Got into IT outsourcing in my early 20's. Loved it put in loads of time and effort, small company just 3 techies and the boss. Working hard paid off we got taken on trips to NZ, Xbox the 1st Christmas they were out and a PSP when I left (also only recently realised) not to mention 100% responsibility and freedom to manage our days.
Moved to UK and had to start from scratch again. Got lucky, bit bigger company so not as much freedom but all the extra work and time was appreciated if not rewarded to quite the same extent BUT I did enjoy what I was doing.
Then we got brought out just before the economic downturn in 2008. Large company who didn't care about anything but profit margins so not only was all my hard work undone but got nothing in the long run for all that work. I've changed companies a few times but my salary hasn't really gone up. There's just not much money in IT anymore. Even wiping/reloading a PC isn’t cost affective once you include labour.
What's changed big time and this would go for your own store is people’s attitude. In the past we were like a Doctor and people would come to us for advice. Now with everything being consumer level. We are seen as trustworthy as used car sales men and they TELL you what they want no matter if it’s possible or not.
Here is my mac, make it compatible with their Windows PC but only using the programs I want to use, and when you can’t it’s your fault not theirs for getting something that doesn't work.
Also not a fan of all this recycling. I used to upgrade my PC every few years each time an office upgraded, sure my PC was always no younger than 5 years but that’s still ok for basic home use. Now each time I ask for an old machine they say they prefer to dispose of the proper way. 1 client recently moved to the cloud and have about 5 redundant 5 year old Proliant Rack mount servers. My Mrs is just starting up a company and 1 would be perfect for her but no, I can’t have it and save them the cost of disposal
Cloud is also killing off hardware A work mate went off to work for another company but came back as most their small business customers were going Office 365, he could see the writing on the wall, no servers means a lot less support work. Soon we are just going to be desktop support again.
Personally I’m fairly over IT. I enjoyed helping people but for the most part they don’t appreciate it any more. And don’t like where the industry is heading either. Like Mau1wurf I tried teaching for a bit. I went for teaching English to foreigners in London as I enjoyed helping my flatmates but that didn’t last as I didn’t like the responsibility and my grammar is nowhere good enough. Plus the pay was terrible as I don’t have much experience. The Adult students were great fun though. Kids no thanks! So now I’m back in IT. The break means I don’t hate it as much as I did when I got out but I’m keeping my eyes open for something else these days.