“Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy
Hey, so I just finished reading this book called “Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy, and honestly, it’s one of those books that hit me right where I needed it. It’s not some complicated, preachy guide. It’s more like your no-nonsense friend shaking you up and saying, “Stop overthinking. Just do the thing.”
And yeah, I know the title sounds weird — like, why would anyone eat a frog? But that’s actually the whole point. Tracy says:
“If the first thing you do in the morning is eat a live frog, nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”
In normal-people language? That frog is your biggest, most important task — the one you keep avoiding but deep down know you need to do. The one that actually moves your life forward. So, the book’s about making a habit of getting that thing done first, before distractions or excuses sneak in.
Let me break it down the way I’d tell a close friend — the stuff that really stuck with me.
The Big Idea: Stop Being “Busy” and Start Being Effective
We all have long to-do lists. Some days we feel like superheroes checking things off. But here’s the truth Tracy drops on us — not all tasks are equal. Checking 10 small things doesn’t mean you actually made progress if you skipped the one thing that mattered most.
So instead of trying to do everything, the book is about doing the right things. Especially the hard, meaningful ones.
Step 1: Get Clear on What You Really Want
This part hit me — Tracy says most people procrastinate not because they’re lazy, but because they’re unclear. If you don’t know exactly what you want, you’ll keep floating around, wasting time.
He says:
→ Write your goals down.
→ Be specific.
→ Think long-term.
It sounds so basic, but when I sat down and actually wrote down what I want — in work, life, relationships — it was like flipping a light switch.
Step 2: Plan Your Day the Night Before
This one’s gold. Tracy suggests just spending 10 minutes at night planning your next day.
When you wake up and already know what your top 3 things are, you save yourself from decision fatigue. No more “Where do I even start?” mornings.
I started doing this with sticky notes — writing down 3 main things to do the next day. Game changer.
Step 3: The 80/20 Rule — Less Is More
This one blew my mind.
80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.
Meaning: most of what’s on your to-do list doesn’t really matter.
So instead of trying to finish 20 small things, focus on the 1 or 2 things that make a real difference. That email you’ve been avoiding? That uncomfortable phone call? That’s probably your frog.
Step 4: Ask Yourself — What Are the Consequences?
This is deep.
Before you decide what to do next, ask:
👉 What will happen if I don’t do this?
👉 What good things could happen if I do?
Tracy says people who succeed think long-term. They don’t just ask, “What do I feel like doing now?” They ask, “What’s going to help me later?”
It’s like planting seeds for your future self.
Step 5: ABCDE — A Simple Way to Prioritize
This system made me laugh at how much time I waste on “C” tasks.
Here’s how it works:
- A = Must do (your frogs). Big consequences.
- B = Should do. Small consequences.
- C = Nice to do. No real consequences.
- D = Delegate it.
- E = Eliminate it altogether.
Do the A’s first. Always.
Step 6: Know Your “Key Result Areas”
Every job or role has a few core things that actually matter. If you’re a content creator, for example, your key results might be:
- Writing
- Researching
- Publishing
- Engaging with audience
The idea is: Figure out the few things you really need to master. If you get better at those, you’ll thrive. Otherwise, you’ll stay stuck doing random things that feel productive but aren’t.
Step 7: You’ll Never Have Time for Everything
Here’s a reality check Tracy throws in:
You will never have enough time to do everything. But you always have time to do the most important thing.
Read that again. It’s kind of freeing, right?
Let go of perfection. Let go of trying to do it all. Do what matters most, and let the rest go.
Step 8: Break Big Tasks Into Small Steps
Sometimes a task feels so overwhelming that you just keep pushing it off. Tracy says: slice it up.
Like, instead of “Start YouTube Channel” (which is huge), break it down into:
- Choose a name
- Create a logo
- Record 1 video
- Learn how to edit
Each small step gives you a win, builds momentum, and suddenly the big task doesn’t feel so scary.
Step 9: One Step at a Time
There’s a story in the book about a guy walking through the desert. The only way he survives is by walking from one oil barrel to the next.
Point is: don’t focus on the full journey. Just focus on the next step. That’s all you need right now.
I started applying this when writing — instead of worrying about finishing the whole blog, I just aim to write the next 200 words.
Step 10: Be Your Own Coach
You can’t wait for someone to come push you. Tracy says you’ve got to be your own motivator.
Talk kindly to yourself. Remind yourself why this task matters. Play energizing music. Picture the reward.
Your thoughts can either drain you or drive you.
Step 11: Act Fast — Create Urgency
Ever noticed how you become a productivity machine the day before a deadline? That’s urgency in action.
Now imagine working like that every day — not in a stressful way, but with purpose. Like you’re on a mission.
Tracy says to give yourself tight deadlines and act like time matters. It forces focus.
Step 12: Finish What You Start
Lastly, and maybe most importantly — once you start a task, stick with it until it’s done.
Multitasking is a lie. Switching back and forth between tasks actually drains energy and slows you down. The magic happens when you go all in on one thing.
Final Thoughts
So yeah, Eat That Frog! isn’t just about time management. It’s about life management. It’s about facing the stuff you usually avoid, building real momentum, and becoming someone who finishes things instead of just thinking about them.
What I really liked is that the book doesn’t try to make you perfect. It just helps you be better, one frog at a time.
If there’s something you’ve been putting off — a blog, a call, a dream — this is your sign: Eat that frog today.
And hey, you don’t need to be a machine. Just be honest, be clear, and take action — even if it’s messy.
You got this.