How to Juggle Multiple Clients — While Keeping Your Rockstar Status Intact
It doesn’t matter how protective you are of your time, we all have those weeks when doing it all can feel like Mission: Impossible. (I felt that way last week!) To help, I’m sharing my favorite tips for juggling several projects and clients at once — all while looking like a total professional.
I know I don’t have all the answers. I know I need to work on my time management and set boundaries — and I hope to address both of those things another week. That said, I also know I’ve learned a lot about juggling different clients and projects since I became a full-time freelancer back in 2017. Knowledge is power, and the more we trade tips and tricks, the more likely we’re able to carve out our paths to success. Because, let’s be honest, being your own boss can feel a lot like this:
Find a System — and Stick With It
I’m a big lists person. My college friends can tell you I’ve been rocking a color-coded list ever since sophomore year. But since there aren’t enough colors in the rainbow to distinguish all my clients, personal responsibilities, and my newsletter, I’ve decided to shake things up. For starters, I always put deadlines, events, and meetings in my Google calendar. Once Monday rolls around, I write down everything I need to do that week. (This weekly task pad from Appointed is a godsend.) I create a daily to-do list in a separate notebook so I can figure out how to structure my day. (I write down everything, from deadlines, to working out, to calling my grandma.)
My multi-step method isn’t going to work for everyone, but it’s so important to find a system that fits your lifestyle. Not only will it ensure you remember all your tasks, but it’ll also help you figure out how to prioritize a busy day. Plus, crossing a few things off your list will make you feel incredibly accomplished.
Manage Expectations
Repeat after me: Things happen. Interviews get pushed back, shipping delays occur, and sometimes you can’t manage to get everything done on time. Take a breath and remember you’re human. I know the knee-jerk reaction is to keep your head down until your project is completed. I know telling a client you’re behind on work is embarrassing and makes you feel like you’ve failed. But, if a project is delayed for reasons in or out of your control, give your client a heads up. Even the most successful, in-demand self-starters make mistakes and miss deadlines. However, most clients will appreciate and respect the transparency. After all, nobody wants to feel like they’ve been ghosted.
You Can’t Do it All
I firmly believe self-starters are modern-day superheroes. Leaving your corporate job to build your own business from the ground up takes guts. Plus, it’s hard to balance multiple tasks and make it look easy. That said, even the most organized, communicative self-starter can’t do everything. If you’re prioritizing the work, some administrative tasks might be put on the back burner. (For me, it’s managing my inbox.) I usually focus on my work during the week and save administrative tasks like bookkeeping, invoicing, and clearing out my inbox for the weekend. We live in a society that expects perfection. Anything less than inbox zero, a full roster of clients, a packed social calendar, and pristine bookkeeping feels like failure. It’s okay if you can’t do it all in a day. Cut yourself some slack because you’re doing great.
Automate Like an All-Star
That said, technology can make your life a lot easier. My inbox is the digital wild west; however, I rely on a few features to make managing my emails less of a headache. For example, I create canned messages for my most frequent responses and schedule important emails ahead of time so they won’t slip through the cracks. I also send email blasts to a curated list of publicists whenever I’m looking for sources.
Which tasks are slowing you down? Is there a platform that can make your life a little easier? Go ahead and Google your biggest work woes. Chances are, you’re just a few clicks away from the right solution.
Make Time for Yourself
It’s easy to deprioritize yourself when your bandwidth is at critical max and you want to make all your clients happy. (Don’t worry, I’m right there with you.) However, it is important to take a little bit of time for yourself. No, I’m not saying to ditch work and watch Netflix for hours on end. Instead, carve out 30 minutes to an hour to grab lunch, exercise, or get some fresh air. (I take 45 minutes out of my day to spend some quality time with our stationary bike.)
Being your own boss — and juggling multiple clients — requires you to be your sharpest, savviest self. But, how are you supposed to deliver if you don’t give yourself some TLC?
Hustler of the Week: Angela Belt
From 28 Black Tastemakers to your podcast, so much of your career is focused on amplifying diverse voices within the design community. Can you tell me a little more about that mission?
It started when I first moved to Connecticut after living in DC for five years. The move was a huge cultural shock, both in leaving the city and a lack of diversity. This was also when I started my interior design business and really needed a community. I created 28 Black Tastemakers so I could get to know and network with Black creative talent from all over the country, and now the globe. I also realized many people would reach out to me for Black talent, and 28 Black Tastemakers was a tool I could use to show that the talent pool was easily accessible and huge. I’ve wanted to continue to share how diverse the design community is, and take it beyond Black History Month (and the lists that so many people are tired of). The podcast allows me to talk to tastemakers from all backgrounds about the intersection of race, culture, and interior design. This is a topic that, until recently with the Black Lives Matter movement, the interior design industry has shunned away from. My dream is to turn this into a larger networking conference or tool to make the interior design industry more diverse as a norm. It’s a lot of work, but it’s my passion, and I am just getting started.
You do so many amazing things — how do you balance it all?
I typically wake up around 6:30 a.m., so I can meditate for 10–20 minutes and take a morning walk. I eat my breakfast and then update my to-do list every morning. I take big projects and break them down into small steps as much as possible, so I’m never feeling like I’m biting off more than I can handle. Yoga is a big part of my life so I make time to do sessions online in the evenings and weekends. I am all about balance these days. I cannot afford to burn myself out in one work session, so I break it down.
What is the best lesson you’ve learned since becoming your own boss?
To work with others, be vulnerable, and ask questions when talking with other like-minded businesses. There are so many things I have struggled to answer on my own, but talking with another person can completely open my eyes.
Give Angela some love by following her on Instagram and signing up for her online course.
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