three months.

## How to define a Big Rock?

To be useful it's important that we define and write big rocks well. A rough guide is that Big Rocks should be:

* Focused on an outcome, rather than an activity or output
* Directed towards achieving our Purpose & Ambitions
* Aligned with our points of Focus
* Supporting our values, motivations
* A significant and worthwhile improvement in our business
* Within our power
* Potentially achievable within three months
* Written without specifying how the outcome might be achieved

A Big Rock is a bit like an Epic in an agile project.

## Examples

Here are some examples of badly-defined Big Rocks:

* "Improve public sector procurement": this isn't directly within our power.
* "Write a page about Big Rocks in the cookbook": this is an activity rather than an outcome, and is achievable by one person within less than a day. It's not a significant enough improvement in the business.
* "Launch Convivio in 5 other countries": this isn't achievable within three months, and it's not directed towards our purpose and ambitions

Here are some examples of well-defined Big Rocks (these might change as we learn how to best write them):

* "Launch our new branding"
* "Introduce a fair and transparent way to set pay and pay rises"