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How many projects do you juggle at once?

by tooAlive
47 replies
I told myself I was going to focus on one project exclusively until it started making money. But being the creative person that I am, I feel like I need to change things up every so often or I tend to burn myself out.

Unless it's something I absolutely LOVE to blog about or talk about, I can't find myself devoting 110% of my energy on. And I haven't found that subject yet.

So, how do you guys juggle your time? I figured 3 different projects would be a good starting point to tackle. And for the sake of the discussion, nothing is being outsourced.

#juggle #projects
  • Profile picture of the author Michaelangelo Flores
    I reckon have a primary and a secondary. But really, ONE project, fully focused on 110% is of course the most effective. Unless you have a decent budget and able to outsource and hire project managers, then stick to ONE.

    Or there could also be some cases where each project compliments each other (in which, one grows, the other one grows with it) - and that's understandable.

    I really just try and focus on one. Sometimes I even break it down even further and focus heavily on one task for one day, for one project.

    e.g I'll only focus on writing articles the whole time for one project alone. The next day, I'll just be doing videos on that same project and just that for the whole day. Then the next day, another task, etc.

    I don't believe in multi-tasking, lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author johnbro
    Focus, focus, focus... that is what is preached universally. But for me personally if I stick to only one project for too long I soon reach a limit where I need a break otherwise I'll go crazy, or so it feels. So it only does me good to have a secondary project which compliments the first, as Michaelangelo said above.

    I like to choose projects where there is possibility to even cross promote to each other.

    Cheers!
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  • Profile picture of the author Caleb D Miller
    A lot of marketers get stuck in this idea of "what is the best niche?" "how many niches?" and "what about google?"

    You gotta get a fire under your butt. Then you will start making quick decisions to get away from the fire. You will be committed because you want to stop the pain of the burn and you won't ever want to get burned again.
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  • Profile picture of the author richardfranklin
    It completely depends on the size and time required for a project. If a project is huge enough that gives you no time to consider about others, its alone is sufficient. But if its small and you can research on others also, it will be a good idea to handle more than one or even two.
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  • Profile picture of the author rajat2k2k
    TooAlive, I think I am in the same boat. I promised myself one project but currently have 8 different projects... Don't know whether it's a good or bad thing since I have outsourced lot of writing.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    I only do one thing at a time, that way I can hurry up turn it into profits, automate it and then move on to the next thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Muhsin Aziz
    I have quit juggling projects.
    It makes my life miserable with no results.
    I only started to make progress and attain results
    from working on one project this year.
    Simply said, focusing only on 1 works for me.
    And I am sure it will work for you too.
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    • Profile picture of the author fin
      Just one.

      I've decided I'm going to concentrate on the same blog until it makes it, meanwhile I'll offer a writing service to pay the bills.
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    • Profile picture of the author elzafonv
      Originally Posted by Muhsin Aziz View Post

      I have quit juggling projects.
      It makes my life miserable with no results.
      I only started to make progress and attain results
      from working on one project this year.
      Simply said, focusing only on 1 works for me.
      And I am sure it will work for you too.
      what he said :-) same here.
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      • Profile picture of the author turtlechief
        Just looked at the new posts, a lot of food for thought.

        I guess the question really ought to be "How many projects can you handle successfully at one time?"

        If you're just starting out IM'ing, then one can be enough. If you have been doing this for a while then you have a better idea of what works and how to manage your time. But when you haven't made any money yet it can be more difficult to tell what projects or activities aren't effective.

        Personally for me I thought that doing one project for 6 or 12 months is risky and you will end up with nothing. I found that this is the best way to do and it looks risky just from the start. So it is opposite and you can make even more money than before.
        great point.

