Froggy Lessons

A Carter
Jul 22
3 min read

Updated: Jul 23

Recently I was asked to create a webinar based on the wisdom of Eating The Frog and Kissing The Frog. It sent me down a rabbit hole of research about the meanings behind these phrases, and some frog inspired lessons about resilience, transformation and procrastination.

Kissing all the frogs until one transforms into a prince.

Kissing The Frog

You know the phrase “kissed a few frogs” — usually about dating, failure, or disappointment.

But how do we keep going when the frogs keep coming and none turn into your (metaphorical) prince?

Reframe setbacks as stepping stones. See each kissed frog as progress to your end goal.
Stay anchored to purpose. The work may be difficult, but staying clear on your prize is part of resilience. Your goal is transformation. That takes work.
Balance grit with grace. When the going gets tough, cut yourself some slack and have a rest on a lily pad.
Use your community as support. Chat with your friends about their frog kissing adventures - what did they learn? How can they support you?
Keep an open mind - maybe the ugly frog is the answer? Keep curious, don't judge the outcome - you may be surprised.

The Frog Prince

The princess playing with her beloved gold ball before losing it in the pond

The Brothers Grimm fairy tale tells the story of a princess who makes promises to a frog which she is reluctant to keep. Eventually she is true to her word and the frog becomes a prince - a reward she did not expect.

Beauty is more than skin deep. The frog shows great kindness, but is not physically attractive to the princess.

Keeping promises shows integrity and can reward in ways we may not expect.

Doing the right thing isn’t always easy — but it can be transformative. The frog becomes a prince, but the importnat transformation is in the princess. By doing the tough thing (keeping her promise) she becomes a better person.

Eating the Frog

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”

Mark Twain

Now this one is about pesky procrastination. Do the tough thing first, get it out of the way. Easier said than done!

This can apply on a daily basis, or for something that will play out over a number of weeks. Maybe sharing some difficult news, making that phone call, facing the inbox, returning to work after time off, embarking on redecorating your bathroom.

But when you do start, and start with the tough stuff (eating the live frog):

It reduces decision fatigue. Our brain has only so much energy every day - don't waste it on the small stuff, use it for the important decisions.
It boosts your confidence. You're making progress. Building momentum. You can do this. You're not helpless.
It increases productivity. Less time doom scrolling, distracting yourself, more time available for the doing.
It reduces anxiety. The thing you need to do sits on your shoulder reminding you you're not doing it. Like a frog constantly croaking at you. This creates anxiety and unease.

When you do the hard thing first, everything else gets lighter.

Tips for eating the frog

Identify your frog each morning (or the night before). Set your intention. Have the idea of a plan.
Do it first — before emails, meetings, social media or multitasking.
Break it down if it feels overwhelming. Eat one leg at a time.
Use a visible accountability system. Even better, get an accountability partner, someone who will hold you to account, offer support and cheerlead you along the way.
Pair frog-eating with a reward. Pat yourself on the back, ask your accountability partner to recognise your progress and achievements.