Book Summary of ‘Eat That Frog’ By Brian Tracy
- Genre: Procrastination
- Buy On Amazon
- Listen To Audio
- Watch On YouTube
- Download PDF
- Download Infographic
- Do The Book (Short Course)
What's It About?
Ever looked at your to-do list and thought, “I’d rather wrestle a crocodile than start this”? Well, what if I told you the trick to winning the productivity game is to eat a frog first thing in the morning? Not a real frog (eww) – but your biggest, ugliest, scariest task of the day. That’s what Brian Tracy teaches in Eat That Frog! It’s not about working harder. It’s about working smarter. Ready to befriend your inner productivity ninja? Let’s hop to it.
Chapters Breakdown
- Chapter 1: Every successful goal starts with a good plan
→ You can’t hit a target if you don’t know what you’re aiming at. - Chapter 2: Establish your priorities and focus on them
→ Not all tasks are created equal – do the big, scary ones first. - Chapter 3: The path to progress is all about self-exploration
→ Know your strengths, clean your desk, and get to work. - Chapter 4: Perform best by staying optimistic and self-disciplined
→ Think positive, sleep well, and train your brain like a monk. - Chapter 5: Acknowledge what’s holding you back – then overcome it
→ Stop blaming your cat, your boss, or the weather. Look inward. - Chapter 6: Take control of your own time
→ You can’t make more hours, but you can use them better.
Key Takeaways
- Eat the frog first. Tackle your most important (and difficult) task at the beginning of the day.
- Plan ahead. Don’t just wing it. Write down goals, break them into chunks, and use checklists.
- Use the 80/20 Rule. 20% of your efforts give 80% of results. Focus there.
- ABCDE your list. Sort tasks by priority: A (do or die), B (important), C (meh), D (delegate), E (eliminate).
- Know yourself. Find your superpower, set up a comfy workspace, and keep learning.
- Be your own cheerleader. Your thoughts shape your results. Talk nicely to yourself.
- Practice creative procrastination. Delay the small stuff so you can focus on the big stuff.
- Make appointments with yourself. Block time for deep work like you would for a dentist visit.
- Take action now. Stop planning endlessly. Jump in and build momentum.
- Consistency beats intensity. Do a bit every day, and watch those frogs disappear.
Quotes From The Book
- “The first rule of frog-eating is this: If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.”
- “The second rule is: If you have to eat a live frog, it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long.”
- “One of the very worst uses of time is to do something very well that need not be done at all.”
- “Every minute spent in planning saves ten minutes in execution.”
- “Success is predictable. It is not an accident.”
Anecdotes From The Book
- The Frog Analogy – The central metaphor of the book. Imagine eating a live frog first thing in the morning. If you can do that, everything else in your day will feel easy. Your frog = your most important task.
- The Surprise Vacation Trick – If you had to leave for a dream holiday tomorrow, what would you wrap up today? That’s the stuff you need to do first.
- Driver’s University – Tracy points out that the average driver spends hundreds of hours on the road yearly. Why not turn your car into a university on wheels with audio books
- Posteriorities vs. Priorities – While most people focus on the urgent, Tracy flips the script: delay or skip the unimportant stuff. These are your “posteriorities.”
Conclusion
Brian Tracy isn’t offering a magical productivity potion. He’s just giving you a sturdy fork and telling you to face your frogs. The book’s charm lies in its simplicity: plan ahead, work smart, stay positive, and keep chewing. It’s not about doing everything – it’s about doing what matters. Follow these steps, and soon you’ll be that person everyone wonders, “How do they get it all done?” Spoiler: They eat frogs for breakfast.
About The Author
Brian Tracy is like your friendly neighborhood life coach who doesn’t sugarcoat things. He’s a bestselling author and speaker in personal development and business success. He’s written over 80 books (yes, 80!), including No Excuses!, The Psychology of Achievement, and Goals!. His work focuses on helping people achieve clarity, confidence, and control over their lives.
And there you have it – frog digested, lesson learned. Ready to eat yours? 🐸💪
