THE AUTOMATION PROJECT
THE AUTOMATION PROJECT
The Creator's Blueprint for Building AI-Powered Income Systems
By John Onody
A Free Guide to Understanding the 4 Pillars of Automated Online Income
INTRODUCTION
Why Most Creators Stay Broke (And How to Fix It)
Here's the uncomfortable truth about making money online in 2026:
The problem isn't a lack of opportunity. There are more ways to earn online than ever before. The problem is that most creators are stuck in a cycle that guarantees exhaustion and inconsistent income.
They post content hoping something goes viral. They trade hours for dollars. They jump from trend to trend, platform to platform, never building anything that lasts.
The creators who win have one thing in common: systems.
Not hustle. Not luck. Not a massive following.
Systems that work whether they're at their desk or on vacation. Systems that turn effort into assets. Systems that compound over time instead of requiring constant feeding.
This guide introduces you to The Automation Project—a framework for building four distinct income streams using AI tools and automation workflows. You won't find get-rich-quick promises here. What you will find is a clear map of what's possible and how the pieces fit together.
By the end, you'll understand:
The four proven business models that work for creators
How AI tools like ChatGPT transform each model
Where automation fits in (and why it matters)
Which path makes the most sense for your situation
The exact next steps to start building
Let's begin.
PART 1: THE AUTOMATION MINDSET
Trading Time for Assets
Most people work like this:
Hours Worked → Money Earned → Money Spent → Repeat
This is the employee mindset. There's nothing wrong with it, but it has a hard ceiling: there are only so many hours in a day.
The automation mindset works differently:
Time Invested → Asset Created → Asset Earns Repeatedly
An "asset" in this context is anything that continues generating value after you create it:
An article that ranks in search and earns affiliate commissions for years
A t-shirt design that sells while you sleep
A book that collects royalties every month
A course that enrolls students automatically
The goal of The Automation Project is simple: spend less time creating, more time owning.
AI tools make the creation faster. Automation makes the delivery hands-off. Together, they let you build a portfolio of digital assets that generate income without requiring your constant attention.
The Role of AI in Modern Income Systems
Let's be clear about what AI can and can't do:
AI CAN:
Draft content in minutes instead of hours
Generate ideas and outlines on demand
Handle repetitive writing tasks
Optimize content for search engines
Create variations for testing
Assist with design, video scripts, and product descriptions
AI CANNOT:
Replace your unique perspective and experience
Build relationships with your audience
Make strategic business decisions
Guarantee results without proper implementation
Work effectively without human direction
The creators winning with AI understand this balance. They use AI as a force multiplier for their own ideas—not as a replacement for thinking.
Throughout this guide, I'll reference specific AI tools that fit each business model. The goal isn't to overwhelm you with options, but to show you where these tools create the most leverage.
The Role of Automation
If AI handles creation, automation handles execution.
Automation connects your tools so work happens without you:
Content publishes on schedule
Orders fulfill automatically
Emails send based on triggers
Data syncs between platforms
Reports generate themselves
The difference between a side hustle and a business often comes down to automation. Side hustles require you. Businesses run whether you're there or not.
We'll explore specific automation opportunities within each pillar. For now, understand that building automated systems is how you escape the trap of trading time for money.
PART 2: THE FOUR PILLARS
Overview
The Automation Project is built on four distinct business models. Each one:
Can generate income independently
Works well with AI and automation tools
Has low startup costs
Scales without requiring employees
Creates assets that earn over time
You don't need to pursue all four. Many successful creators focus on just one or two. But understanding all four helps you see the bigger picture—and identify which path fits your skills, interests, and goals.
PILLAR 1: The Commission Engine
Affiliate Marketing with AI-Powered Content
What It Is: You recommend products or services. When someone buys through your unique link, you earn a commission. No inventory, no customer service, no product creation required.
Why It Works: People search for recommendations every day. "Best laptop for video editing." "Top project management tools." "Which web hosting should I use?" If your content answers these questions and includes affiliate links, you earn when readers buy.
The AI Advantage:
ChatGPT and similar tools can draft product reviews, comparison articles, and buying guides in a fraction of the time
AI helps with keyword research to find what people are actually searching for
Content can be optimized for search engines using AI-assisted editing
The Automation Advantage:
Articles can be scheduled and published automatically
Email sequences can nurture readers toward purchasing decisions
Analytics can track which content performs best
Who This Is For:
Writers and content creators
People who enjoy researching and recommending products
Anyone willing to learn basic SEO principles
Creators who want income without creating their own products
Income Potential: Varies wildly based on niche and traffic. Some affiliates earn a few hundred dollars monthly; others build six and seven-figure businesses. The key variables are traffic volume, commission rates, and conversion optimization.
What Most People Get Wrong: They write generic content that doesn't rank or convert. Successful affiliate marketing requires understanding search intent, choosing the right platforms, and creating content that genuinely helps readers make decisions.
PILLAR 2: The Design Vault
Print-on-Demand Product Sales
What It Is: You create designs. Those designs go on products (t-shirts, mugs, posters, phone cases, etc.). When someone orders, a third-party company prints and ships the product. You never touch inventory.
