“There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing.” ~ Brian Tracy
Don’t forget to grab your FREE Gift from Brian Tracy at the end of the post…
So many successful people struggle with procrastination.
Are you one of them?
It’s understandable. If you’re like many people, your to-do list is so long and overwhelming, you aren’t sure where to start or how to tackle everything on it.
But the fact is, procrastination doesn’t help. For one thing, you don’t get done what you need to get done. Or you get done the menial, unimportant things while the big, important ones are looming over your head all day (or even all week).
Unfortunately, it’s the big ones that have the most potential to affect your life – and increase your income.
For you to develop sufficient desire to develop time management and organizational skills, you must be intensely motivated by the benefits you feel you will enjoy. You must want the results badly enough to overcome the natural inactivity that keeps you doing things the same old way.
Structure and organize everything that you possibly can. Think ahead, plan for contingencies, prepare thoroughly, and focus on specific results. Only then can you be completely relaxed and spontaneous when the situation changes.
The better organized you are in the factors that are under your control, the greater freedom and flexibility you have to quickly make changes whenever they are necessary.
Make Your Lists a Habit and Organize your list and tasks according to priority.
So how do you STOP procrastinating so you can become more productive and make more money?
So many successful people struggle with procrastination. Watch this video where Brian Tracy shares how to “Stop Procrastination Now With The ABCDE Method”…a powerful Priority setting technique.
Always work from a list.
When something new comes up, add it to the list before you do it. You can increase your productivity and output by 25% or more from the first day that you begin working consistently from a list.
Make out your list the night before, at the end of the workday. Move everything that you have not yet accomplished onto your list for the coming day and then add everything that you have to do the next day. When you make out your list the evening or the night before, your subconscious mind works on your list all night long while you sleep. Often you will wake up with great ideas and insights that you can use to get your job done faster and better than you had initially thought.
The more time you take to make written lists of everything you have to do, in advance, the more effective and efficient you will be.
Take Action Immediately
Successful, effective people are those who launch directly into their major tasks and then discipline themselves to work steadily and single-mindedly until those tasks are complete.
Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worse things that is going to happen to you all day long. Your “frog” is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don’t do something about it.
If You Have to Eat Two Frogs, Eat the Ugliest one First.
This is another way of saying that if you have two important tasks before you, start with the biggest, hardest, and most important task first. Discipline yourself to begin immediately and then to persist until the task is complete before you go on to something else.
Practice is the key to mastering any skill. Fortunately, your mind is like a muscle. It grows stronger and more capable with use. With practice, you can learn any behavior or develop any habit that you consider either desirable or necessary.
Improving your time management skills will improve the quality of your life in every area.
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- The 3 mental barriers to time power so you can blast through them and begin managing your time
- Why so few people can be described as “organized, effective and efficient,” despite most people’s desire to develop their time management skills
- The truth about the myth that effective time management means you can’t be spontaneous and natural
- The starting point for overcoming your previous programming and eliminating the mental blocks to time management
- 6 of my best techniques for programming yourself for peak performance
- The critical determinant of a healthy personality – and 3 ways to build it
- 12 proven principles for peak performance – get more out of yourself by using these every day
- 7 methods you can use, starting NOW, to develop the habits of time management
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The good news is, you can control your mind – and using your mind, you can control your ability to manage your time. You can learn effective time management habits. In turn, you become more productive, make more money, and free up more time to do what you love.
I hope you got some great value out of this post today! Please leave me a comment down below and let me know what you liked the most.
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To your success,
Marc@mlmsuccessmentoring.com
Network Marketing Coach
Continuous Learning Advocate
Skype: healthysuccess
(973) 879-1627
Click the image below to check out “Time Power”
Click Here To Check Out How To Master Your Time
About Marc Korn
Marc Korn is an advocate of continuous learning. Success online and in the offline world is all about training and learning from the experts.... throughout history the common denominator among successful people has been continuing education.Marc is passionate about Network Marketing and helping others.He has learned that Network Marketing is not about recruit, recruit, recruit or sell, sell, sell...but about people.The most gratifying way to achieve success is to help others become successful first.Marc enjoys introducing people to systems and opportunities that will help them to earn additional income working from home.There is no reason why you need to learn it all by yourself. Join Marc and his Tribe mates to see how they can help you.
