If it's your job to eat a frog, it's best to do it first thing in

Host: The evening light was softening outside, casting a mellow glow across the café where Jack and Jeeny sat. The noise of the world outside seemed to fade as they settled into their conversation. Jack sat with his coffee, the steam curling up from the cup, while Jeeny looked out the window for a moment before turning back to him, a thoughtful look on her face.

Jeeny: “I came across something today, Jack. A quote from Mark Twain: ‘If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.’”

Jack: He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but also amused by the metaphor. “Eat a frog? I get the idea, but why frogs? What’s the connection? I mean, I get the part about tackling the tough stuff first, but where does the frog come in?”

Jeeny: She smiled, a quiet understanding in her eyes as she explained. “The ‘frog’ is just a metaphor for the hardest task — the one you dread the most. Twain’s point is simple: don’t avoid it. Get it out of the way early in the day, before everything else piles up and distracts you. If you’re going to face something difficult, it’s best to do it when you’re fresh and can handle it head-on. And if you have more than one difficult thing to do, take on the biggest challenge first.”

Host: The rhythm of the café felt softer now, as Jack absorbed the simplicity of Twain’s advice. The idea of eating a frog first thing in the morning had a certain clarity to it — a call to action that was both practical and refreshing. Jack leaned forward slightly, his gaze thoughtful.

Jack: “It’s a good way to think about prioritizing the things you’ve been putting off. We all have that one task we’re dreading, the one that we keep pushing back because it seems so overwhelming. But Twain’s saying, don’t wait — handle it while you’re still at your best, when you have the energy to tackle it head-on.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about energy and momentum. If you tackle the tough stuff first, it frees up the rest of your day to handle everything else with less stress. By getting the hardest task out of the way, you’re essentially setting yourself up for success for the rest of the day. The longer you avoid it, the bigger the mental weight it holds over you.”

Host: The conversation had shifted, moving from a humorous metaphor to a practical approach for managing priorities. Jack seemed to reflect on how this idea could apply not just to work, but to everyday life — that sense of achievement that comes from facing the most difficult tasks first.

Jack: “It’s about setting yourself free, in a way. By tackling the hard stuff early, you don’t carry that weight around with you all day. It’s like clearing the path for the easier tasks. And when you’ve eaten the frog, everything else feels more manageable.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about having a mindset that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. The sooner you face it, the sooner you can move on and get to the things that don’t drain you. It’s not about avoiding challenges; it’s about making them part of your routine and taking control of your day.”

Host: The quiet in the café seemed to deepen as Jack processed the power of Twain’s simple metaphor. The idea of eating the frog first thing in the morning wasn’t just about getting rid of the difficult tasks, but about embracing them as part of the process of moving forward, knowing that the rest of the day would feel lighter for it.

Jack: “So it’s not about perfection, it’s about action. Taking the first step, even if it’s difficult, and letting that momentum carry you through the rest of the day.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about starting with what feels most daunting, so that everything else can follow with more ease. And that’s when you find a sense of accomplishment, not just from getting things done, but from making the hard choices first.”

Host: The night had fully set outside, and the world beyond the café continued its rhythm. Inside, however, there was a quiet sense of understanding between Jack and Jeeny. Twain’s advice, simple as it was, had opened up a conversation about priorities, action, and the courage to face challenges head-on. In that moment, they both realized that sometimes, the key to productivity and peace was simply eating the frog first.