Eat That Frog! — Book Summary
Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
by Brian Tracy
Published: 2017 | 144 pages| Rating Amazon: |
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Date of the summary: Jun 10, 2020
Introduction
In Brian Tracy's book Eat that Frog, the frog is the most difficult and important task you want to do. Most people procrastinate eating frogs and end up eating the tadpoles, which are of less importance.
The author vividly explains how to eat your frog by following twenty-one techniques.
Interesting quotes from the book
One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not to be done at all.
— Brian Tracy, Eat That Frog!
The hardest part of any important task is getting started on it in the first place. Once you actually begin work on a valuable task, you seem to be naturally motivated to continue.
— Brian Tracy, Eat That Frog!
If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first. This is another way of saying that if you have two important tasks before you, start with the biggest, hardest, and most important task first.
— Brian Tracy, Eat That Frog!
Summary of the book Eat That Frog!
Here are the twenty-one techniques featured in the book 'Eat That Frog!' to stop procrastinating and to get your work done.
1. Set the Table
The first main rule is to Think on Paper.
Clear written goals will give a visualized effect on achieving it. It will encourage us to overcome procrastination and motivate us to do more tasks. You should know what are your frogs before eating it.
2. Plan your day beforehand
If you take a few minutes to plan your day, you can save many minutes. Make a to-do list of the tasks. When you steadily work through the list, you will feel more powerful and become unstoppable.
3. 80/20 Rule
Pareto's 80/20 rule applies for eating a frog too. Twenty percent of the tasks contribute to Eighty percent results. The remaining 80 percent task is just tadpoles that deviate you from eating your frogs.
But sadly, most of the people spend time on the 80 percent unimportant tasks and complain that they don't have enough time. Focus on the 20 percent tasks that will help you to accomplish your future goals.
4. Think about the consequences
If you want to be successful, then think about the consequences of present-day tasks. Successful people make decisions and choices based on their desires.
The Law of Forced Efficiency- We might not have enough time to do all the tasks. Concentrate on higher-value tasks and work on it steadily to attain your future goals.
5. Priorities vs Posteriorities.
If you want to identify your priorities, you have to know your posteriorities as well. Priorities are the tasks you want to complete immediately. But Posteriorities are the tasks you can perform later. Eat the ugliest and biggest frog first. You can eat the less ugly and small frogs later
6. ABCDE Method
In the ABCDE Method, list all the tasks on an everyday basis. And then place each task across A, B, C, D and E based on:
A - Tasks that are very important and so we must do.
B - Tasks that you should do. It has fewer consequences when compared to "A" tasks.
C - Tasks that would be nice if you do it. If you didn't do these tasks, it has no consequences.
D - Delegate "D" tasks. You may get more free time to do “A” tasks if you delegate these tasks.
E - Eliminate "E" tasks.
7. Key result areas
Identify the key result areas and improving it will help you to do your work in the best manner.
8. Law of Three
The author confidently mentioned that the three most important tasks you perform contain the highest value. These three tasks contribute to future success.
9. Make the necessary preparations
Before starting on your work, prepare everything you need to begin.
- Collect all the information, reports, and files that will assist in your work.
- A comfortable workspace will do wonders.
- Take your first step confidently with a lot of dreams.
10. Take One step at a time
When you see huge tasks, you may be startled. So, divide the task into small steps and focus on completing that single task.
11. Master your key skills
How can we do that?
The rule here is Never to stop learning.
- Read, Read, Read. Read about the tasks you perform for at least an hour a day.
- Improve your knowledge by attending seminars and courses.
- Listen to audio programs.
12. Spot your key constraints
Identify the limiting factor that is holding you back and alleviate it. Your day will start with new-found power and energy.
13. Stress yourself towards imaginary deadlines.
Only a small percent of the people can work without supervision. Push yourself into that category. Lead yourself and not by anyone else. Create imaginary deadlines and accomplish the works even faster.
14. Self-Motivation is the key
To motivate yourself, you should become an optimist. See things with a positive approach. When you envision your goals and ideas and positively talk to yourself, you will feel more confident and powerful.
15. Technology should not be your Master
Make your screen-time under your control. Unsubscribe yourself from unwanted newsletters and make it a habit of checking e-mails only twice a day. Resolve to unchain yourself from technology two hours each day and one day each week.
16. Make technology your servant
Clean your digital workspace like cleaning personal space.
- Delete unwanted e-mails and messages.
- Close unwanted programs.
- Block the websites that distract you.
17. Focus your attention
Focus your attention on accomplishing high-value tasks. Unimportant tasks like e-mail, phone calls, instant messages will deviate you from completing the most important tasks.
18. Salami Slicing
You are likely to procrastinate if you see large, complex tasks. Eat your big frog by cutting it into smaller pieces. By the time you complete eating small pieces, you would have finished eating your frog.
19. Create large chunks of time
When you schedule your tasks within large blocks of time, you will get a flow to complete your work efficiently. Make sure that the segmented time blocks to be free from distractions.
20. Sense of Urgency
Create a sense of urgency within yourself to improve your productivity. Start your work by declaring, "Do it now! Do it now!".
21. Single handle your task
Once you get into the flow of working, you will keep on going without any distractions. You can become a self-disciplined superior person by focusing on your most valuable task.
Review of the book Eat That Frog!
'Eat that Frog' is definitely worth giving a read. This book had influenced my life. I resolved myself to follow every technique mentioned in this book. I have realized that I was wasting my time on low-value tasks that have no consequences on my future goals.
Though the book is full of new learning, the facts recur in some places. Maybe it's the author's style of imparting his ideas on the minds of readers.
Conclusion
If you want happiness and success, then develop the habit of eating your frog first thing in the morning.
'Eat That Frog! Action Workbook' is available if you want to make the best use of the techniques mentioned in this book.
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