I ate the frog today, did you?
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, you’re not alone. I first heard the phrase “eat the frog” from my client who is a professional organizer. It comes from a book by Brian Tracy called “Eat That Frog.” As a busy MOMeo, eating the frog and a few other momentum-changing techniques are my secrets to getting so much done.
I’m probably a lot like you. I have two young kids, a four-year-old and an 18-month-old. My husband is in the military and gone quite a bit. Just like you I’m a MOMeo. I run my own business and have been for five years now.
I just recently shared my story at a conference I attended and they all asked “how do you do it all?”
I didn’t quite know what to say to that. I just take it day by day. One task at a time. I celebrate my little accomplishments and of course, I now always try to eat the frog.
Now let’s take a step back. First I want to say I don’t have it all figured out. There are some days I don’t feel like eating the frog, and to be honest I don’t get much done. Then there are those amazing days like last week when I got absolutely everything on my to-do list done, while my son was taking his nap.
So first, give yourself a break. Next, apply the following suggestions and techniques to your day and watch your momentum rise.
Back to the frog and why you want to eat it. To eat the frog means you are tackling your biggest task first. This frog is usually a task that will give you the biggest results, or maybe even be something you’ve been procrastinating for a while.
Instead of opening your email inbox first, answering phone calls, or other smaller tasks – just eat the frog in one big bite. It might not taste good, but once you eat it you’ll have tons of momentum to tackle other smaller tasks.
Some examples of tasks to eat first thing in the morning: writing an article, recording a video, writing a chapter in your new book, or the home page of a new web site. The possibilities are endless and geared towards your type of business and needs.
Once you get the big task done you are so excited and ready to tackle everything on your to-do list. But maybe you’re a little overwhelmed right now and wonder how to even structure your to-do list.
For me, I don’t put too much on my to-do list, because otherwise I get overwhelmed. Usually it’s about three to ten things I’d like to get done that day. Then I break these tasks down.
Even though I’m a high-tech gal, I love my pen and spiral notebook. So I write everything down in my notebook. Next to each task I write how long it should take me to complete this task.
For example, writing an article should take one hour. To edit a video should take thirty minutes. Once I have the times f, I schedule the tasks for the day. So from 9:00 to 10:00 I will write my article. Then from 10:00 to 10:30 I will edit my video.
As I’m going along, I take note of the actual time it took to complete the task. I don’t beat myself up if it took longer than expected. I just become aware of it, and next time, give myself more time for that task. This also helps me stay out of email, twitter, and other things I’m not supposed to be doing then.
Then I celebrate! I’ve knocked out one big task and other tasks I wanted to complete that day. I think it’s important to celebrate your accomplishments in small ways, because no one else but you will do it.
Whether it’s sending out a Tweet about how you’re happy you got it all done, or rewarding yourself with a trip to the park with the kids, make sure you do one little thing every day, or at least take a few minutes to recognize your efforts.
So who’s ready to eat the frog in one big bite? Got any tips on to make that frog taste better or how to get more things done? I would love to hear about it in the comment section below.
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Jennifer Haubein has a passion to help other entrepreneurs and those who want to be entrepreneurs. Jennifer is a bit of a technology/social media geek who loves to help everyone take their business online in a BIG way. She owns two companies; Websites 2 Grow and Best Biz Web Site Solutions. Jennifer helps others easily get online with a web site that actually works and will grow as their business grows.
Jennifer has been featured in the technology blog Mashable, several radio shows and events, and hosts her own show Websites 2 Grow TV.
If you’re confused about all of the technology and social media tools out there to market your business, Jennifer is the person to talk to.
You can sign up for her free report “5 Reasons Your Current Web Site Just Isn’t Working” at www.Websites2GrowReport.com.
19 Comments
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I love this post. I especially love that you use a notebook to keep track. I just noticed my notebook is all full and I need a new one. One of my mentors has this fancy software where he plugs in his tasks and starts timing them, but just looking at it made my eyes cross. Give me some paper and I can eat that frog. Now…choosing between tree frogs and bullfrogs, that's another issue!
I love that saying, and thank you for reminding me of it. Sometimes, I made a list so I can make a list and then clear the desk and the emails and a million other things so I can sit down to…eat the frog but I am already exhausted (or full).
I have tried to devote the first working hour of my work days to “eating the frog” and it is working well.
thank you!
xo ~ Alli
Thanks Gina! Does your mentor happen to be my friend Paul Evans? If so that's who I learned that timing to do list technique from. Being the high tech girl I tried the software, but for me my spiral notebook works the best. I just recently added his tip of putting the time down for the to do items and it is amazing. It helps me realize where I'm spending all of my time. Now for choosing which frog to tackle I recommend picking the one that will give you the most satisfaction and momentum for the day after tackling it.
By the way I just got back from rooming with two of your friends Danielle Miller and Rochelle at a conference. They had such great things to say about you 🙂
Hi Alli,
Glad I could help with a reminder. Like I said in the post I'm not perfect and don't always do this everyday like I should. Email is very hard, because you can end up spending your entire day in email. I'm actually trying something new with email that I started when I went out of town. My assistant is going through my email, deleting junk mail for me, answering emails when she can, and then assigning emails to me that I need to address. I'm shooting for checking it just once a day. I still get my emails to my phone in case of emergency, but this so far seems to be helping.