        The reason it works is because people (for the most part) are comfortable with consistency and fear change. Even a website like WOOT that changes every day is consistent in their methods (they change every day, not on an unexpected and arbitrary schedule), customer service, etc. Even though their look may change, they've had their website up everyday for years, which shows consistency. I know I'm not alone in that I trust someone who has been around for years more than someone who just opened their doors. It's true with websites, restaurants, e-books, babysitters, hardware stores, just about anything. Doesn't mean I don't try new things or places, but there is some risk involved in the purchase, whereas our regular purchasing HABITS involve spending money with businesses we trust.
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  • Profile picture of the author abuhanifa
    i concentrate on one project at a time and divide it in three parts for sake of boredom .

    like i am building a web , i will divide the work in three parts :-
    1. content creation
    2. designing
    3. web promotion
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  • Profile picture of the author HelpingYouBeAnExpert
    I try less then 3
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  • Profile picture of the author Ewan Lumsden
    Banned
    I usually try just focus on one project at a time, it works so much better. Right now I'm focused on the one project, no secondaries.
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  • Profile picture of the author MacMiller
    I try to juggle two things at a time, my service, and my personal sites. Sometimes I am forced to spend more time completing sites for other people, and when business is slow I spend my extra time improving my personal sites.

    For me the balance of two projects works very well. I am fortunate enough to not have to balance a third, however the idea of a JV has always intrigued me!
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  • Profile picture of the author ceenote100
    I try to focus on one project only. Once I master one thing then I can move on to another.
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    • Profile picture of the author turtlechief
      I too have a really hard time staying focused on one project, even if it's a project I am in love with. I just get tired of doing the same tasks over and over.

      That being said, even if I have 20 projects on the back burner, I try to focus on one project until it has some momentum of its own. I know that lack of focus will kill my business.

      Here are some things I do to try to keep me sane:
      • rotate tasks on my main project - articles and editing one day, design/administration/biz management one day, creating videos or products one day, driving traffic one day, etc.
      • make sure if you have projects on the back burner that your next project compliments the first project. So for example if you have a health/fitness blog, your next project could be a food blog or a gardening blog, something related (even if only tangentially) to your main project. That way if you really, really, really can't stand to write another fitness article, you could write a food article instead (for the food blog you are not even promoting yet because the fitness blog comes first). But you have to be disciplined, the point is to vary your routine a little while still working towards the end goal, so make sure you don't abandon your first project for your second project.
      Trust me, I certainly feel your pain. While most people would think how awesome it is to work from home, all I could think about yesterday was that if I edited another article my brain would explode.


      But in the end we have to be able to see projects through to the end to be successful. Unless you have an impeccable reputation for delivering what you promise, you can't sell 80% of an unfinished product on a half completed website.


      One last thought:

      Online business is still a business. Imagine you sell cars for a living. Would you rather have 40 car dealerships that are just barely earning a profit and/or breaking even, or 1 car dealership that is making a whole bunch of profit. You might earn the same money either way, but managing 40 dealerships is a lot more headache and overhead than just the one.


      That is why it is so critical to be good at one BEFORE going for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc. Think about this in the long term - one business is manageable, 5 businesses or more may just become a noose around your neck draining your time and energy with little to no extra reward involved.
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  • Profile picture of the author ACGroup1
    I look at my entire process, write it down on paper and figure out lag times. This lets me know how soon I can start another project. With Adsense for instance, after the initial set up, you need a few days for the bots to properly index the site before you start the article marketing. Then after that, about another 15 days. During this period I'd get other things going or do another niche sight. with product creation, there are times in between the pre launch sequence that I've had enough time to start something new, and then continue to work on it when the launch begins (autoresponders take care of everything else with the launch).
    That's how I juggle.
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  • Profile picture of the author rajat2k2k
    I agree with you LenyRP. Sometimes you have to wait until affiliates sites or Adsense sites start showing up profit. In this wait I start the othe projects. Although am working on 8 projects I feel I am giving more attention to four of them while the other four are in the background.

    I use I thoughtsHD on my iPad to keep myself organized. Any free mind Map software will do to keep in top of all the projects.
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    • Profile picture of the author cashp0wer
      When I first started I focused on one project and one project only until I started making money with it. I was lucky that I was already making money from article writing so I could afford to wait it out. I've been in IM for a few years now and have many projects going at one time and I stay very, very busy. I like it this way, however, and work well like this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brian Maroevich
    Ha! That's a good question. I am constantly juggling projects, product development, and always thinking of new ones to create which gets me sidetracked. I am constantly fighting my urge to start new projects because there are so many on the table. I have at least 8 right now, with a ninth on the way.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tad 100
    I am focusing on 1 big project right now. I like to write ideas about other projects and I am going to choose next business after I complete this one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Web design Shrewsbury
    We tend to have a few projects to deal with a month, each is allocated to an individual and is worked on till completed. Internal projects are always floating around, they are the best kin of projects
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  • Profile picture of the author joefizz
    Hi,

    For me, it's 3 big projects to manage at any one time...

