Yesterday we took the kids to Border’s Bookstore so they could redeem the gift cards they received for Christmas from their Uncle Paul.

Now that they know the value of a dollar, it was quite funny to see them calculating how much could buy with the card vs how much they wanted to buy. Of course their wants far exceeded the value of their gift cards, so eventually they resorted to bargaining with Mommy, Daddy, and each other for advances, loans, exchanges, etc.

I sought refuge from the begging in the business aisle, and as I rummaged through the shelves, this title caught my eye: “Eat That Frog!”

“What in the world could eating a frog have to do with business”, I wondered. Curious, I picked it up. Here’s the subtitle: “21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time”

It was written by Brian Tracy. It’s a thin book, a little over 100 pages. I started reading it right there in the aisle and couldn’t put it down. I bought it and continued to read it on the way home, after I got home, and into the night.

You see, I had already resolved to make 2006 MY year, and dedicated the first few days of the year to planning and goal setting. I committed my goals to paper, made them measurable, and gave myself deadlines.

So with all of the goal setting and planning fresh in my mind, this book really spoke to me. I’m still reading it but decided to take a break and tell you about it.

Some of the eye-opening passages that I have highlighted:

”…you are never going to get caught up. You will never get on top of your tasks. You can get control of your time and your life only by changing the way that you think, work, and deal with the never-ending river of responsbilities that flow over you each day.”

And…

“The ability to concentrate single-mindedly on your most important task, to do it well and to finish it completely, is the key to great success, achievement, respect, status, and happiness in life.”

And for insight into the title of the book…

“It has been said for many years 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 worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long.”

It has also been said that “If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.”

And…

“If you have to eat a live frog, it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long.”

It’s a fun and easy read. I haven’t even finished it yet, but already it has helped me to FOCUS, which is always a big struggle for me, as I imagine it is for you.

I highly recommend this book. You can find it on Amazon.com or probably any other bookstore.