I built my first Zapier workflow because I wanted to save time.
Now I have:
- 19 workflows
- 4 broken triggers
- 3 unstable tokens
- 1 webhook that only runs when I’m not looking
- and the unshakable suspicion that I’m now just working for Zapier, unpaid
Welcome to automation.
Rule #1: The Automation Always Works Until You Need It To
Automation never breaks when you’re testing.
It only breaks when:
- A client is waiting
- You're traveling
- You're bragging about it to a friend
- Or it's just been running perfectly for 3 months and decides it deserves a vacation
Rule #2: OAuth Expiration Is the Final Boss of Solopreneurship
I have fought API keys.
I have fought rate limits.
I have fought Notion’s “internal server error” with the calmness of a monk.
But OAuth token refresh?
That one broke me spiritually.
Rule #3: Every Automation System Can Be Classified Into Two Stages
- “This is amazing I am a genius”
- “Why did I ever do this everything ispain”
There is no Stage 3.
Tech Stack? They Asked Me About My Tech Stack?
Okay here it is:
Notion API
FastAPI
Make (formerly Integromat)
Zapier
GitHub Actions
Python scripts I refuse to document
Cron jobs I forgot exist
One workflow that only runs if the moon is in retrograde
Yes, it is technically “working.”
No, I do not trust it.
The Real Automation Was the Anxiety We Made Along the Way
Everyone talks about saving 10 hours per month through automation.
Nobody talks about losing 10 hours trying to debug a Make scenario you don’t remember creating.
But honestly?
I’d still choose this over manually copying data between Google Sheets.
Because if my life is going to be chaos either way—
at least this version of chaos feels like engineering.
🏷 Hashtags
#Automation #Zapier #Make #NotionAPI #SolopreneurDev #TechHumor #APIFirst
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