    However, its not just about projects...its about people too. You need them to help you to get over the line...

    I use a Productivity Planner that saves me loads of time... its available here...if anybody wants it...

    Llwyddiant!

    Joe
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    I currently have one long-term project under way (over a year to implement) and three short-term projects. It can vary from quarter to quarter.

    RoD
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  • Profile picture of the author dragtastic
    I'm all over the place - I work full time, then I always do ebay on the side (sell collectibles) and blog in addition to trying to develop mini sites and look for more domains to reg
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    when i was working online full time, i rarely had less than 15 or so fairly major projects going. of course, i was mostly managing them, not actually doing most of the work.

    if you are the one who is doing all or most of the work, i don't see working more than 2 or 3 at a time.

    but truthfully, i think most people need more than 1 thing going for 1 reason. In almost every project there are things where each of us struggles. Some of us are good starters, others are good finishers.

    For me, i have found that having a few projects at different stages means i always have one project in the "fun" stage for me. That keeps me engaged in my work. When i only have one thing going and it gets to the "not fun" stage for me, i tend to find other things to do or just procrastinate almost indefinitely...lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author sarlat
    Just focus on one thing and pour all your attention and love into that project. Once it is working then outsource the "management" of it and start your next project.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim Franklin
    Great discussion, the biggest question that begs and answer is this do your projects manage you or do you manage your projects. Effective Project management can make or break your business, one of the things I find to be one of the real challenge is dealing with personal that have a particularly difficult time managing their tasks and you tend to want to micro manage them if you do that you will end up being frustrated.

    There is a fine art to communicating with key people in your business if you can find that fine line and keep everything running smoothly there is no end to what you can accomplish.
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  • Profile picture of the author kajulie
    i focus on one project at a time, give it my best shot in the shortest time possible then move to the next project.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jinjer
    Right now, I'm focusing on one project at a time, and it seems to be working for me. Once what I'm working on is stable, I usually have an idea of what my next project will be.
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  • Profile picture of the author AndyBlackSEO
    I guess it all depends on the individual and how they prefer to work. I personally think that working on a couple of projects is ok and sometimes you need a break from a particular project in order to breath some new life into it.

    I wouldn't recommend getting bogged down with too many though otherwise you'll find your wheels spinning and none of your projects will gain traction.
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    • Profile picture of the author honestim
      Got about 9 authority websites that I am working on all in non IM niches. As far as IM niche is concerned planning to get started with two projects in near future. And no its not always just me, I do take help from people by outsourcing parts of my business.

      HonestIM
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  • Profile picture of the author Bill Hugall
    What a great question!!! I seem to have ADD so I like to keep as many things going as I can. I need to be very organized or I lose my focus on all of them. It just doesn't feel like I am getting anywhere if I am waiting for results on one project.... So I get going on another and just keep it rolling. When I get burnt out I take a week off of work and just hang out with the family. My wife takes the computer and hides it on me for a week. My son is helping me type this right now. I sometimes want to slow down but then I have a failing venture and need to refine it and launch it again so I can sleep at night know it is working.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jay Campbell
      3 projects seems like a reasonable number to manage. I know how you feel about needing more than one project as I am the same way. Just try to keep it under control as best you can. There was a point where I had dozens of projects/domains that I wasn't really developing because there were too many. I am down to under 10 open in work projects in different stages and hope to keep it that way. And I am really trying to only focus on 2 projects with the others just getting a little maintenance.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tad 100
    I just want to add one more thing. Personally for me I thought that doing one project for 6 or 12 months is risky and you will end up with nothing. I found that this is the best way to do and it looks risky just from the start. So it is opposite and you can make even more money than before.
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  • Profile picture of the author IMDealBox
    Originally Posted by tooAlive View Post

    I told myself I was going to focus on one project exclusively until it started making money. But being the creative person that I am, I feel like I need to change things up every so often or I tend to burn myself out.

