Almost at the same time I started reading 2 books with related topics. And today I want to write about one of them.
I now have something to compare it with, so I think that my essay may seem too critical to someone.
But this is my opinion.
When I started reading this book, it began to annoy me. I was about to close it and just choose another one, but I decided that I should try. And write and warn you by expressing my opinion.
I have known Brian Tracy for a long time, he wrote many different books, I even read some before. But, to be honest, I was not particularly impressed with him. I can't say that he writes bad things. But the main thoughts on the book can fit into 1 page.
I will not waste your and my time talking about something that did not impress me.
I'd rather tell you what impressed me and what annoyed me in this book ;)
To begin with, the title of this book is interesting, because the author is a Canadian-American motivational public speaker and self-development author.
Author explains that frogs are tasks that are prioritized, which you have pushed to the background for some reason.
Then there is a quite useful material for those who have not read this kind of book, in short:
The ability to focus purposefully on completing the most important task facing you is the main factor determining your success. However, the difficulty arises when you lack clarity about your true goals and objectives.
The lack of clarity can be deadly, because it interferes with action, and action is the secret of success. Like everyone else, you probably feel overwhelmed at times with too many things to do and not enough time to do it all.
And then there is a beginning of part, where I do not agree with the author:
Choose the most important problem — that big old frog drooling in your inbox - and solve it effectively.
Brian talks about the success of this first and main frog, but, honestly, I don't understand why you should knowingly talk about something important as something ugly, scary, vile. On the contrary, if the author here had said: guys, you are handsome, everything is fine, don't panic, frog, in fact, this is a case that you should accept and understand its importance. Not just swallow (do) it unconsciously, but really understand its significance, set yourself up in a positive way, come up with a reward for doing it, turn it into gamification and do it with pleasure.
No, instead, we are immediately imposed that the case is unpleasant, trying to create a reaction in our head to this, to put it mildly, not the most pleasant.
Of course, later the author will return to the topic of optimism, but I will talk about this later.
I liked one idea:
Time management is really just about controlling the sequence of events that affect your life. Effective people always discipline themselves to solve the most important task first.
And one more interesting thought:
Before you start a project, ask yourself “ " What are the consequences of not completing this task?”
This is, in fact, an important question that can help a lot during planning. Here you need to think about the long-term perspective and whether it is necessary to perform this task at all.
Another interesting point that is often used in books of this kind, but, at the same time, I consider it very important:
any job will expand to fill the time that you allocate for it.
If you have two days, it will take you two days (or maybe more). However, the reverse side is also true: if you have only one day to do a two-day job, somehow you find time for it.
Therefore, only you decide how much time you want to devote to the task. It is clear that if you want to write an essay in a minute, it is unlikely that something will work out, so just start to really look at the situation and how much time is needed for a particular task.
If you answer on some interesting questions, you will be able to manage time, according to the author:
What is my most valuable activity?
What is the work which can be done only by myself, and if done well, will have a significant impact?
What is the highest and best use of my time right now?
Finally, what I would like to share, what I didn't like, and what I don't agree with: the author's desire to impose eternal optimism on us. He says that to any things we should react positively, not paying attention to failures.
I certainly respect this person, he has the right to his own opinion.
But now I will say what I think about this.
Healthy optimism and eternal optimism are two different things.
I am good with the first one, because I know about all these studies where scientists say that psychosomatics affects very much, you need to try to think positively, BUT!!!
Eternal optimism is self-abuse. First of all, the author says that "don't look at your failures", but what about reflection? and fixing fuck-ups?
I sincerely do not understand this approach, like "oh, guys, do you have a lot of debts in your startup? Are you on the verge of bankruptcy? it doesn't matter! think positively, you are handsome, everything will be fine. don't focus on the bad things"
From my point of view it is nonsense. In addition, people who suffer from eternal optimism are mostly hypocritical, because negative emotions accumulate inside them, and these people simply break down later.
If you have read this far, I will soon write an essay on a book that, in my opinion, is better than everything I have read about planning, achieving goals, and so on. So, I really want everyone to read my next essay. I think my opinion about this particular book is clear.
Back to this book
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
I will apply in my planning the question of what will happen if I don't do some task.
All.
Thanks for attention.