I agree to your post. Sometimes being able to build successful business. You are determined to know all the things to finish. From the first to last and from easiest to hardest. This will help you to be able to get the most capable result of your hard work.
Hm.. Thanks for sharing this. It’s a very interesting share you wrote there! Superb!
Hi Andrew,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
I’m happy you enjoyed the post…make sure you visit again real soon,
Marc
Having a list of my tasks daily is a big help for me because I’m that type of person where I always forget the thing that I must do even if it is important.
Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
I’m happy you keep a list of your tasks… it is very important to write everything down so you don’t forget and don’t have to expend all the energy that it takes to remember your list..
Keep up the great work,
Marc
I will never forget that “eat that frog” phrase. It opened my eyes. I also like the abcde method. I need to address my b tasks because that tadpole always distracts me. I was thinking the other day about the D task, and have hired someone part time. As for the E task – that is something I have completed. So now I have to get them all in order ON PAPER! Thanks for this valuable lesson. I will put this into action.
Blessings,
Donna
Hi Donna,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
That “Eat That Frog” does help because it paints a visual picture as a reminder. Brian’s ABCDE method works and works well.
It is great that you hired someone to delegate some of your work, so you can hopefully focus on the money making parts of your business.
To your continued success,
Marc
Hi Marc,
‘do the worst first’ as in eating the frog first makes a lot of sense.
Great suggestions on making a list and having the ABCDE grading.
I like to add the ‘handing it over to the universal manager’ option.
After all this we probably won’t see you with a frog leg still sticking out , since you strike me as the sort of person who will eat the whole frog.
Thanks for sharing this.
Cheers
Yorinda
Hi Yorinda,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
Doing the worst first does make a lot of sense, because it IS your MOST important task and it is good to develop that skill, so it becomes a habit.
The ABCDE method does work for me and makes a lot of sense.
There are still times that we all tend to run into unforeseen events that we didn’t plan for 100%, so sometimes I do have a frog leg sticking out of my mouth, but I try to eat the whole frog most of the time..
To your continued success,
Marc
Making a list and working from it… getting it OUT of your head first… is one of the habits of highly effective people. This frees up the minds energy to not have to “babysit” all the stray things we need to do (trying not to forget them!) while we work on one thing. This simple act of freeing up mental resources is WAY more powerful than people give it credit for!
Kim
Hi Kim,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
That is so true and often overlooked as one of the main reasons to maintain a list and work from it.
It is so easy to fall into bad habits if you don’t have a strong time management plan and most importantly…stick with it.
To your continued success,
Marc
Cool what a good example of how to be a good affiliate.
Very good blog post.
How did you edit the video the way you do. The Bubble cloud and added quote
Did you have a affiliate relationship with Brain Tracy.
Thank you so much for sharing his tips on time management “A, B,C,D,E” method
I find the video invaluable and will recommend it to everybody.
And your freebie at the end is just a classic as what a post should include: a free offer and a paid offer.
It is interesting, that I love this TSA idea. I read more blog post this way over the other.
In fact if I can suggest, without the pressure to fill out the spreadsheet but have more these little group where we have to comment 3 before posting one. It will render perfect for me.
Well that’s my 2 cent.
I find that everything start with obligation end up a chore
If blogging become part of learning, then yes, i will comment more.
I really hate the idea of counting up point.
it is enough to have comment and read
Maybe i shall share it with kimberly
You blog is doing better and better too
All the best,
Vivian So
Hi Vivian,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
I am very proud to be an Affiliate for Brian Tracy. His style and training is some of the best you will find anywhere in regard to your overall Personal Development.
The Bubble and caption is part of the tools you can use directly on YouTube when you upload a video.
