A blog overview of Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time”
After listening to Brian Tracy’s audible EAT THAT FROG, it is evident that a better life is quite easy to achieve. The hard part for most individuals and myself is to give all my attention to one specific task. There’s a misconception that multitasking is an actual fete when in reality that individual is only adding a distraction in their life. By taking out all distractions you, in turn, get the task done quicker and the quality will be higher because you are giving the task the maximum effort it deserves.
Brian covers twenty-one steps to complete tasks in a more proficient and performance-based manner. I plan to implement all the steps but want to start making small changes so that way I can build them into a habit. The twenty-one steps are as follows:
1. Set the table. Decide exactly what you want. Clarity is essential.
2. Plan every day in advance. Think on paper.
3. Apply the 80/20 rule to everything. 20% of your activities will account for 80% of your results. Always put your efforts towards the 20%.
4. Consider the consequences.
5. Practice creative procrastination, put off low-value tasks, or delegate them.
6. Use the ABCDE method, and organize your tasks by value and priority.
7. Focus on key result areas!
8. Apply the law of three; identify the three things you do that account for 90% of your contribution.
9. Prepare thoroughly before you start.
10. Take it one oil barrel at a time.
11. Upgrade your key skills.
12. Identify your key constraints.
13. Put the pressure on yourself.
14. Motivate yourself into action. Be your own cheerleader.
15. Technology is a terrible master. Learn to turn devices off.
16. Technology is a wonderful servant. Use your technology as a tool.
17. Focus your attention.
18. Slice and dice the task.
19. Create large chunks of time.
20. Develop a sense of urgency.
21. Single-handle each task.
Set the table. Decide exactly what you want. Clarity is essential.
Before any action can be taken, I need to know exactly what I am trying to do or achieve. This brings clarity to myself and the group of people around me. If I do not have a clear goal, then there is nothing to plan or prepare around. The first step is to KNOW exactly what you want, then it is time to take action and the rest will fall in place. As I complete each task, I will look back and remind myself of the WHY to the WHAT that I am doing.
Plan every day in advance. Think on paper.
This is a key step that I believe many see as elementary but can have a drastic impact on your life. Some days I have my entire day planned and then others I do not. That is a recipe for disaster. Each day needs to be maximized to complete tasks and achieve goals. Once time has passed, there’s no way of regaining or taking it back. The effort you could be putting toward your task has slipped away, but what you can do is get back to work to not let that happen again. You are either progressing or regressing. The decision is yours to make.
Apply the law of three; identify the three things you do that account for 90% of your contribution.
My current goal in life is manifesting itself into becoming a business professional racing supercross and motocross. The three key elements that account for 90% of my contributions to racing are my diet, training, and riding. My diet is a continuous cycle to account for my weight, overall health, and performance on the motorcycle. The off-the-bike training helps add to my strength, mobility, and endurance when my body is put through the many stresses while riding. Then the riding is where all the pieces are put together and maximized. Each piece has a specific spot where they are supposed to go and if one is lacking, then the entire puzzle does not work. If that is the case, then I have to go back and pinpoint the issue. Refine the edges and then get back to the goal. All pieces will have their time for refinement, but that does not mean that we give up on trying to put the entire puzzle together.
Focus your attention.
The task you are currently working on should acquire all your attention. I have found myself working on a project and then out of the corner of my eye, I see my phone light up with a notification.
My first instinct is to reach for my phone, but I have been working on turning the phone over instead of reading the text at that moment. The task at hand should get all of your attention until it is complete. Putting off the need to check my phone has retrained my brain to give all of its focus to what I am doing at present. I have also seen this carry over to my riding and paying more attention to my line selection. There is no time to think of anything else than what is directly in front of you, scanning the track and making a split-second decision on what rut you’ll take through a turn or up a face on a jump. The consequences are a bit more intense when jumping on a 226-pound motorcycle versus checking your phone for a notification, but the same focus needs to be put on the current task.
Develop a sense of urgency.
I believe this is an area where I have lacked in the past and currently working on improving. The only two dates guaranteed in our lifetime; are the day we were born and the day we die. Each day that passes, we are one day closer to our death. That should instinctually make us a bit fearful to not waste each moment and create a sense of urgency. Today is the day to complete your tasks and take a few steps closer to your dreams.
“If you have a dream, chase it, because a dream won’t chase you back.”
-Cody Johnson
As Brian mentions in the audible, our daily lives are filled with small and large tasks. The small tasks usually do not take a lot of effort or time but have little to no importance in the grander scheme of things. While the large tasks will take all your attention and time but are much more rewarding. They are referred to as the action of “EAT THAT FROG!” because they are typically not enjoyable and something most people would procrastinate about doing, but WE are the ones that do not see them in that manner. We are the ones that accept that as a challenge and not an obstacle.
I will go forth and start by implementing the five steps that I covered in my effort to get my goal-oriented tasks accomplished. Be clear on my goals, plan every day, apply the law of three, focus my attention, develop a sense of urgency, and EAT THAT FROG!