Why It Works: The barriers to starting a product business used to be enormous: inventory costs, shipping logistics, manufacturing relationships. Print-on-demand eliminates all of that. You focus on design and marketing; fulfillment is handled for you.
The AI Advantage:
AI design tools can generate concepts, variations, and even complete designs
AI helps with product descriptions and listing optimization
Trend research can be accelerated with AI analysis
The Automation Advantage:
Orders fulfill automatically through POD platforms
Designs can be listed across multiple marketplaces simultaneously
Marketing can be scheduled and automated
Who This Is For:
Artists and designers
People with ideas but no traditional art skills (AI helps here)
Anyone interested in building a product brand
Creators who want passive income from creative work
Income Potential: Most POD sellers earn modest supplemental income. Top performers build significant businesses by focusing on specific niches, creating designs that resonate, and mastering platform algorithms. Volume and design quality matter more than any single product.
What Most People Get Wrong: They upload random designs and hope for sales. Successful POD requires understanding your target market, creating designs people actually want, and optimizing listings for discoverability.
PILLAR 3: The Publishing Pipeline
Self-Publishing Through Amazon KDP
What It Is: You write and publish books, journals, workbooks, or low-content products through Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform. Every sale earns you royalties. No publisher needed.
Why It Works: Amazon is the world's largest bookstore, and they let anyone publish. Your books sit alongside traditionally published titles, available to millions of potential readers. Once published, a book can earn royalties for years with no additional effort.
The AI Advantage:
AI assists with outlining, drafting, and editing
Keyword research tools help you find topics people are searching for
AI can help generate ideas for low-content books (journals, planners, puzzle books)
The Automation Advantage:
Once published, books sell without ongoing work
Marketing can be systematized and scheduled
Series and related products create compound effects
Who This Is For:
Writers who want to bypass traditional publishing
Experts who want to share knowledge
Creators interested in low-content publishing (journals, planners)
Anyone willing to learn Amazon's ecosystem
Income Potential: Most self-published authors earn under $1,000 per year. However, those who understand keywords, niches, and Amazon's algorithm can build substantial royalty income. Some authors earn full-time incomes; a few become millionaires. Consistency and catalog size often matter more than any single title.
What Most People Get Wrong: They publish one book and expect passive income forever. Successful KDP publishers treat it as a business: researching demand, optimizing listings, building a catalog, and continuously improving.
PILLAR 4: The Knowledge Vault
Digital Courses and Information Products
What It Is: You package what you know into a course, guide, template pack, or other digital product. Customers pay once; they get instant access. No inventory, no shipping, nearly infinite margins.
Why It Works: Everyone is an expert at something. The knowledge in your head has value to someone who hasn't learned it yet. Digital products let you teach once and sell unlimited times.
The AI Advantage:
AI helps outline curriculum and structure lessons
Scripts and content can be drafted with AI assistance
Marketing copy and sales pages can be AI-enhanced
The Automation Advantage:
Courses deliver automatically after purchase
Email sequences can nurture prospects and onboard students
Upsells and cross-sells can be automated
Who This Is For:
Anyone with teachable expertise
Coaches and consultants who want to scale beyond 1-on-1
Creators who enjoy teaching and explaining
Experts tired of trading time for money
Income Potential: Ranges from nothing (if you can't attract students) to millions (for well-marketed courses in hungry markets). The key variables are audience size, course quality, pricing strategy, and marketing effectiveness.
What Most People Get Wrong: They build courses nobody wants. Successful course creators validate demand before building, create genuine transformation for students, and invest heavily in marketing and positioning.
PART 3: CHOOSING YOUR PATH
The Decision Framework
With four options, how do you choose? Consider these factors:
Your Skills:
Strong writer? → Commission Engine or Publishing Pipeline
Visual/design skills? → Design Vault
Teaching ability? → Knowledge Vault
Technical comfort with AI? → Any pillar (AI helps everywhere)
Your Time:
Limited hours? → Start with one pillar and master it
More availability? → Consider two complementary pillars
Your Goals:
Quick wins? → Commission Engine (faster feedback loop)
Creative outlet? → Design Vault
Long-term royalties? → Publishing Pipeline
Premium income? → Knowledge Vault (higher price points)
Your Risk Tolerance:
Lower risk? → Commission Engine (no product creation)
Willing to invest upfront? → Knowledge Vault (course creation takes time)
The Compound Effect
Here's where The Automation Project becomes powerful:
The pillars can work together.
Write about a topic (Commission Engine) → Turn that expertise into a book (Publishing Pipeline) → Create a comprehensive course (Knowledge Vault) → Design merchandise for your audience (Design Vault)
Each pillar reinforces the others. Your affiliate content builds authority that sells your books. Your books establish expertise that justifies your course prices. Your course students become loyal customers for your merchandise.
This isn't about doing everything at once. It's about understanding how a single area of expertise can become multiple income streams over time.