The ABCDE method is very helpful and will keep you focused on the goals and tasks that MUST be completed each day. It is easy to get distracted if you don’t have a list and set your priorities.
I have learned so much from visiting the blogs of other TSA members and it is a great way to show support and develop relationships.
The counting of the points is not bad once you get use to it…just make sure that you record after each post, so you don’t forget ( just one more list ) and record it on the spreadsheet.
To your continued success,
Marc
Everyday I make a list of things that I have to do. Sometimes I get caught up in doing the simplier things instead of the hard ones. But now I am trying to give more time to the harder task by setting a 2 hour time frame. In that way I can stay on task and not get so frustrated with my progress.
Hi Joyce,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
We all get caught up doing the less important things first from time to time, but I always try to get back on track as soon as possible.
Setting aside a 2 hour window is an excellent way to stay on task and chart your progress. It doesn’t seem so overwhelming when we attack a project in smaller chunks.
To your continued success,
Marc
I’ve always been pretty good about staying organized and working with my priorities. My biggest challenge has always come from dealing with other people trying to suck up my time. I know what I should do, I write about it … and yet getting other people to respect your schedule and priorities is always a challenge. I had a boss once who like to come into my office to (in his own words) hide out. He’d put his feet up on the corner of my desk and just sit there and chat. I’d tell him in a good natured joking way to go away … he’d laugh at me and not move an inch. Hard to do much when it’s your boss – now I’m my boss and it’s a BIG difference!
Hi Marty,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
I can relate to people trying to suck up your time and it is a challenge.
It is NOT always easy to say ‘NO”…
In certain instances, you just can’t and I have had business Associates on the job do the same thing.
Much better when you are your own boss…well done.
Keep up the great work with setting your priorities,
Marc
For as long as I can remember I have been a big fan of Brian Tracy. I first read his writing when I was selling insurance a long time ago. His Frog method is certainly very effective right up to today.
I f we have a written To-do list is becomes so much stronger than simply having it in our heads. Our heads get cluutered up too easily with meaningless things.
On a lighter note, a colleague of mine way back started doing this but found that he spent about 75% of his day writing his list, deciding what he had to do and then which tasks were A, B, C, D, E. I think he had other challenges to overcome.
Hi Trevor,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
I have been a big fan of Brian Tracy for a long time, too. We are in good company.
The “Eat That Frog” method is very effective and creates a visual image that is very powerful as a reminder.
I am always much more effective, as are most people when I have a written and prioritized list. Our heads definitely get cluttered and we need to free up that energy for focus clarity.
I agree, I think your former colleague had some other issues going on….
To your continued success,
Marc
I do my best to eat the “frog” first!! I make a list and don’t often decide which is most important, although some days I just know what needs to get done! That might be because it is due tomorrow!! A good idea to look after the most important things first… However some things that are important sure aren’t that urgent.. and trying to figure that our may be something I just let happen… allow the intuition to take over so I know what feels best not causing stress! I often do start the frog and dont’ finish it, so I am working on eating the whole frog!! before I work on the rest… Great post Mac. Procrastination is definitely a thing I continually strive to improve!
Hi Holly,
Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving your comment…it is greatly appreciated.
Procrastination can have many adverse side effects and be very draining, so it is great that you strive to continually improve that skill.
The temptation is always to do the less important tasks first and get them out of the way. It takes a lot of practice and self discipline to tackle the most important tasks first.
Intuition can play a large role for those who are disciplined and know what has to be done. But, a written list is always a great way to stay on task, even if the priorities haven’t all been set.
It frees up your mental energy by getting it down on paper and helps you to accomplish more.
So, it is great that you maintain a list. Plus, you must be very disciplined as an exercise and fitness instructor, so you are ahead of the game.
To your continued success,
Marc
Great post, Marc! This is so important to learn. I know I have my problems with procrastination. In some ways, it is similar to the four quadrants as proposed by Stephen Covey, but I like the way that he shows how there are things that you can delegate, even if they are Quadrant I or II.
