From Matt’s Dad on Swallowing the Frog

Thanks to Matt from North Carolina who sent this note shortly after Father’s Day: 

I have been enjoying your quote of the week, and I wanted to contribute something my father taught me when I was younger that has always helped me.  He used to talk about “swallowing the frog” when tackling your work day and the list of to-do’s you have ahead of you for the day.

“Swallowing the frog” was doing the most difficult task you have for the day the first thing in the morning instead of continuing to put it off all day, and that should make everything else you have to do that day that much easier!

That wise advice syncs right up with this quote from Mark Twain.

What is the most difficult, the scariest, the most dreaded task on your list for today? 

Do it first and according to Mark Twain, nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.  Do it first and according to Matt’s Dad, everything you do the rest of the day will be easier.

Do it first and even if something worse does happen, even if everything isn’t easier, you will likely feel stronger and more vibrant – like the colors above – because instead of fretting, worrying and avoiding that frog, you had the courage and strength to face it, swallow it and be done with it.

For Advanced List Makers:  Many of us are beyond having or being able to identify one difficult, scarey, dreaded task for the day.  Instead we have a list of such tasks, some of which have been on the list for weeks.  Even months.  We’ve been putting them off, fretting about them, worrying about them.  Wasting loads of energy.

Make a list of those dreaded tasks and tackle them one at a time – first thing in the morning.  One day at a time.

And fantastic boost for morale and productivity.

Note: If you haven’t already done so, sign up for a Monday morning BOOST for you and your team – the Leadership Quote of the Week delivered to your email box each Monday morning.

Sign up here to get our Leadership Quote of the Week – delivered to your email box each Monday before 8:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time.

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One last note: In addition to bite-size bits for daily learning and reinforcement, we also offer on-site workshops and individual coaching, all tailored to the needs of the individual or organization. Contact Jan to discuss your needs: Jan@BusinessClassInc.com

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