Eat the Frog

Imagine you came into work or class today, and you were told you had to eat a live frog by the end of the day. That’s all you have to do today- just eat the frog however you see fit.

Would you swallow it whole and get on with your day? Or would you let it sit on your desk, looking back at you all day hoping that they would tell you it was all a big joke before the end of the day? I would guess 99% of us would choose the latter.

This is certainly not an original idea of mine nor a realistic one, but it’s an analogy for what most of us face on a daily basis: Procrastination.

When I started my professional career and was told this corporate fable, it resonated with me. I was ready to take on the world and never procrastinate again! Yet there have be countless times since then where I have made the decision to let the “frog” ogle me all day and let the anxiety of a looming task derail my day, week, even my month. This week I decided to add an adorable frog to my to-do list as a daily reminder to get it done. It makes me smile every time I see it and makes my non-negotiable task of the day less scary.

Today I challenge you to eat the frog. Get it over with! Take the next 30 minutes to focus uninterrupted and get it done. Clear out your Inbox. Submit that application. Pick up the phone and make as many dials as you can for just 30 minutes. I promise you will be shocked as how quickly you can accomplish the things that paralyze you daily.