How do I balance client work with creating and marketing digital products?

Balancing client work with creating and marketing digital products can feel like a juggling act, but it's definitely doable with some strategic planning. Here's how you can approach it:

1. Prioritize with Purpose: Start by clearly defining your goals for both your client work and your digital products. Know why you're doing each and what you hope to achieve. This clarity will help you prioritize tasks and allocate time effectively.

2. Time Blocking: Dedicate specific time blocks to each activity. For instance, reserve mornings for client work when you're fresh and energized, and afternoons or evenings for digital product development and marketing. Make sure to stick to these blocks to maintain focus and avoid burnout.

3. Leverage Systems: Use tools and systems to streamline your workflows. Automate marketing efforts where possible—email sequences, social media scheduling, etc. This reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks and frees up time for creative work.

4. Capture, Develop, Expose: This is a framework I often use to manage my projects:

5. Capture your ideas for digital products anytime they come. Use a tool like Evernote or Trello to jot them down so you don't lose them.
6. Develop these ideas during your allocated time. Break them down into actionable steps and work through them methodically.

7. Expose your products by marketing them strategically. Choose platforms where your audience hangs out and create content that showcases the value of your products.

8. Set Boundaries: Be firm with your client schedules to ensure you have enough bandwidth for your products. It's okay to say no or renegotiate timelines with clients to make room for your own projects.

9. Outsource: If possible, delegate certain tasks either in your client work or the digital product side of things. Hiring virtual assistants for administrative tasks, or freelancing out specific components of your digital products can help maintain balance.

10. Iterate and Reflect: Try different strategies, see what works, and iterate. Regularly reflect on your balance and make adjustments as needed. It's a dynamic process—what works today might need tweaking tomorrow.

To share an anecdote from my own journey, I initially struggled with balancing the two. I'd often lean too heavily into client work because it felt more urgent. It wasn't until I set specific goals for my digital products, understanding their long-term potential, that I started blocking time effectively. Remember, your digital products can build passive income streams that give you more flexibility in the future, so they deserve space and attention now. Redefine your success not just as meeting immediate demands but also as creating sustainable income streams.