Irrefutable Wisdom from Brian Tracy’s Books

Brian Tracy is a world-renowned writer, public speaker, and consultant. He is listed as the top author of more than 70 books, most of them about time management and personal productivity. He is the most highly regarded thought leader in his field, and the best Brian Tracy books are a wealth of knowledge just waiting to be explored.

Key Takeaways:

1. Success starts with complete and absolute clarity and ownership
2. Discipline and consistency outperform everything else
3. Focus on what truly matters – and ruthlessly eliminate the rest

I’ve had the good fortune to attend several of his workshops and to have a small-group lunch with him in San Diego. Mr. Tracy had a plethora of valuable tips to share on improving productivity at work, as well as recommendations any business owner would find helpful.

I clearly remember asking him for his top prioritization tip for my stable of entrepreneurial clients.  He said, “Have your clients write down their top five tasks to complete tomorrow.  Then tell them to cross out numbers 2 through 5, and spend an hour working on the #1 item, the first thing in the morning.”  Sounds simple, right?

Whether you’re new to his work or looking to revisit a favorite Brian Tracy goals book, there’s always something new to discover in his back catalog. Here’s what you need to know.

Top Brian Tracy Books and Their Core Messages

Tracy’s first book was published in 1988, but his tips and tricks are still relevant today. Each of these Brian Tracy books is filled with practical advice, step-by-step instructions, and inspiring stories to make success feel realistic and achievable no matter where you start.

Although some of his advice is restated in multiple books, it’s worth reading them all for their unique insights. Here are 8 of the best Brian Tracy books and the main takeaways from each of them.

Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time

Eat That Frog is the title that first comes to mind when most people think of Brian Tracy’s books. The title concept refers to the idea that to be productive all day, you should tackle your most challenging task, or “eat your frog,” first thing in the morning. This helps you overcome procrastination and start each day on the right foot.

Goals! How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible

In Goals!, we learn how to harness the power of goal-setting to accomplish tasks. As a preeminent Brian Tracy goals book, it’s one of the best for anyone looking to take their ambitions seriously.

To start, focus on your mindset. Successful people take responsibility and focus on what’s in their control. Break larger goals into smaller segments and set actionable deadlines for each. These goals should provide a challenge that will help you improve your skills over time.

Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals

In Focal Point, Tracy aims to help people identify the activities and patterns that detract from their goals rather than advancing them. To do this, you need to find your “focal point.” This vision of your desired result can be a compass when deciding how to spend your time. Once you have this in mind, you can determine which activities to do more of and which to cut.

No Excuses! The Power of Self-Discipline

As a Brian Tracy goals book focused on discipline, this is a standout among his works. In No Excuses, we learn Tracy’s seven-step method for long-term success. The steps are as follows:

1. Define your goal.
2. Write your goal down.
3. Set a realistic deadline.
4. Anticipate obstacles and prepare for them.
5. Prioritize your goals, then add them to your calendar.
6. Start today.
7. Make progress toward your goals every day, even just a little.

Like all Brian Tracy books, No Excuses emphasizes the importance of acknowledging what is entirely within your control. Tracy demonstrates how to take full advantage of your goals to create lasting positive change in your career. Once you take responsibility for your success, you’ll realize that anything is possible if you work on it a little at a time.

Time Management

We all have 24 hours a day, but how we manage that time can mean the difference between success and failure. In Time Management, Tracy posits that your personality type can help you determine which tasks suit you best. Your goal should then be to spend time on those tasks and delegate the ones that others could do better.

Maximum Achievement: Strategies and Skills That Will Unlock Your Hidden Powers to Succeed

Maximum Achievement offers a blueprint for personal success and ranks among Brian Tracy’s best books for those serious about self-improvement. Tracy uses psychology, philosophy, and his own experience to outline strategies for setting goals and taking consistent action toward what you want. By mastering your mindset, you can achieve peak performance in every area of life.

Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life: How to Unlock Your Full Potential for Success and Achievement

In Change Your Thinking, Tracy outlines a system for transforming your mindset to reach higher levels of success—if you take full advantage of the wisdom in his Brian Tracy sales books. Tracy argues that the quality of your thinking is the single greatest determinant of your success, and that by consciously shifting your mental “software,” you can change your outcomes.

The Psychology of Selling: How to Sell More, Easier, and Faster

In this Brian Tracy goals book, we learn his top principles for sales success with a focus on building self-confidence. Tracy covers how high performers think differently, how to overcome fear and rejection, and how to build the inner confidence that naturally attracts customers and closes deals.

Of all the best Brian Tracy books, this one is especially useful for salespeople. It’s widely regarded as one of the top Brian Tracy sales books ever written.

Following the advice in these Brian Tracy books, readers can build a foundation for personal productivity and success. His advice is timeless and can help anyone looking to make permanent changes in life and work.

Core Themes in Brian Tracy Books

Mr. Tracy has a wealth of valuable tips for improving productivity at work, as well as recommendations any business owner would find helpful. Here are a few themes that he covers in most Brian Tracy Books:

• Zero-Based Thinking: Ask yourself, “Is there anything I am doing today that, if I could do it all over, I would never have started to do?” Tasks that were once a good idea may no longer be necessary now that you have more experience. How do I drop the tasks that no longer serve my business? Be courageous and move fast.
• Keep Your Momentum: Adopt a productivity mentality. You must have the drive to get results. As the great Jerry Seinfeld once said, “Don’t break the chain.” Every day you complete your most important task, cross that day off on the calendar. If you maintain the momentum, you’ll eventually have a chain of days to showcase your progress.
• Avoid Distractions: The average person wastes 50% of their workday. Remember that it takes an average of 17 minutes to return to task after being distracted. Improve your productivity by blocking social media and text messages that you’ll be tempted to check, putting your phone on silent, and getting your most important tasks done before you take a break.
• Manage Your Email Time: Email is one of the most notorious distractions. To combat this, make it a point to check your email only three times a day. Open it at 11 am, 2 pm, and then again at 5 pm. Rule number one: never open your email first thing in the morning. Use that time to work on your most important goal of the day.
• Start Working Immediately in the Morning: Plan out your day the evening before. Allow 90 minutes of uninterrupted time first thing in the morning to complete your most important task of the day. Work straight through until you’ve finished the task at hand.
• Practice the Law of 3: If you could do only one activity on your long list of to-dos, which one is the highest value? Then ask yourself, what would they be if you could do two things? Three? Once you have a list of your three highest-priority tasks for the day, stop there. Don’t try to do everything simultaneously; focus on finishing these three tasks.
• Remove Clutter: Another key to time management, as addressed in several Brian Tracy books, is to set yourself up for success by creating a productive environment. For example, eliminate distractions by removing clutter, putting your phone on silent, and muting email notifications except during specific pre-established time windows.

Working through this list of Brian Tracy books can help you unlock your full potential by taking charge of your mindset, getting organized, and clarifying your priorities. From the best Brian Tracy books on productivity to his Brian Tracy sales books, there’s something here for every professional. No matter your industry, you can achieve greater success by harnessing the years of wisdom and experience in each of these Brian Tracy books.

As a business coach, I’ve written extensively about management, leadership, and business ownership. So, if you love Brian Tracy books, sign up for my free blog articles to have more words of wisdom delivered to your inbox weekly. You can also fill out my contact form and schedule a free coaching session to discuss how to take your personal productivity to the next level.

Coach Dave