Eat That Frog

or not doing this task?" 
Rule: "Future intent influences and often determines present actions." 
The clearer you are about your future intentions, the greater 
influence that clarity will have on what you do in the moment. With a 
 
35 

---

clear long-term vision, you are much more capable of evaluating an 
activity in the present and to assure that it is consistent with where 
you truly want to end up.
Successful people are those who are willing to delay gratification and 
make sacrifices in the short term so that they can enjoy far greater 
rewards in the long term. Unsuccessful people, on the other hand, 
think more about short-term pleasure and immediate gratification 
while giving little thought to the long-term future. 
Dennis Waitley, the motivational speaker, says, "Failures do what is 
tension relieving while winners do what is goal achieving." 
For example, coming in to work earlier, reading regularly in your 
field, taking courses to improve your skills, and focusing on high 
value tasks in your work will all combine to have an enormous 
positive impact on your future. 
On the other hand, coming in to work at the last moment, reading the 
newspaper, drinking coffee and socializing with your coworkers may 
seem fun and enjoyable in the short-term but it inevitably leads to 
lack of promotion, underachievement and frustration in the long-
term. 
 
36 

---

If there is a task or activity with large potential positive 
consequences, make it a top priority and get started on it 
immediately. If there is something that can have large potential 
negative consequences if it is not done quickly and well, that 
becomes a top priority as well. Whatever your frog is, resolve to gulp 
it down first thing. 
Motivation requires motive. The greater the positive potential impact 
that an action or behavior of yours can have on your life, once you 
define it clearly, the more motivated you will be to overcome 
procrastination and get it done quickly. 
Keep yourself focused and forward moving by continually starting 
and completing those tasks that can make a major difference to your 
company and to your future. 
The time is going to pass anyway. The only question is how you use 
and where you are going to end up at the end of the weeks and 
months. And where you end up is largely a matter of the amount of 
consideration you give to the likely consequences of your actions in 
the short term. 
Thinking continually about the potential consequences of your 
choices, decisions and behaviors is one of the very best ways to 
determine you true priorities in your work and personal life.