ABCDE Method (Brian Tracy)

Overview

The ABCDE Method is a prioritization technique taught by Brian Tracy in his book "Eat That Frog!" It provides a simple framework for categorizing tasks by importance and deciding what deserves your attention.

The Five Categories

A Tasks - Must Do:

• Serious consequences if not completed
• Critical to your goals and success
• Your "frogs" that must be eaten
• Do these first, before anything else

B Tasks - Should Do:

• Mild consequences if not done
• Important but not critical
• Can be delegated or delayed if necessary
• Address after all A tasks complete

C Tasks - Nice To Do:

• No real consequences if left undone
• Pleasant but not impactful
• Coffee with colleagues, optional meetings
• Do only after all A and B tasks done

D Tasks - Delegate:

• Can be done by someone else
• Not the best use of your time
• Train others or outsource
• Free yourself for higher-value work

E Tasks - Eliminate:

• No longer necessary or relevant
• Waste of time that adds no value
• Stop doing entirely
• Biggest time-savers when identified

How to Apply

1. List all tasks for the day/week
2. Assign each an A, B, C, D, or E letter
3. Number A tasks by priority (A-1, A-2, A-3)
4. Start with A-1 and work through sequentially
5. Never do B tasks while A tasks remain

Key Rules

• Never do a B task when an A task is available
• Delegate all D tasks or they become your tasks
• Eliminate E tasks immediately to free up mental space
• If everything is an A, you're not prioritizing—re-evaluate

Benefits

• Provides clear decision framework for task selection
• Prevents working on low-value activities
• Encourages delegation and elimination
• Focuses energy on highest-impact work
• Reduces overwhelm by creating clear hierarchy

Common Mistakes

• Marking too many tasks as "A" priority
• Avoiding hard A tasks by doing easier C tasks
• Not regularly re-evaluating task categories
• Failing to actually eliminate E tasks