The One-Pillar Start
My recommendation for beginners: pick one pillar and focus completely for 90 days.
Scattered effort produces scattered results. Focused effort produces momentum.
Choose based on what excites you most. Interest sustains effort when results are slow. And results are always slow at the beginning.
After 90 days of focused work, you'll have:
Real experience with the business model
Data about what works for you
A foundation to build on or pivot from
Clarity about whether to continue or try something different
This focused approach beats dabbling in all four pillars and mastering none.
PART 4: THE AI TOOLKIT
Essential Tools Across All Pillars
These tools appear repeatedly because they're useful everywhere:
ChatGPT / Claude / Gemini: Large language models for writing, brainstorming, editing, and research. Essential for any content-based business.
Canva: Design tool with AI features. Useful for social media graphics, book covers, product mockups, and course materials.
Zapier / Make: Automation platforms that connect your tools. Essential for building systems that run without you.
Notion / Airtable: Organization tools for managing content calendars, product catalogs, and project workflows.
Pillar-Specific Tools
Commission Engine:
Keyword research tools
SEO optimization assistants
Content management systems
Analytics platforms
Design Vault:
AI image generators
Print-on-demand platforms (Printful, Printify, Gelato)
Marketplace accounts (TeePublic, Redbubble, Spreadshirt)
Mockup generators
Publishing Pipeline:
Formatting tools (Kindle Create, Atticus)
Cover design tools
Amazon KDP account
Keyword research for books
Knowledge Vault:
Course platforms (Gumroad, Teachable, Thinkific)
Video recording/editing tools
Email marketing platforms
Sales page builders
PART 5: NEXT STEPS
Your Immediate Action Plan
Step 1: Choose Your Starting Pillar Based on what you've read, which pillar resonates most? Don't overthink it. Interest and excitement matter more than perfect strategy.
Step 2: Commit to 90 Days Real results require sustained effort. Give yourself permission to focus on one thing.
Step 3: Start Learning the Specifics This guide gives you the framework. Implementation requires deeper training in your chosen pillar—the specific strategies, platforms, and tactics that turn knowledge into income.
Step 4: Build Your First Asset
Commission Engine: Publish your first affiliate article
Design Vault: Create and list your first design
Publishing Pipeline: Publish your first book or journal
Knowledge Vault: Outline your first digital product
Step 5: Learn, Adjust, Continue Your first attempt won't be perfect. That's fine. The goal is momentum, not perfection.
Going Deeper
This guide introduces the framework. But frameworks don't build businesses—implementation does.
The Automation Project includes detailed training for each pillar:
→ The Commission Engine (Affiliate Marketing): Step-by-step systems for creating AI-powered content that ranks on high-traffic platforms and converts readers into commissions. [Explore at johnonody.com/clickstocash]
→ The Design Vault (Print-on-Demand): Complete workflows for designing, listing, and selling products across multiple platforms with automated fulfillment. [Explore at johnonody.com/ono-tees]
→ The Publishing Pipeline (Amazon KDP): Proven processes for researching, writing, and publishing books that earn royalties month after month. [Explore at johnonody.com/amazonlibrary]
→ The Knowledge Vault (Digital Courses): Frameworks for packaging your expertise into courses that sell automatically and deliver real results for students. [Explore at johnonody.com/creatorsacademy]
Final Thought
The gap between where you are and where you want to be isn't closed by information.
It's closed by action.
You now understand more about building automated income than 95% of people who "want to make money online." That knowledge means nothing without implementation.
Pick your pillar. Start your 90 days. Build your first asset.
The system works. But only if you work the system.
About John Onody
John Onody is an entrepreneur, musician, and creator based in Atlanta, Georgia. After a life-changing accident led him to rebuild his career, he developed The Automation Project—a system for building AI-powered income streams that work without constant effort. He runs active businesses in all four pillars and teaches other creators to do the same.
Connect:
Website: johnonody.com
Email: onodyj@ymail.com
© 2025 The Automation Project by Onody Digital. All rights reserved.
BONUS: QUICK REFERENCE CARDS
The Commission Engine at a Glance
Model: Affiliate marketing
Income type: Commissions on sales
Time to first income: 1-3 months
Key skills: Writing, SEO basics
Main tools: AI writing assistants, keyword tools
Explore more: johnonody.com/clickstocash
The Design Vault at a Glance
Model: Print-on-demand products
Income type: Profit margin per sale
Time to first income: 1-4 weeks
Key skills: Design (AI-assisted okay)
Main tools: Design software, POD platforms
Explore more: johnonody.com/ono-tees
The Publishing Pipeline at a Glance
Model: Self-published books/products
Income type: Royalties
Time to first income: 1-2 months
Key skills: Writing, research
Main tools: AI assistants, KDP, formatting tools
Explore more: johnonody.com/amazonlibrary
The Knowledge Vault at a Glance
Model: Digital courses/products
Income type: Product sales
Time to first income: 2-4 months
Key skills: Teaching, marketing
Main tools: Course platforms, email tools
Explore more: johnonody.com/creatorsacademy
