Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

The Quick List Method
Here is an exercise that we use with our coaching clients very early in the
process. We give them a sheet of paper and then tell them, “In thirty
seconds, write down your three most important goals in life right now.”
We have found that when people have only thirty seconds to write their
three most important goals, their answers are as accurate as if they had
thirty minutes or three hours. Their subconscious minds seem to go into
hyperdrive, and their three most important goals pop out of their heads and
onto the paper, often to the surprise of the people doing the exercise.
In 80 percent or more of cases, people have three goals in common: first,
a financial and career goal; second, a family or personal relationship goal;
and third, a health or fitness goal. And this is as it should be. These are the
three most important areas of life. If you give yourself a grade on a scale of
one to ten in each of these three areas, you can immediately identify where
you are doing well in life and where you need some improvement. Try it
yourself and see. Give this exercise to your spouse or your children. The
answers can be quite revealing.
Later in our coaching program, we expand this exercise by asking the
following questions:

---

1. What are your three most important business or career goals right now?
2. What are your three most important family or relationship goals right
now?
3. What are your three most important financial goals right now?
4. What are your three most important health goals right now?
5. What are your three most important personal and professional
development goals right now?
6. What are your three most important social and community goals right
now?
7. What are your three biggest problems or concerns in life right now?
When you force yourself to ask and answer each of these questions in
thirty seconds or less, you will be amazed at the answers. Whatever your
answers, they will usually be an accurate snapshot of your true situation in
life at the moment. These answers will tell you what is really important to
you.
While you are setting goals and priorities, getting organized,
concentrating single-mindedly on one task at a time, and disciplining
yourself to complete your most important tasks, you must never forget that
your ultimate goal is to live a long, happy, and healthy life.