Do you still recommend learning automation tools like Make or N8N right now, or is everything now about Claude code and AI agents for building an AI agency?

#241 · the highest-ROI skill to learn before AGI

Do you still recommend learning automation tools like Make or N8N right now, or is everything now about Claude code and AI agents for building an AI agency?

Yes, I still recommend learning tools like Make and N8N. The simplest way to get work as a total newbie is to sign up on platforms like Upwork and apply for jobs that require those tools. Learning N8N instantly opens a massive pool of jobs—there are dozens posted every hour. The same goes for Make.com, and even Claude Code has a market. Once you know the basics, you can pitch N8N, Make, or any other automation in your proposals. It doesn’t take long to become fluent; a 4‑to‑6‑hour course can get you up to speed. Think of it like unlocking new areas in a video game—the fog of war lifts after you spend a few hours studying the visual workflow. These tools are visual, so your brain can grasp them faster than raw code, and they also train you to think in systems, which later helps you prompt AI models like Claude. You don’t need a CS degree—just a few focused hours and you’ll have a marketable skill that feeds directly into AI agency work.

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Related answers

youtube ↗Niches

Should a beginner still learn n8n?

Yes, I recommend you still learn one drag‑and‑drop no‑code platform. Focus on n8n and get to a foundational level of knowledge. Spend four or five hours today, maybe using an accelerator from Maker School, and you’ll be ready to capitalize on job‑platform keywords on Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, etc. You can bootstrap by making more money than you spend on connects, then transition to selling n8n services or Claude code work. Even in a world leaning more toward agentic AI, learning n8n only takes a few hours and gives you a marketable skill that can pay off quickly.

n8nno-codelearningautomation

youtube ↗Mindset

As a mechanic with 15 years experience, not tech‑savvy, how steep is the learning curve for automation/AI work, and is it possible for me to succeed?

As a mechanic with 15 years’ experience and limited tech background, you’re technically competent enough if you can use social media, click buttons, and drag‑and‑drop. The learning curve isn’t easy—you’ll suck at first—but it’s absolutely possible. Look at others who have succeeded; if they can do it, you can too. Build foundational knowledge, expect early struggles, and improve over time.

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youtube ↗AI & Automation

Should I spend a couple of months in Maker School to gain barebones AI knowledge as a complete AI beginner?

Maker School is designed to throw you into the deep end of AI automation and get you interacting with customers within the first few days. It isn’t a slow, gradual ramp‑up for total beginners. You could spend a few months learning basic AI concepts on your own, but you can also dive straight into Maker School and start doing lead generation right away. The program includes education, QA, bug fixes, and automation help as part of daily fulfillment, but it’s not a full end‑to‑end AI curriculum covering webhooks, APIs, etc. Instead, you get everything needed to reach the lead‑generation side of the business, daily actionables, and the resources to figure things out. This fast‑track approach is chosen because it offers the highest ROI and the shortest path from zero to one.

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youtube ↗AI & Automation

Nick, I want to start working in the AI sector and I'm thinking of beginning with AI automation. The problem is that everything changes so fast. New tools keep coming out, so I'm confused about where to start. At first, I planned to learn NA. Then I started seeing agentic workflows everywhere. Now there's AIOS as well. Over the last 3 to 4 months, I watched videos on different topics, but instead of getting clarity, I'm just become more confused. Since you work on advanced AI project yourself, I'd appreciate your guidance to hit $10,000 per month. If you starting from scratch today, what would you learn first? When would you start offering services? And how do you get your first few clients?

First, I’d join a community like Maker School—not just to use my own products but because membership gives you deep discounts (often a 10x return) on AI platform credits and payment‑processing fees. With those savings I’d start by learning a visual drag‑and‑drop automation builder (such as the n platform) for about four to six hours; that teaches you the fundamentals of systems, workflows, JSON, HTTP requests, etc., which accelerates everything else. Next I’d spend another four hours on a Claude‑code course that covers the technical setup, agent communication, model selection, and so on—roughly ten hours total. After that foundation, I’d devote virtually all remaining time to acquiring customers; the first 90 days would be less than 1% spent on learning and the rest on outreach. You need a customer to actually enter the arena, so I’d use Maker School’s day‑by‑day accountability to hit call and outreach targets, then loop back to upsell from any lower tier to higher ones as the relationship grows.

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