The 3-Hour Workbook: How to Create Your First Digital Product This Weekend
I’ve seen people spend months overthinking their first digital product (and I still do it myself)… but you can have yours done by Sunday night, and ready for sale on Monday.
I can already here you say:
“There’s no way I can create something valuable in just three hours.”
You might be overthinking this. Your first digital product doesn’t need to be perfect. It needs to be done. (You can always update it later, everything on the internet is changeable, fixable, redoable!)
Introducing the 3-Hour Workbook!
The beauty of the three-hour workbook is that it forces you to focus on what matters: solving one specific problem for your ideal reader. No fluff, no overthinking, just pure value delivered quickly.
Why Fast Beats Perfect Every Single Time
Here’s what I’ve learned over years of being a perfectionist…Done is better than perfect, especially for your first digital product.
A “good enough” workbook that exists will always outperform the “perfect” workbook that never gets finished. Plus, when you create something quickly, you can test it with real people and improve it based on actual feedback instead of your own assumptions.
The three-hour constraint also prevents you from overcomplicating things. You can’t include everything you know about a topic in three hours, which means you’ll naturally focus on the most important, most valuable parts.
And you know what? Your readers don’t EVEN WANT everything you know. They want a solution to one specific problem. Give them that, and they’ll be thrilled.
Let’s pretend it’s Sunday morning and get this workbook done!
Hour 1: Choose Your Problem and Map Your Solution
Your mission for hour one: Pick one specific problem your ideal client faces and outline exactly how you’ll help them solve it.
Start by thinking about the questions you get asked most often. If you work with clients, what do they bring up in discovery calls? What challenges do your family members mention repeatedly? What are you always helping people at work with? Pick the one that comes up most frequently—that’s your workbook topic.
Make it specific. Instead of “How to Build Confidence,” go with “How to Feel Confident in Job Interviews.” Instead of “Marketing for Small Business,” try “How to Write About Your Services Without Feeling Salesy.”
Once you have your problem, spend 15 minutes outlining the transformation you want to create. What will someone know, feel, or be able to do after completing your workbook that they couldn’t do before?
Then create a simple 3-4 step process that gets them from problem to solution. This becomes your workbook outline. For example:
- Step 1: Identify what’s really holding you back
- Step 2: Reframe your limiting beliefs
- Step 3: Practice your new confident mindset
- Step 4: Plan your next confident action
Keep it simple. You’re not writing a dissertation for them to drown in. You’re creating a roadmap for them to reach the end (Step 4 in your workbook).
Hour 2: Create Exercises That Actually Transform
Your mission for hour two: Turn your outline into interactive exercises that create real change.
This is where the magic happens. Instead of just telling people what to do, you’re going to guide them through doing it.
For each step in your process, create 1-2 exercises that help them work through that piece. These aren’t just fill-in-the-blank questions. They should be discovery tools that help people learn something about themselves.
Great workbook exercises ask people to:
- Reflect on their current situation
- Identify patterns or beliefs
- Imagine different possibilities
- Make specific plans or commitments
For example, instead of asking “What are your goals?” try “Describe your ideal Tuesday. What are you doing? How do you feel? What’s different from your current Tuesdays?”
Write your exercises in Google Docs as you go. Use clear headings for each section and leave plenty of white space for people to write their answers. Remember, this will become a PDF they can type or write in.
Don’t overthink the wording. Write like you’re talking to a friend. Use the word “you” to make it feel like you’re speaking directly to them and keep it conversational.
Hour 3: Design, Format, and Launch
Your mission for hour three: Make it look professional and get it ready to sell.
Google Docs is perfect for this because it’s simple and clean. Here’s your quick formatting checklist:
- Use a clear, readable font (like Arial or Monteserrat)
- Make your headings larger and bold
- Add plenty of white space between sections
- Include lines or space after questions for people to write answers
- Add a simple cover page with the title and your name and an image if you like
- Include a brief intro explaining how to use the workbook
When you’re done formatting, download it as a PDF. Test it yourself. Is everything clear and easy to follow? Can you type in the spaces?
NOTE: To make your PDF typeable, you will need to use a software such as PDF.net. Otherwise, you can encourage your readers to download and print out their workbooks, which I believe is the best option for a workbook.
Now all that’s left is to set up your sales machine. You have two super simple options:
Option 1: A free account on Kit (formerly ConvertKit). Create a landing page for your workbook, and use their commerce feature to sell your workbook. This will allow you to deliver the PDF automatically via email and add your customers to your email list so you can stay in touch.
Option 2: Gumroad. All you have to do is sign up for an account, upload your PDF, set your price, and you’re done. Gumroad handles everything: payments, delivery, and customer service.
Price it between $7-27 for your first workbook. You’re not trying to get rich with your first digital product, you’re trying to get feedback and build confidence. And get your product out in the world!
What to Do Monday Morning
Congratulations! You just created your first digital product. But don’t stop here.
Send it to five people you know and ask for honest feedback. What was helpful? What was confusing? What would they add or change?
Share it in a Facebook group where your ideal customers hang out. Mention it in your email signature. Tell people about it when the topic comes up naturally in conversation.
Most importantly, start planning your next one. The hardest part about creating digital products is getting started. Now that you’ve done it once, the second one will be easier.
Ready to Start Your Timer?
I’m not suggesting you rush through creating garbage. I’m suggesting you create something good enough to test and improve.
Your three-hour workbook might not be perfect, but it will be valuable. It will solve a real problem for real people. And that’s infinitely better than the perfect workbook that never gets created.
Plus, there’s something magical about finishing something quickly. It builds momentum. It proves to yourself that you can create valuable content. It gives you confidence to tackle bigger projects.
Your first workbook doesn’t have to be your best workbook. It just has to exist.
Pick a weekend. Block out three hours. Choose one problem you know how to solve.
That’s it. No more planning, no more researching, no more waiting for the perfect idea.
Start with hour one. And by Sunday night, you’ll have something you can actually sell!