Eat That Frog!

Synopsis

Eat That Frog! is Brian Tracy's guide to overcoming procrastination and getting the most important things done. The title comes from a saying attributed to Mark Twain: if you have to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning—then the rest of the day can't be worse. Tracy expands this into 21 practices: clarify your goals, plan the night before, apply the 80/20 rule, tackle the hardest task first, and create blocks of uninterrupted time.

The book is short and action-oriented. Each chapter ends with exercises or questions to apply the idea. The focus is on prioritisation, single-tasking, and protecting your highest-value work from distraction and delay.

Why I Recommend It

The core idea—do the most important, often most daunting, task first—is simple and effective. Many productivity books add complexity; this one strips it back. For people who procrastinate on big or unpleasant tasks, "eat the frog" is a memorable rule that works. The 21 practices are a mix of the obvious (plan ahead) and the useful (time blocking, saying no).

Key takeaways:

• Do the hardest thing first: Your energy and willpower are highest early; use them for the task that matters most
• Decide what matters: If everything is priority, nothing is; rank and focus
• Single-task: Multitasking and constant switching reduce quality and increase stress

Practical application: I've recommended it to people who struggle with prioritisation or who put off important work. The "frog" metaphor makes the rule easy to remember and share. The emphasis on planning the day (or the night before) helps create structure. It's not a system—it's a set of habits that support focus and impact.

A straightforward productivity classic that holds up.

Favourite Quote

"If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first."

Tracy doubles down: when you have multiple hard tasks, do the worst one first. It's a discipline that pays off in reduced anxiety and better use of peak energy.