My commute to work has become a bit longer as of late and I have found myself starting to listen to a lot more motivational audio books during that time. One that I just finished listening to recently was Brian Tracy’s EAT THAT FROG!. This is a great book on how to effectively manage your time. The second part of the book’s title sums it up quite nicely: “21 great ways to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time”.

Here is a very quick summary of those “21 great ways”:

1. Set the Table
- decide exactly what you want
- clarity is essential
- write out goals and objectives

2. Plan everyday in advance

3. Apply the 80/20 rule to everything you do
- 20% of your activities account for 80% of your results

4. Consider the consequences
- focus on the tasks that have the greatest consequences (positive or negative)

5. Practice the ABCDE method continually on your lists
- with this method you go through your list and place either A,B,C,D or E beside each task depending on where it fits in:
A = must do task
B = should do task
C = nice to do task
D = delegate task
E = eliminate task

6. Focus on key result areas

7. Obey the law of forced efficiency
- there is always enough time to do the most important things

8. Prepare thoroughly before you begin
- Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

9. Do your homework
- the more knowledge you acquire about your task the quicker it will get done

10. Leverage your special talents
- do those things that you are very good at very well

11. Identify your key constraints and alleviate them

12. Take it one step at a time

13. Put the pressure on yourself

14. Maximize your personal powers

15. Motivate yourself into action
- focus on solutions
- be optimistic and constructive

16. Practice creative procrastination
- put off tasks of low value so that you have time to complete those of high value

17. Do the most difficult task first
- the one that can make the greatest contribution to you and your work

18. Slice and Dice your tasks
- do one small part to get started

19. Create large blocks of time where you can concentrate on your task

20. Develop a sense of urgency

21. Single handle every task
- get clear priorities and start immediately on the most important task without stopping until completed