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IOLEBA N8N - Foundation Practice Workbook 1

Chapters 1 to 5

IOLEBA

🛠️ Practice Workbook

n8n Foundation - Week 1 (Chapters 1-5)
Originally Published: November 2025

Welcome to Your Practice Workbook!

This workbook provides hands-on exercises to reinforce what you've learned in Chapters 1-5. Complete these exercises to build real automation skills.

How to Use This Workbook:
  1. Complete exercises in order
  2. Actually build the workflows—don't just read
  3. Try on your own before checking solutions
  4. Experiment and break things—that's how you learn
  5. Share results in IOLEBA forum (launching Jan 15!)

Exercise 1: Daily Motivation Sender

Goal: Automated Morning Quote

What You'll Learn: Schedule triggers, HTTP requests, sending emails

Requirements:

  • Runs daily at 7:00 AM
  • Fetches random quote from API
  • Sends quote to your email
  • Email subject includes date

Nodes Needed:

  • Schedule Trigger (daily at 7 AM)
  • HTTP Request (GET https://api.quotable.io/random)
  • Set Node (format email content)
  • Gmail/Email Node (send email)
💡 Solution Guide

Schedule Trigger: Days = 1, Hour = 7, Minute = 0

HTTP Request: Method = GET, URL = https://api.quotable.io/random

Set Node Values:

  • quote: {{ $json.content }}
  • author: {{ $json.author }}
  • subject: Your Daily Motivation - {{ $now.toFormat('MMM dd, yyyy') }}

Exercise 2: Customer Data Formatter

Goal: Clean and Standardize Data

What You'll Learn: String manipulation, data transformation

Transform This:

{
  "name": " JOHN SMITH ",
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "phone": "(555) 123-4567"
}

Into This:

{
  "first_name": "John",
  "last_name": "Smith",
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "phone": "5551234567"
}
💡 Solution: Use Set Node
  • first_name: {{ $json.name.trim().split(' ')[0] }}
  • last_name: {{ $json.name.trim().split(' ')[1] }}
  • email: {{ $json.email.toLowerCase() }}
  • phone: {{ $json.phone.replace(/\D/g, '') }}

Exercise 3: Smart Order Router

Goal: Route Orders by Rules

What You'll Learn: IF nodes, conditional logic, routing

Business Rules:

  1. VIP Rush: Total > $500 AND shipping = "express" → VIP Team
  2. International: Country ≠ "USA" → International Team
  3. Bulk: Quantity > 20 → Bulk Team
  4. Standard: Everything else → Standard Team

Workflow:

  1. Webhook Trigger
  2. IF Node #1: Check VIP conditions
  3. IF Node #2: Check international
  4. IF Node #3: Check bulk
  5. Send to appropriate Slack channel
💡 Solution

IF Node #1 (VIP):

  • Condition 1: total > 500
  • Condition 2: shipping equals "express"
  • Combine: AND

Continue for each rule in priority order

Exercise 4: Customer Onboarding System

Goal: Complete Automation

What You'll Learn: End-to-end workflows, multiple integrations

When Customer Signs Up:

  1. Validate email format
  2. Add to CRM or Google Sheets
  3. Send personalized welcome email
  4. Notify sales team on Slack
  5. Schedule follow-up for 3 days
💡 Solution Workflow
  1. Webhook Trigger
  2. IF: Validate email (contains @ and .)
  3. Set: Format customer data
  4. Google Sheets: Add customer
  5. Gmail: Send welcome
  6. Slack: Notify team
  7. Wait: 3 days
  8. Gmail: Send follow-up

Exercise 5: Your Own Business Automation

Challenge: Automate Something Real

Your Mission: Apply everything to solve an actual business problem.

Ideas:

  • Social media posting schedule
  • Customer inquiry responses
  • Report generation
  • Data synchronization
  • Invoice generation
  • Lead capture and follow-up
Choose Good First Automations:
  • Clear trigger (when does it start?)
  • Predictable steps (same every time)
  • Measurable outcome (you'll know if it works)
  • Low risk if fails
  • Happens frequently (at least weekly)

Completion Checklist

🎓 You've Mastered Foundations When You Can:
  • ☐ Install and configure n8n
  • ☐ Navigate interface confidently
  • ☐ Create workflows from scratch
  • ☐ Connect and configure nodes
  • ☐ Use expressions to transform data
  • ☐ Implement conditional logic
  • ☐ Handle errors gracefully
  • ☐ Test and debug workflows
  • ☐ Build real automation for your business

All checked? You're ready for Week 2: Core Skills (Chapters 6-10)!

Additional Resources

  • n8n Documentation: docs.n8n.io
  • n8n Community: community.n8n.io
  • IOLEBA Forum: Launches January 15, 2026
  • IOLEBA Tools: ioleba.org/tools

What's Next?

Week 2 Preview (Chapters 6-10):

  • Advanced node types
  • Database integrations
  • API authentication
  • Complex data transformations
  • Webhook workflows
Before Week 2:
  1. Complete all 5 exercises
  2. Take Self-Evaluation Quiz (80%+ to pass)
  3. Build one real automation
  4. Consider IOLEBA membership ($44.95/year):
    • 100+ premium tools
    • Exclusive forum access
    • Advanced templates
    • Member-only training

🚀 Ready to Start?

Begin with Exercise 1 and work through. Take your time, practice deliberately, and build skills that transform your business.

The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is NOW!

n8n Textbook - Practice Workbook | Week 1: Foundation (Chapters 1-5)

© 2025 IOLEBA | Dr. Marcus Lee

Originally Published: November 2025 | Join IOLEBA: $44.95/year

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