I'm sure for you as a writer it's probably easier for you to get your inspiration and write before email and other tasks. You also might want to time yourself when you're in your email and see how long you spend answering emails. And if there are any emails you write several times create templates for these. I know you didn't ask for this long reply, but just can't help sharing my little tips.
I have read EAT THAT FROG a couple of times and just love it! Brian Tracy is wonderfully motivating.
I too am a techie, but when it comes to my to do list…it's gotta be on paper. Just something more satisfying about being able to cross those things off as I master them!
Great post…glad Gina shared the link to this post so I can read your blog!
Hi Jennifer,
I actually never heard of the saying 'eat the frog' but love it! And I'm always asked how do you do all you do too, and as you, I take one day at a time and one task at a time. I love my Moleskin planner and notebook..to me, writing it down makes it real..for some reason I can't keep track of the online scheduling systems, no matter how hard my VA tries to convince me:)
Awesome article and thanks for sharing how to eat the frog:)
Hi Jennifer, Loved your post today–and I totally agree with what you're saying. I have a mantra of my own that I think is a similar idea. I chant it when I'm faced with tasks that I'm not looking forward to–”Worst first, worst first…”
I like yours better; more colorful! lol Now, when people approach my desk first thing in the morning, they'll hear a steady chant of “Eat the frog, eat the frog…” 🙂
Jennifer have this visual of you eating a big Texas bull frog with his long legs, giggle.
I find batching tasks helps me get LOTS done, so if I am editing videos I edit 5, if I am uploading videos I upload all 5, if I am writing blog post I write two etc…that's my way of making frogs tasty-shazam
Why yes, it's Paul. (Not to be confused with The Sailor, Mr Parris who is also named Paul!) Glad to hear even a techie girl prefers the notebook. I knew you guys were having a great time at Southby. I'm glad to hear my name came up in a positive way! Thanks. 🙂
Oh boy. From now on, I promise to edit all my videos at once then, because I haven't been doing it that way, and several are sitting on my computer. I just wondered yesterday if that was a better way.
Thanks for stopping by! There’s nothing like the satisfaction of crossing off something on your to do list. Besides paper I do also like using a somewhat high tech tool called http://www.teuxdeux.com. It’s simple and works like a regular paper to do list.
And I see you’re from Texas as well. I’m in the Houston area, so great to connect with you via Gina.
Love your new chant and is certainly a conversation starter! So glad you enjoyed the post.
Thanks so much for the comment. I love batching tasks as well! I record about 10-20 videos in one hour, etc. And that is a funny image of me eating a Texas bull frog! Keep on making your frogs tasty!
You're right writing it down does make it more real and I love crosses it off when finished. I do like one web site http://www.teuxdeux.com that works similar to just writing it down. And you are certainly a person who gets a lot done! Thanks for providing you great tip and you gotta do what works for you.
Excellent post and comments from everyone. I'm often telling my clients that they should pick systems that match the way that they think. Many come to me telling me that they “need” to switch to electronic. When I ask them why, they tell me that “everyone” is doing it and they just feel that they should. I call that the “square peg, round hole syndrome.” We believe we see processes trending in a certain direction and convince ourselves that we should change—even if what we are doing is working.
As toddlers, we learn quickly that the square peg will not go into the round hole and we start putting the right shapes into the right holes of a sorting toy. Somehow, however, as adults, we forget those basic rules and try to force someone else’s style to be our own. Bravo to you for understanding what works for who you are.
While I am also a “techie gal” I prefer paper for many things. Did you know that the process of writing things out long hand (vs typing) actually fires off synapses differently in your brain? I actually use a combined method. I do my long range planning and project listings in an electronic tool, however I write out my to-dos just like you when it comes to planning out my focus for the day.
I also applaud you for considering the time something will take to do and reviewing your assumptions so that you can be more accurate in the future. That is a great practice to get into.
It is also excellent that you acknowledge that you have days where things just don’t go as planned. I have those days too. The important thing is to recognize that we are human and that happens sometimes and to readjust and go for it the next day.
To your success!
Stephanie
Music always helps the frog taste sweeter & go down better. At least for me. 🙂 Oh, & if it's actually recording a video, making funny faces at myself. I get so tense & nervous before I do video, so I make some whacked out faces & noises that make me laugh to help me loosen up & get it done. 🙂
HI Jennifer,
Love the post on so many fronts. I call it putting the big rocks in first – do the biggest most important first and then fill in with the sand. It is hard to do since we are tempted to just get the little pebbles off the list. But it really is about capturing the tasks on your spiral that starts you off and then prioritizing. YOU ROCK!
HI Jennifer,
Love the post on so many fronts. I call it putting the big rocks in first – do the biggest most important first and then fill in with the sand. It is hard to do since we are tempted to just get the little pebbles off the list. But it really is about capturing the tasks on your spiral that starts you off and then prioritizing. YOU ROCK!