Eat That Frog! O t h e r b o o k s b y b r I a n Tr a c y

Think about the Long Term
Successful people are those who are willing to delay grat-
ification and make sacrifices in the short term so that
they can enjoy far greater rewards in the long term. Un-
successful people, on the other hand, think more about
short-term pleasure and immediate gratification while
giving little thought to the long-term future.
Denis Waitley, a motivational speaker, says, “Losers
try to escape from their fears and drudgery with activi-
ties that are tension-relieving. Winners are motivated by
their desires toward activities that are goal-achieving.”
For example, coming into work earlier, reading regularly
in your field, taking courses to improve your skills, and
focusing on high-value tasks in your work will all com-
bine to have an enormous positive impact on your fu-
ture. On the other hand, coming into work at the last
moment, reading the newspaper, drinking coffee, and
socializing with your coworkers may seem fun and en-
joyable in the short term but inevitably leads to lack of
promotion, underachievement, and frustration in the
long term.
Consider the Consequences
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If a task or activity has large potential positive conse-
quences, make it a top priority and get started on it im-
mediately. If something 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, re-
solve to gulp it down first thing.
Motivation requires motive. The greater the potential
positive 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 contin-
ually 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 it and where you are going to end up at
the end of the weeks and months that pass. And where
you end up is largely a matter of the amount of consid-
eration you give to the likely consequences of your ac-
tions in the short term.
Thinking continually about the potential conse-
quences of your choices, decisions, and behaviors is one
of the very best ways to determine your true priorities in
your work and personal life.