A lightweight planning method to design n8n workflows before you touch nodes: define the Outcome, list the Data, choose the Trigger, then sketch a minimal, testable path. The goal is the shortest route from start to a working result.

• Plan first, build fast: write a simple, ordered list of what version 1 will do.
• ODT rule: outcome, data, trigger; define what you deliver, what data it needs, and how the run begins.
• Shortest path: skip early detours and avoid extra code nodes or branching until the thin slice works.
• Visual clarity: make a quick map in a whiteboard tool to reveal complexity and keep the flow clean.

Speed comes from having a clear target and the right inputs, which cuts down back-and-forth and avoids unnecessary node changes. Stability comes from consistent field names and maintaining one clean snapshot before sending data to the AI, preventing unpredictable results. Maintainability improves when the workflow stays simple and visual, avoiding the subway-spaghetti effect and making handovers easier. Focus is maintained through the ODT rule, helping you ship outcomes instead of collecting random nodes.

You should now be able to express any workflow as a concise one-liner using ODT, sketch a simple Miro map that others can follow, and build a minimal version using only essential nodes and a clear final snapshot. You will know when to add parallelism or subflows intentionally and how to keep a stable interface to the AI or output even when upstream data changes.