What I'd Learn Instead of Automation in 2026

Join Maker School & get automation customer #1 + all my templates ⤵️ https://www.skool.com/makerschool/about?ref=e525fc95e7c346999dcec8e0e870e55d Want to work with my team, automate your business, & scale? ⤵️ https://cal.com/team/leftclick/discovery?source=youtube-video Summary ⤵️ Technical automation skills are becoming obsolete as AI advances, and the most valuable abilities in 2026 will be translating business problems into AI solutions and understanding systems-level business flows. Focus should be shifted from tool mastery to identifying high-value problems, communicating effectively with AI, and mastering systems thinking to stay ahead in the evolving economy. My software, tools, & deals (some give me kickbacks—thank you!) 🚀 Instantly: https://link.nicksaraev.com/instantly-short 📧 Anymailfinder: https://link.nicksaraev.com/amf-short 🤖 Apify: https://console.apify.com/sign-up (30% off with code 30NICKSARAEV) 🧑🏽‍💻 n8n: https://n8n.partnerlinks.io/h372ujv8cw80 📈 Rize: https://link.nicksaraev.com/rize-short (25% off with promo code NICK) Follow me on other platforms 😈 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick_saraev 🕊️ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nicksaraev 🤙 Blog: https://nicksaraev.com Why watch? If this is your first view—hi, I’m Nick! TLDR: I spent six years building automated businesses with Make.com (most notably 1SecondCopy, a content company that hit 7 figures). Today a lot of people talk about automation, but I’ve noticed that very few have practical, real world success making money with it. So this channel is me chiming in and showing you what *real* systems that make *real* revenue look like. Hopefully I can help you improve your business, and in doing so, the rest of your life 🙏 Like, subscribe, and leave me a comment if you have a specific request! Thanks. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:48 Uncomfortable truths about automation 01:15 The lie everyone believes 02:38 Skills at the margins invalidate fast 06:20 Communicating with AI models is the new high-leverage skill 06:40 Timeline of the future of AI 08:08 CLEAR Framework 10:49 Systems thinking transcends specific skills 13:16 Outro