Book Summary of “Eat That Frog!” by Brian Tracy

• Title: Eat That Frog! 
• Author: Brian Tracy
• Year: 2001

Main theme

The book focuses on overcoming procrastination and increasing productivity by tackling your most important and challenging tasks (your “frogs”) first thing each day. It provides 21 practical methods for prioritizing, planning, and completing critical tasks efficiently.

Introduction

The book begins by explaining the metaphor of “eating a frog” – doing your most difficult but important task first thing each day. It emphasizes that by developing this habit, you can dramatically increase your productivity and success.

Chapter Summaries:

1. Set the Table: Clarify your goals and objectives before beginning any task.
2. Plan Every Day in Advance: Use written plans to organize your tasks and increase efficiency.
3. Apply the 80/20 Rule to Everything: Focus on the 20% of tasks that produce 80% of results.
4. Consider the Consequences: Prioritize tasks with the most significant long-term impact.
5. Practice the ABCDE Method Continually: Categorize tasks by importance and tackle high-priority items first.
6. Focus on Key Result Areas: Identify and concentrate on the tasks most crucial to your job performance.
7. Obey the Law of Forced Efficiency: Recognize there’s never enough time for everything, but always enough for the most important things.
8. Prepare Thoroughly Before You Begin: Gather all necessary materials before starting a task to avoid interruptions.
9. Do Your Homework: Continuously improve your skills in key areas to increase efficiency.
10. Leverage Your Special Talents: Identify and focus on tasks where you excel.
11. Identify Your Key Constraints: Determine and address the main factors limiting your progress.

1. Take It One Oil Barrel at A Time: Break large tasks into smaller, manageable steps.
2. Put the Pressure on Yourself: Create self-imposed deadlines and a sense of urgency.
3. Maximize Your Personal Powers: Work during your peak energy periods and maintain good health habits.
4. Motivate Yourself into Action: Use positive self-talk and maintain an optimistic outlook.
5. Practice Creative Procrastination: Deliberately postpone less important tasks to focus on priorities.
6. Do the Most Difficult Task First: Tackle your biggest challenge early in the day when you’re fresh.
7. Slice and Dice the Task: Break large projects into smaller, less daunting pieces.
8. Create Large Chunks of Time: Schedule uninterrupted blocks of time for important tasks.
9. Develop A Sense of Urgency: Cultivate a habit of working quickly and efficiently.
10. Single Handle Every Task: Focus on one task at a time until completion.

Conclusion

The book concludes by emphasizing the importance of developing these habits through consistent practice. It encourages readers to apply these principles daily to increase productivity and achieve greater success in their personal and professional lives.