Two Years with n8n: The Messy Truth About Automation (And Why I'm Still Here)
Hey everyone,
There were definitely moments over the past two years where I wanted to throw my laptop out the window and just write everything in code like a normal person.
But here's the thing …I stuck with it, and I'm actually glad I did. Not because n8n is perfect (spoiler alert: it's not), but because I finally figured out how to make it work for me instead of against me.
How It All Started (AKA: My Journey Through Automation Hell)
I jumped into n8n back in 2023, full of enthusiasm and big dreams. Started simple with some webhook triggers, then got ambitious and built these elaborate AI marketing workflows. You know how it goes … it works great in your head, but reality has other plans.
I hit every wall you can imagine:
- Workflows that crawled slower than my grandma on dial-up
- Error messages that made about as much sense as IKEA instructions
- That sinking feeling when you realize you've been fighting the tool instead of using it
Sound familiar? Yeah, I thought so.
The Lightbulb Moment (That Changed Everything)
Here's what nobody tells you about n8n: Stop trying to make it do everything.
I was treating n8n like it was supposed to be some kind of Swiss Army knife that could handle every single task in my workflow. File processing, heavy calculations, complex logic .. I wanted it all in one place.
That's like asking your car to also be your house. Sure, you could try to make it work, but you're going to have a bad time.
The breakthrough? Think of n8n as your orchestra conductor, not the entire orchestra. It's fantastic at coordinating different services and making them work together, but it doesn't need to play every instrument.
What Actually Works (My "Aha!" Approach)
Let the Specialists Do What They Do Best
Instead of forcing n8n to process massive PDFs, I send them to specialized APIs that are built for that stuff. Need to crunch numbers? I trigger a Python script and let n8n handle the results.
It's like having a really good project manager who knows exactly who to call for what task.
AI Agents That Actually Get Stuff Done
I built this marketing agent that I actually use daily (not just something that looks cool in demos). It creates newsletters, repurposes content, even generates videos. The secret sauce? n8n handles the decision-making and coordination, while specialized services handle the heavy lifting.
No more workflows that crash when you look at them wrong.
Self-Hosting on a Shoestring Budget
This one's kind of nerdy, but I'm running my whole setup on an old Android phone using Termux. Uses about 0.4W of power (my coffee maker uses more energy), and it's been rock solid for months.
The Workflows That Actually Make My Life Better
My "Smart Task Manager"
This thing has literally saved my ADHD brain. It connects Notion, my calendar, and Telegram, and somehow knows exactly what I need to do and when. It even adjusts based on my mood ..if I'm feeling scattered, it gives me easier tasks. If I'm in the zone, it serves up the challenging stuff.
The "Enterprise Orchestrator"
For when I need to handle serious business workflows without everything falling apart. n8n coordinates the process, external services handle the complex parts, and I get proper error handling and audit trails. Revolutionary, I know.
My "Personal Jarvis"
Okay, I'm probably not the first person to call their AI assistant Jarvis, but whatever. This thing connects to my Gmail, calendar, and docs through Telegram. I can literally just voice memo it random thoughts and they become searchable notes. It's like having a really efficient personal assistant who never judges my 2 AM ideas.
Let's Be Real About n8n
Look, I'm not going to pretend n8n is perfect:
What it's amazing at:
- Connecting different services like a boss
- Handling simple automations without breaking a sweat
- Making complex workflows manageable for us non-programmers
What makes me want to scream:
- Heavy file processing (just don't, seriously)
- Complex logic that belongs in actual code
- The occasional mysterious error that disappears when you look at it funny
The trick is working with these limitations instead of against them.
What I'm Tinkering With Now
I'm building this workflow system that combines the best of everything .. n8n for coordination, external services for muscle work, and a clean interface that doesn't require a computer science degree to use.
It's like having your cake and eating it too, except the cake doesn't crash when you add too many layers.
The Bottom Line
Before you rage-quit n8n and dive headfirst into Python, maybe try this hybrid approach? You might be surprised at how much more pleasant life becomes when you stop trying to force square pegs into round holes.
I'm not saying n8n is the answer to everything…it's just one really good tool in a bigger toolbox. And sometimes, the best solution is knowing when to use which tool.
So... Anyone Else?
Has anyone else discovered this "let n8n be the conductor" approach? I'd love to hear about workflows that actually work in the real world, not just in YouTube tutorials.
And if you're curious about any of the specific setups I mentioned, drop a comment. I'm always happy to share the messy details ..lord knows I've made enough mistakes to save you some time.
P.S. – Yes, I realize I sound like I'm trying to convince myself as much as you. But hey, after two years of this journey, I'm f
inally at a place where automation helps instead of hurts. That's got to count for something, right?
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Nafi Imrul
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Two Years with n8n: The Messy Truth About Automation (And Why I'm Still Here)
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