ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Tracy is a Canadian-American motivational speaker and author. Tracy was born in Canada in 1944.
He has written over eighty books on self-development, leadership, strategy, and management. These books have been translated into many languages. Some of his most notable works are Eat That Frog!, Earn What You’re Really Worth, and No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline.
Tracy is the founder-cum-CEO of the Brian Tracy International, a company engaged in offering self-growth counseling services. He has also served as the COO and President in similar companies. Tracy has also dabbled in politics.
He presently lives in California.
SYNOPSIS
Eat That Frog! is a time management book aimed at getting the readers to stop procrastinating. The titular phrase, Eat That Frog, refers to the proactive approach of tackling the scariest problem first.
The book has twenty-one chapters in total, and each chapter sets forth twenty-one ways to manage one’s time and workload. These methods are interrelated and, when implemented correctly, can go a long way in boosting the reader’s productivity. Brian Tracy has beautifully condensed various time management theories and elucidated them in twenty-one easy steps.
Eat That Frog! emphasizes the twin virtues of quality work and self-discipline. Tasks and problems have been referred to as live frogs due to their unsavory nature. The author advises readers to identify the biggest and ugliest frog and deal with it before anything else. Doing so will perfectly set us up for the relatively easy challenges ahead.
The book also contains practical tips on how one can achieve their goals, whether personal or professional.
WHAT WE LIKED ABOUT EAT THAT FROG!
Eat That Frog! is not a tome. It is rather succinct and practical. The book doesn’t offer any confusing or conflicting tips. Every example serves to drive home the point in question. No issue has been discussed for too long. In addition, unlike most books of its genre, this doesn’t feel like an idealistic read. Every chapter ends with a few simple, small actions that one can easily incorporate into their daily life.
Another highlight of the book is the way Brian Tracy has likened arduous assignments to frogs. The bigger and more demanding the task, the uglier the frog. This uncanny analogy not only adds to the hilarity of the book, but also makes it far more effective.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABOUT EAT THAT FROG!
As with all self-help books, arguably the biggest drawback of Eat That Frog! is that, unless implemented in real life, the tips offered therein will remain theoretical. One has to actually put those suggestions into practice to benefit from the book.
QUOTES
The first rule of frog eating is this: If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.
The second rule of frog eating is this: If you have to eat a live frog at all, it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long.
Rule: It is the quality of time at work that counts and the quantity of time at home that matters.
CONCLUSION
Eat That Frog! is a book designed for people who recognize their need to stop putting off things, but do not wish to read run-of-the-mill books. When used practically, the book can work wonders for professionals and students alike. Despite its tiny size, the book is just about perfect for those who wish to get more done in less time.
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