Been deep in the automation game for the past year – here’s what actually matters vs. what everyone talks about:

• 1. Start stupidly simple Your first automation should take 10 minutes, not 10 hours. I wasted weeks on complex builds when a simple “new email → Slack notification” would’ve taught me more.
• 2. Document your builds publicly Every automation you create is potential content. Screenshots, learnings, failures – it all becomes proof of expertise. I got more clients from sharing my process than from perfect demos.
• 3. Master the HTTPRequest node first Seriously. Half the “limitations” people complain about disappear when you can build custom API calls. It’s your Swiss Army knife for everything the built-in nodes can’t handle.
• 4. Stop calling yourself an “automation expert” Everyone says that. Instead, “I help [specific industry] eliminate [specific pain point].” Specificity attracts premium clients who have that exact problem.
• 5. Your biggest wins come from saying no Turned down a $500 project last month because it wasn’t aligned with my positioning. Client came back two weeks later with a $3K project that was perfect fit. Boundaries create value.
• 6. Error handling is where amateurs get exposed Everyone shows the happy path. Pros build for when APIs go down, data formats change, or users input garbage. Plan for chaos.
• 7. Share your failures, not just successes “Here’s how I broke a client’s workflow and what I learned” gets way more engagement than “Look at this perfect automation.” Vulnerability builds trust.
• 8. The money is in ongoing optimization, not one-time builds Clients pay once for setup, monthly for “make it work better.” Maintenance contracts beat project work every time.
• 9. Your network determines your net worth Other automators become referral sources, not competition. Help peers in communities, share knowledge freely. Half my clients come from automator referrals now.
• 10. Build your own systems first Nothing proves automation expertise like having your own lead generation, content creation, and client onboarding automated. Practice what you preach.

Bonus insight: The automators making real money talk about business outcomes, not technical features. “Saved 15 hours/week” beats “Built a 47-node workflow” every time.

What’s your biggest automation learning curve? Always curious what trips people up vs. what clicks immediately.