Activity
Mon
Wed
Fri
Sun
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
What is this?
Less
More

Owned by Rob

Build, validate, launch & scale real software businesses with proven systems, founder guidance, Vibe Code with the SaaB method for greater success .

45 contributions to AI Automation Agency Hub
I Watch People Say They'll DIY. A Week Later They Quit.
"I'll just figure it out myself." I hear this constantly. Someone picks up Claude or an automation tool and swears they're gonna learn it on their own. Almost nobody does. What actually happens is they try for a week, hit the same wall over and over, get frustrated, and either quit or come back asking for help anyway. And honestly, I don't think saying "I'll do it myself" is even about doing it yourself, it's the thing people say to feel okay about not spending money. So if you've been stalling on some AI project telling yourself you'll get to it, that's not a character flaw, most people just need someone sitting in it with them to actually move. Needing help to finish an AI project isn't quitting.
1 like • 5d
My best friend is a master SQL programmer, been programming since the 80's. He now does crazy database migrations for a big company as a contractor. We are talking some serious hard SQL, not your basic lookup's and selects. He's always buried and stressed out. I'd been trying to get him onboard to let AI help him for over year.. the excuse - "man I just don't have time to learn that stuff right, but I'd really like to"... I finally got him to just drop a crazy SQL script in and tell it the problem and ask to fix it...he did.. and guess what - blew his mind! Something that was going to take over a week to figure was done in about 45 seconds.. and it worked. Needless to say I get lots of screenies from him in slack.. "hey look"... lol So yeh.. stop fussing around, devote a weekend and just piddle around, be amazed and START! ;)
0 likes • 5d
@Ruben S LOL
What are people doing instead?
Your idea already has competition... even if nobody sells the exact app you’re imagining. The competition might be a spreadsheet, an assistant, a group chat, or simply putting up with the problem. Imagine software that organizes subcontractor documents. The current solution might be someone checking an inbox every morning and maintaining a folder. Before designing a dashboard, understand that routine: - How much time does it take? - What gets missed? - Who notices the mistakes? - What happens afterward? - Why hasn’t the team changed it already? “Doing nothing” can be a strong competitor when switching feels harder than the problem. Write down the current workaround for your idea. Include what it does well. People have reasons for using it. Then identify the specific improvement that could justify changing their routine. What would your product replace today?
1 like • 5d
@Duncan Rogoff yeh.. I have a client that refuses to let go of a process because that same excuse and still refuses, he thinks its 10 minutes, girl says its all day. and its for building a newsletter that requires multiple data sources she has to lookup and compile in a 'gasp' amazing excel sheet, then uses good ol MS publisher to make the newsletter, then.. and you'll love this "snail mails" on USB sticks to the subscribers" ... They are Oil Field equipment appraisers, the report is on industry prices for equipment parts, pricing fluctuates based on oil prices... I could create a simple app, api the 10 data sources.. wont let us touch it.. because 'it just works and only takes 10 minutes'.... ;) they been doing it that way since the 90s. I manage their IT, servers, etc.. everything for them.. but there's these weird little things the owner wont let go of.. I know that pain.
2 likes • 5d
@Yonas Workayehu Keep in mind, a lot of times you go in there thinking you need to 'fix' something in their 'funnel'.. but you need to back up and consider - do they even have any traffic in the first place... so common people are selling things like a 'chat bot' .. what the heck for when no one is coming to the site anyways... once they have traffic ( something worth having a funnel for) then you can address the other stuff. This is why its good to establish some referral partners, SEO, Ads...etc., unless you can do all that as well and want to take it on...Bottom line is theirs a bigger picture there to deal with that keeps getting over looked by most.
Building with n8n: How Do You Make Automations Reliable in Production?
I'm currently building automation workflows with n8n, and there's something I've been thinking about. What happens when you build an automation, sell it to a client, and some nodes suddenly fail or an API stops responding? One concern I have is delivering an automation that works perfectly during testing but starts breaking when it's running in a client's business. Is this a normal concern when starting out with automation, or am I missing something? How do you make your workflows reliable enough for production? Do you build in error handling, alerts, retries, or some other safeguards? I'd love to hear how those with real-world experience handle this. I believe there's a lot to learn from the things that break, not just the things that work. 🤝
3 likes • 6d
Check out the n8n library app on github "LPilic/n8n-library" .. name is deceiving. It is used for maintaining your own lib and deploying to clients, monitoring as well as monitoring n8n workers and a lot more... Its open source and pretty solid.
Choose one idea to investigate - not marry
You can investigate an idea without deciding it will be your next company. That distinction makes it easier to learn honestly. Suppose you’re considering two hypothetical products: a tool for organizing contractor documents and an AI meeting summary app. Compare them on four questions: - How well do I understand the problem? - Can I reach people who experience it? - What evidence suggests they spend time or money on it? - Can I run a useful test without a large build? Separate what you know from what you assume. “I know three contractors” is a fact. “They would pay monthly” is an assumption until you test it. Pick the idea with a useful next investigation you can actually perform. You can revisit the other later. Your commitment this week is to learning, not defending your original idea. What are you investigating, and what uncertainty will you tackle first?
Lead Generation & Sales: What Actually Works? 🎯
I’ve been learning more about lead generation and sales lately, and I’m curious how other builders and agency owners approach it. Finding potential clients is one thing, but turning them into real conversations and eventually paying customers seems like a completely different skill. A few things I’d love to learn from this community: - 🔎 How do you find and qualify the right leads? - 💬 What helps you start conversations without sounding too salesy? - 🤝 How do you turn initial interest into a discovery call or paying client? - 📈 What do you think beginners should focus on first: outreach volume, personalization, building relationships, or improving the offer? For those who have landed clients consistently, what made the biggest difference in your sales process? I’d love to hear your real experiences, mistakes, and lessons learned. 👇
1 like • 8d
@Yonas Workayehu Sometimes when I'm thinking about testing a new niche..etc.. I just invest my own time and a few $, build a funnel > run some FB ads and see if i can get some traction, before i even bother getting a buyer i want to prove I can get the leads and at a reasonable CPL.. once I have that - its all the amo i need to get on the phone with buyers because I already have the proof... its better for your confidence and you stop questioning if you can do it or not. yes it takes some investment, but thats better than convincing a business owner to give you money for something you haven't proven yet. -Good luck!
1 like • 8d
@Yonas Workayehu yeh.. validating your own ability is a boost of confidence! ;) dont forget - there are over 80,000 niches out there, Dental is just one... as i've posted before - its the underserved businesses that need the most help... dentists are pounded every day by marketers. Also in dental you'll be dealing with HIPAA and PHI and PII...etc. if doing business in the USA...There are plenty of niches besides regulated ones that are much easier to deal in.
1-10 of 45
Rob Olson
5
34 points to level up
@rob-olson-4017
I help turn software ideas into real businesses. Join SaaB for practical guidance, tools, and a community to help you build and launch. 🚀

Active 3h ago
Joined Jul 28, 2024
INTP
Texas
Powered by