Hey Marc, You are barking up my tree, yanking my chain, stepping on my toes……..so to speak. Brain Tracy and his book Eat That Frog has been my topic for blog writing for quite some time. What I am finding is that is does not come that easy for me to clarify my lists. I am working on it because I see the tremendous value in doing so. So far List making helps me keep myself on track. Since I am a part time Networker, the list is very helpful to return to so that I know what I am suppose to be doing and therefore be more productive. Thank you for sharing this valuable information since it really hits home with me.
Lynn
Marc,
Thank you so much for sharing this video of Brian Tracy. I have written a chapter in an upcoming book which features Brian Tracy. His business wisdom is unsurpassed. I often do not eat the frog first. Instead, I tend to clear away all the smaller, b and c tasks, and not delegate the tasks others can do. So my time spent on work is not yet fully efficient.
Dr. Erica
This is a very helpful post Marc.
Most of us are such great procrastinators. Why not do tomorrow what you can put off today? It’s just that thinking of that type gets us in trouble more often than we realize. It means we’ are usually running late, inconvenienced, rushing, falling deeper into debt or bad patterns and even lazy, all at the same time.
I am the queen of lists and, of course, I love crossing tasks off of the lists. And reading Eat that Frog was one of the best things that I have ever done. I eat mine very early in the morning.
Man when it comes to Bryan Tracy it’s absolutely valuable! When I create my list for my day I automatically think of him. He taught me a lot about organizing my time down to the minute. As he says, and I’m rephrasing here, something like “the more successful you are time is precious down to the second and for the less successful time is precious down to the months and years”.
Thanks for the free download Marc. I bookmarked it and saved it to my Bryan Tracy folder!. Will read it during my downtime.
-Jaclyn Castro
ps,..my most favorite part about your post is what Bryan said in his video (1:35 seconds in). “Think on paper.” Since following Bryan Tracy, paper has been one of my most used tools to get things DONE.
Hello Marc,
Smashing share!
I have to say for myself that unless it comes to ironing or what I consider to be uninteresting hosuehold task I do not generally suffer from procrastination, I’m more the other way want to do more than I have time for! 🙂
Love this post Marc!
Procrastination can be such a killer of dreams. I like to keep a list and check off as I go. I actually get a good feeling after each “check off” that it inspires me to keep going. I do always seem to have a list of 100 things to do, lol!
I write down my 5 most important tasks to get done the next day and focus on the most challenging or not so fun tasks first. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this.Sometimes being able to build successful business. It’s a very interesting share you wrote there!
This is always a good subject. I think we all go through times where we feel like procrastinating. I get that way in emotional down times. I always have my to do list but sometimes I get to ignoring it. Thankfully it doesn’t usually take me very long to realize I got off track. 😉
Hi Marc,
Great post on procrastination. For me, procrastination is made up of on thing, allowing my irrational fears to dominate my emotional and subconscious landscape. Procrastination can be totally eliminated when we Make a Choice to 1) Find Our True Passion, 2) Base everything we do around our Purpose in Life (the reason “WHY” we are doing what we are doing), and 3) Develop True Faith in Ourselves. How? “Repetition of affirmation of orders to your subconscious mind is the only known method of voluntary development of the emotion of faith.” -Napoleon Hill Once Faith is developed, Procrastination disappears, quite naturally.
Peace,
David H. Paul
the Follow Your Bliss guy
Hi Marc,
Any work with Brian Tracy is great information. I’m always open to ways to manage my life and lists have always been a part of it. Lists are a great way to work with the orders of the day and they show you what you have accomplished and what tasks need to be moved up the list. I always prioritize my lists as Brian talks about and ranking them using the A, B, C, D method makes sense.
I was in a program which used a method of prioritizing tasks, however the list was limited to 7 items per day. It is set up as “do the worst first” and also used ranking labels. As each task is accomplished, it is marked off and any left over are carried to the next day. It is a little different, but the main portion of the method was tackling the most important or difficult tasks of the day, “That Frog.”