    Unless it's something I absolutely LOVE to blog about or talk about, I can't find myself devoting 110% of my energy on. And I haven't found that subject yet.

    So, how do you guys juggle your time? I figured 3 different projects would be a good starting point to tackle. And for the sake of the discussion, nothing is being outsourced.
    SOOO true...i find myself drifting between 2-3 projects everytime. And then i check the IM forums and bam...a few more ideas start beating on my head...

    I wish i had the will to focus on ONE project!
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  • Profile picture of the author WinstonTian
    I use a "Timeline" that shows my progress
    in concurrent projects. Big one plastered onto
    my wall

    Probably about 3-4 projects? Sometimes, I
    can't resist requests... and end up having to
    halt a few projects to get the more urgent
    ones done.

    Winston Tian
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeannie Crabtree
    I have a hard time focusing on one thing. So I put the rest in a notebook for later projects.

    However...I usually have at least two projects going, and several websites to keep up on as it is. :-)

    I found this in one of my notebooks the other day, it is from one of the big marketers seminars I think, maybe Rich Shefren.

    "Every time you say yes to a new project you are saying "later" to getting money from the current projects that need completed".

    It is very true and I am working on completing projects more before taking on more.
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    • Profile picture of the author dannn1
      If you really want to be successful in this business I think your best bet would be to focus on one project at a time. If you are motivated enough to start an online business, then you definitely have the motivation and the drive to put a lot of effort into one thing than to have that effort watered-down and spread over multiple projects.

      This doesn't mean you should put all your eggs in one basket though. You can still focus on what project and cover yourself on all sides that you can insulate yourself from changes in the market and in the Internet.

      If you focus on one project at a time, I think you will get results much quicker.
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  • Profile picture of the author PhilippaWrites
    Interesting question, and one that's clearly touched a nerve with a lot of people!

    My writing commissions are always my priority, but if I have any time leftover for IM I do sometimes find myself juggling too much and getting sidetracked and, as a result, getting very little done.

    I'm learning to get a lot more strict with myself and forcing myself to focus on one niche site per week. That's long enough to get substantial work done, but not so long that I fret that I'm neglecting the others.


    Posted from Warriorforum.com App for Android
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  • Profile picture of the author alamest
    I used to subscribe with many list "Thinking" that I will miss this opportunity so jump into it, but next one more message from other with great new opportunity again "Thinking" than one more great opportunity let's jump into it but ultimate results is Zero.

    But soon when I recognized everything I unsubscribe every singe one message.. all the Guru's gone to my Trash box and focus one thing.

    So I made my whole plan and focus on it and finish until I fail or win.. this thing really helped..

    So here is my advice.. just make the plan and if you are confident than finish the plan don't worry about failing or so, just finish and see whether you failed or Won. if you failed than no problem move on.. you will win one day..

    SO FOCUSING ON ONE THINGS IS MORE IMPORTANT THING IN INTERNET

    Build one and than move to another one..
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  • Profile picture of the author Lightlysalted
    Personally I find that focus is key. Without it you dilute your experience and abilities. I test a few new ideas each year but I try and focus my efforts on no ore than two projects at any one time.
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  • Profile picture of the author alfid
    I think I juggle too much at once. It's hard finding time for my own money-making pursuits because I also have work for clients to do.
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  • Profile picture of the author seoimninja
    I'm the exact same one! Once I began to make money on a project, I quickly found myself starting many new projects for the joy of starting something new. As someone who is easily distracted, this created a great challenge: remaining focused on a few small tasks so that they're completed well. Best of luck, being able to manage time and projects well is one of the best qualities to have!
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  • Profile picture of the author sanjx01
    Focus entirely on one thing at a time.

    This is what will get you the best results.

    But take note of your other idea's and bring them to life - one at a time!

    Hope that helps!

    ~S
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  • Profile picture of the author Brian Tayler
    Lack of focus will kill your business. As hard as it may be, stick to one project. Delegate out tasks you won't care to do, hence wouldn't do effectively yourself.
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