How to "Eat the Frog" and Get More Done

If I had to guess, I’d say that 90% of you are reading this article because you’re not ready to dive into your inbox or make that next call.

I get it. Procrastination is unavoidable – and you’re not alone.

If you’re into military history like me, this topic probably reminds you of one of America’s most famous procrastinators – General George McClellan. During the Civil War, this Northern general was great at organizing, but he frequently procrastinated when Lincoln wanted him to attack. There’s a funny quote from Lincoln’s chief of staff, Henry Halleck, who said, “There is an immobility here that exceeds all that any man can conceive of. It requires the lever of Archimedes to move this inert mass.”

That’s not what you want on your next performance review.

Now, in some cases, a little hesitation is a good thing. You don’t want to make careless mistakes. But some historians think McClellan’s hesitation added 2-3 years to the war.

Two to three years.

Think about that for a minute.

If that were true, how many lives could have been saved?

Why Do We Procrastinate?

Of course, our jobs don’t usually involve life and death outcomes, but procrastination can still be harmful. For example, making that next phone call could result in submitting a client’s app today. On the other hand, putting it off could result in a client changing their mind, or a delayed app that gets caught up in a carrier’s new underwriting rules.

Making that next phone call could result in submitting a client’s app today.

On a larger scale, tackling that next big-picture project could bring in the revenue that lets you keep (or hire) more staff. Putting it off could result in an opportunity lost, diminishing momentum that’s hard to regain.

If we all acted in our own best interest all the time, there would be no procrastination. So what’s going on here? Why do we actively work against ourselves? I think there are two emotions that lurk at the heart of procrastination: fear and dread. Those might sound the same, but there’s a crucial difference.

The Two Types of Procrastination

Some procrastination is caused by actual fear.

I know many agents who went through this back in March, when it suddenly wasn’t possible to meet clients face-to-face and do business the way they always had. They already knew it was possible to use technology like eApplications, drop-ticket submissions, and ePolicy delivery. But because it was out of their comfort zone, they put off trying it…until they couldn’t.

Some agents put off trying technology like eApplications and ePolicy delivery…until they couldn’t.

Other times, you may procrastinate because you dread what you have to do.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve put off tasks that involve importing or exporting data because they required hours of concentration – checking database columns and headers, making sure every detail was just right. It’s not hard, but it’s a pain in the butt. And something always happened to interrupt me, whether it was an instant message or someone dropping by my office to ask a question. I was usually glad when that happened, because it gave me an excuse to put off that data manipulation.

Do you recognize either of these two types of procrastination in your habits?

So How Do We Stop Procrastinating?

While I don’t have an ironclad solution, I do have a mindset that helps me power through it.

I call it “eat the frog.”

You may have heard this quote, attributed to Mark Twain: “If your job is to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning. If your job is to eat two frogs, eat the big one first.”

“If your job is to eat a frog, do it first thing in the morning. If your job is to eat two frogs, eat the big one first.”

Basically, it means that if you have something unpleasant to do, do it as soon as possible. That way, the worst part of your day will be over with.

I use this phrase for tasks I don’t feel like doing, but that require a lot of focus...like manipulating those Excel spreadsheets. People in my office have probably heard me say, “Yes, I’ll help with that, but I need to eat this frog first.”

When they hear “eat the frog,” they know not to distract me or let me procrastinate.

I think this strategy works for two reasons:

• It forces me to free up my mind for other tasks. Instead of spending hours or days with low-level stress in the background, I can move forward and give my full attention to other things. I’m more likely to make a good decision with a clear head.
• It provides accountability. If I tell my team to give me time, they respect that. But I know they also need input or answers from me. I wouldn’t be respecting them if I used the time they gave me to do something else.

The bottom line? If someone’s waiting on you to do something, eat the frog. It might not taste very good, but it makes what comes afterward taste even better.

Now it’s your turn…how do you fight procrastination? Do you have an “eat the frog” equivalent?

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ABOUT RYAN

Ryan Pinney is an eleven-year MDRT member with eleven Top of the Table qualifications. Recognized for using innovative technologies to drive insurance sales, streamline the application process, and speed up underwriting, Ryan leverages his experience in social media and online marketing to help agents and agencies create their online presence and profit from it. Utilizing the same principles and technology his firm provides to agents, his agency sold thousands of policies direct-to-consumer over the internet last year. Ryan was named one of the inaugural NAILBA ID Twenty Award winners, one of AdvisorToday’s 2015 “4 under 40” Financial Advisors, and one of LifeHealthPro Magazine’s “24 Most Creative People in Insurance.” He is a Past President of NAIFA Northern California, and served as the U.S. Chairperson for the MDRT Member Communications Committee. He is also a regular contributor to financial publications such as Bankrate.com, Yahoo! Finance, Fox Business News, and PinneyInsurance.com.