It isn’t a surprise that many people spend 50% of their time involved in “C” tasks. I also am a firm believer in delegation and look forward to the days when I have the opportunity to do more of that! Excellent post and video.
Raena Lynn
Hi Marc:
Procrastination is definitely something that I have struggled with and continue to struggle with from time to time. For me, I love the principle of the putting in the big rocks first and then medium ones and so on. This definitely helps in keeping things on track.
Kevin
Great article Marc I want to do so much that I used to start a lot of things at once and often did not get a lot them finished. The only thing I might disagree with is to start with the hardest thing first. Sometimes it is best to just get in motion. Once you are in motion you can tackle the difficult stuff. Often times the idea of starting with the most difficult is the very thing that makes people procrastinate. I know this is always recommended and I have made the same recommendation myself. However I am starting to rethink that based upon my own personal experience and thoughts.
Jeff
This is an excellent technique,
It can be easy to start with small stuff first in order to gain momentum at the risk of things coming up that prevent tackling the frog!
It reminds me of what Stephen Covey says “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Hey Marc, it’s amazing how much easier life becomes when you’re organized and following a routine. Every time I find myself unorganized or not following my routine I realize how much difficult nearly everything becomes because so much more energy, thinking and focus is required. Much better to work smarter rather than harder. Great post!
Very impressive post! It’s what most people on my age feel, specially if they don’t have the skills to face the fast phase world of technology. Somehow were affected emotionally.
Great suggestions! I too work from a list. Over the years, it’s gone quite techy with colors changing when a task is not accomplished. I must admit that procrastination is an ill that affects me sometimes.
Stevie
I’ve been listening to Brian Tracy for more than 20years now and love most of what he says. I’ve even tried this abcde method but for me its not the best way. I’ve always believed in writing lists and i’m known in both business and personal circles as being super productive. Had to learn to be with everything I’ve had to take care of over the years. On a sunday afternoon I sit down and write down the things i must get done during the week both at work and at home. I then break them down into smaller tasks that must get done each day. I may add a task during the week or if something comes up move a task to the following day. However, by the end of the week everything that I wanted to get done is done. Works for me and has taken away the stress of procrastination. It’s amazing just how much time is available in a day when you just get things done and don’t think about starting.
Hi Marc,
I am sorry, but I don’t always have verything on a list. I know it is a good idea, but it isn’t my secret of success!
What I am is presistent and never let go of where I am heading. Passion drives me, and I do methodically talk to my tema members and build up my marketing presence.
For me your point about taking action immediately is the key. The answer to procrastination is to do something! I always feel better after that.
And yes, a list is a great idea or you can get so distracted.
This is such a great post Marc! We must not let procrastination kill our dreams. It is only one of the hindrances in our life. We must focus on how we can reach that dream, to be able to be more successful.Bankruptcy Lawyers Phoenix Az
Thanks for sharing this Marc.. There are lots on my plate that I must get back to. After reading this gave me some new energy and inspiration to tackle the pending projects.
Jans
I have been browsing this site for some articles to read and the title made me decide that yes, this would perfectly fit to me. I dont remember any monday where I dont complain why its monday and that i need to work. and then theres my mentality where but it is still monday so I still have plenty of time to finish my work. thats where procrastination gets in. and when its nearly deadline, i panick, i dont know what to do and end up being messed up. I have been thinking about making a list but even that I procrastinate! ugh
The main thing about ending procrastination is to get out of the way the things that you do not like to do and then do the things you have fun doing. Just do it right away and do not wait!
Lawrence Bergfeld
Marc, what an absolutely fabulous post!
And like you I too am and have been a big fan and follower
of Brian Tracy’s teaching methods for quite a while!
And I love this “eating the frog and or frogs” concept very much! It just flat out makes sense.
Doing so will easily boost our daily productivity levels!
Because if we can accomplish if nothing else, the most important thing or things each day, we will be way ahead!
And the ABCDE method of prioritizing the day’s activities as well, makes a whole lo of since too. Thanks for sharing such an extremely well written post!
I’m glad I found your bog! This was a great read!