How do I manage time between creating passive products and ongoing client work?

Balancing the demands of creating passive products while managing ongoing client work can feel like walking a tightrope. I've been there, and I'll tell you, it requires a practical approach and a commitment to redefine success on your own terms. Here’s how you can manage both:

1. Prioritize and Plan: Start by identifying your priorities. Client work often comes with deadlines that can't be missed, while passive income projects have a more flexible timeline. Use a planning method, like time blocking, to allocate dedicated time slots for both. I often found early mornings or weekends were great for focusing on passive projects without distractions.

2. Set Boundaries: It's easy for client work to spill into every available moment, but setting boundaries is critical. Clearly communicate your availability to clients and protect your passive project time like an important meeting. This might mean saying “no” more often to less critical tasks.

3. Leverage the CDEx Framework: Use the Capture, Develop, Expose (CDEx) framework as a guide:

4. Capture: Keep a running list of ideas and tasks for your passive product projects. This ensures you don’t lose momentum even when you’re knee-deep in client work.

5. Develop: Dedicate at least one session a week to developing these ideas into tangible products. Consistent, small steps compound over time.

6. Expose: Once something is ready, get it out there. Even if it’s not perfect, exposing your product to the market will start generating feedback and passive income.

7. Automate and Delegate: Automate repetitive tasks and consider outsourcing parts of your client work or passive product development. This might mean hiring a virtual assistant or using software tools to streamline your processes.

8. Reflect and Adjust: The path to balancing these isn’t linear. Regularly assess what's working and what’s not. It’s okay to pivot. I’ve had to restructure my plans more times than I can count, but each adjustment brought more clarity and focus.

9. Embrace the Messy Middle: Accept that there will be times when projects overlap and things get messy. That’s part of the journey. Keep focused on your long-term goals, and remember that the ability to pivot and adjust is your greatest strength.

Anecdotally, when I first transitioned, I struggled with this balance too—sometimes dropping passive projects for months due to client demands. But with persistence and restructuring my approach, I found a rhythm that worked. Keep experimenting until you find yours. Redefining success is a personal journey; respect the process.