Education · 1 of 5

The path

No licence or degree required, but real technical skill is. A drag-and-drop tool does not remove the need to understand data.

1. 1

   Learn the building blocks

   2 to 6 months

   How web forms, spreadsheets, calendars and customer databases pass data to each other. Learn what an API (application programming interface) is and how to read its documentation.

2. 2

   Learn one platform deeply

   3 to 6 months

   n8n, Make or Zapier. Then add a bit of JavaScript or Python for the steps the tools cannot do.

3. 3

   Build for yourself and people you know

   1 to 3 months

   Automate a real workflow for a family business or club and measure the hours saved.

4. 4

   Pick one industry and sell

   6 to 12 months

   Dental offices, contractors or property managers. Learn their software and their problems, then call them.

5. 5

   Add retainers and grow

   1 to 3 years

   Keep clients on monthly support. Some hire help; many become in-house automation staff instead.