📗 New Year, No Excuses: Time to Eat That Frog 🐸

Happy New Year, friends! 🎉

As we step into 2026, it’s the perfect moment to reset priorities and start strong. This week’s book, Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy, is a practical guide to conquering procrastination and building momentum toward what matters most.

Tracy’s premise is simple: if you start each day by tackling your biggest, most important task—the “frog”—you’ll transform your productivity and confidence. This classic has stood the test of time because it’s straightforward, actionable, and actually works. Let’s dive in.

This book will help you simplify your to-do list, stop overthinking, and act with clarity. You’ll learn to focus on what moves your life and career forward instead of getting trapped in busywork. It’s a reminder that small, consistent action beats endless planning every time.

Principle #1: Tackle your biggest task first.

The “frog” represents the most valuable, uncomfortable, or impactful thing you need to do—the task that would make the biggest difference if completed. By doing it first, you set the tone for a productive day. Momentum and satisfaction follow naturally.

Principle #2: Clarity fuels action.

Procrastination often comes from confusion, not laziness. When you define your goals clearly—what you want, why it matters, and how to begin—action becomes much easier. Planning the day before gives direction to your energy.

Principle #3: Focus on high-value work.

Not all tasks are created equal. Tracy encourages identifying the few that drive the most results (the classic 80/20 principle). Eliminating the trivial many creates space for the powerful few.

Principle #4: Discipline beats motivation.

Motivation is fleeting, but discipline builds identity. The more you act despite resistance, the more you trust yourself to follow through. Each completed “frog” strengthens that self-belief.

Principle #5: Perfection is procrastination in disguise

Many people delay action waiting for the “right time.” Tracy reminds us that progress matters more than precision. Start, adjust, and keep moving—the real learning happens in motion.

1. “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning.”

2. “There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.”

3. “Goals allow you to control the direction of change in your favor.”

1. Plan tomorrow tonight. Write your top three priorities before you go to bed. You’ll start the next day focused and calm.

2. Use the 80/20 rule. Identify the 20% of tasks that produce 80% of your results. Do those first.

3. Set clear deadlines. A defined finish line creates urgency and helps you avoid drifting into distraction

Pick one “frog” that you’ve been avoiding—something that’s been lingering for weeks or months. Set aside 30 uninterrupted minutes today to start it. Progress, not perfection, is the win.

Brian Tracy is one of the most influential voices in personal productivity and goal-setting. His books and seminars have inspired millions to develop better habits and mindsets. Tracy’s work is rooted in simplicity—he distills timeless principles of time management into clear actions that create results. Eat That Frog! remains one of his most popular works because it’s both timeless and practical.

We hope this week’s reflection helps you start 2026 with clarity, energy, and confidence. Each morning offers a new choice: hesitate or begin. Choose action—and watch what follows.

Until next week,

A Book a Week Team

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