How do I get out of I.T?

Big J · Jul 22, 2008

Hi Guys,

I can't bear the thought of that in say ten years time I am still staring at a computer screen for 6 - 8 hours a day. I like it at the moment but my enthusiam is starting to deteriorate.

I enjoy running my business, the marketing, budgeting, problem solving, the 'buzz' etc but would like to be doing something different.

If there are any ex IT business people or anyone else that has made a major business change I would like to hear from them.

Thanks,

Big J.

Subbynet · Jul 22, 2008

Yep, me...

Although dare I say I still spend far to much time in the IT and Internet section of this forum!

It didn't happen overnight, but over quite a few months, while slowly moving by IT customers over to a new company and investigating my options. I always had my fingers in a few pies as they say, so I sort of knew where my next move would lead me.

My new plans are currently being put in action, and at odds with my previous IT (low investment) projects, I've now got a fair bit of cash invested, but I'm confident about it and luckily I can sell the assets if it goes tits up.

Have you thought about what else you'd like to do?

asonda · Jul 23, 2008

You need to have a passion or be very interested in something else. Otherwise stick to what you're good at.

profitxchange · Jul 23, 2008

Take a very hard look at your "business/entrepreneurial" skill set - score yourself on each. This may well give you some guidance as to the sort of role you might enjoy/be good at - then explore what sort of business might work best with that skill profile. Balancing your emotional ideas with some objective appraisal may just prevent you from going up a dead end.
Equally go and talk to your customers - what businesses are they in? any options there?

PI Guy · Jul 23, 2008

I know a guy who is ex-IT and is now a private investigator.

Big J · Jul 23, 2008

Thanks all.

Subbynet, I would like to do either something outdoors and something with food, although I'm not sure I would enjoy the hours, it's unsociable enough being in IT! I enjoy keeping fit, surfing, kayaking but I'm not sure wether I have enough knowledge to start a business in these areas.

Asonda, your right, I should stick to what I know but my passion in slowly deteriorating, soon I believe it will be gone and my business will suffer.

Profit, I have all sorts of customers. One who is an artist envys me the most. Traveling, drawing, painting. Maybe the grass always seems greener, I don't know. I'm average at buildling websites but same again, I don't want to be stuck in front of a PC, I don't think its natural.

PI Guy. Very interesting, would it take a long time to learn?

PI Guy · Jul 23, 2008

you could start small and on a shoestring and work up. Is computer forensics a subject that might interest you?

Big J · Jul 23, 2008

PI Guy said:
you could start small and on a shoestring and work up. Is computer forensics a subject that might interest you?

Yes, I think it would.

adventurelife · Jul 23, 2008

I used to be in IT in various forms. Distribution management of IT consumables and also in charge of a large IT department. It most certainly was not me but paid well

I know only do what I want to do and have managed to build a business out of it.

Just decide what it is you want to do in life, start planning it, then make the change. Life is to short to do stuff you do not enjoy

Big J · Jul 23, 2008

adventurelife said:
I used to be in IT in various forms. Distribution management of IT consumables and also in charge of a large IT department. It most certainly was not me but paid well

I know only do what I want to do and have managed to build a business out of it.

Just decide what it is you want to do in life, start planning it, then make the change. Life is to short to do stuff you do not enjoy

Do you want a business partner?

PI Guy · Jul 23, 2008

Big J said:
Yes, I think it would.

www.e-legal-gathering.co.uk

profitxchange · Jul 23, 2008

As I have suggested to someone else today - why not let your business fund a lifestyle that you enjoy, let someone else run it for you. If it is not profitable enough to do this - this is the problem and it may be worth getting some input to see if the profitability could be improved.
Work as an entrepreneure - make your money work for you! not as I currently assume you are working for money. This means your activities are not about doing IT but making money. Why not build your business by buying others - then sell the whole lot for million or two.

I have an old client who built his IT business from a standing start to £4M and has had it valued at £25M and people are very interested. (it is incredibly profitable)

BusinessIdeas · Jul 23, 2008

I was going to go into I.T but then my business came along. I only work a few hours a week going round my regular customers. It takes me out and about I love it.

Naughty Vend · Jul 23, 2008

We've take on three IT related and two Service People into our franchise, all went part-time in the existing line of their business immediately and all bar one eventually went full-time with us... however both the IT guys offer bespoke consultancy to supplement income on their terms.

Same opening mindset as you, staring at a screen for hours a day was driving them absolutely nuts and now they are their own boss. Worth thinking along these lines especially if you have a family.

lockie · Jul 23, 2008

You need passion and fire in your belly to achieve what you want so you need to enjoy it. I love my job but do longer hours than my previous job as a train driver get less holidays etc. Family life is ten times better as i see my kids every morning and evening and also during the day at times.
Decide what it is the excites you and you will enjoy doing and go for it or forever do what you do now and wonder why you didnt do something else once its too late.

deniser · Jul 23, 2008

lockie said:
You need passion and fire in your belly to achieve what you want so you need to enjoy it. I love my job but do longer hours than my previous job as a train driver get less holidays etc. Family life is ten times better as i see my kids every morning and evening and also during the day at times.
Decide what it is the excites you and you will enjoy doing and go for it or forever do what you do now and wonder why you didnt do something else once its too late.

Agreed absolutely. I switched from being a lawyer to running a shop and retail website. I gave up a largish salary plus stressful job for a low paid and unstressful job - where I still work long hours - but can do what I want and fit it around my children. I love my business and look foward to going to work every day rather than dreading it.

I didn't switch over overnight though but did it gradually and built up the website business while still working full time so that I could gradually move from one to the other until I then just did legal consultancy work part time and then managed to give it up altogether. I have no regrets at all!

Jul 24, 2008

I have worked in IT for the best part of 20 years, and I do not understand why people look upon it as 'staring at a screen' all day.

yes, there is a part of that, like any business nowadays with an online presence too tbh.

I put a different problem onto my bench every day, then set about sorting it out. That is where my 'buzz' comes from.

I like to complain when I am snowed under, and have a load of jobs which are causing more hassle than usual - but those are really the best days, the easy jobs are just not challenging enough.

IT is as varied a profession as any I know, so maybe diversify a little and look at additional aspects of IT to make it a little more interesting.

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How do I get out of I.T?

Big J

Subbynet

asonda

profitxchange

PI Guy

Big J

PI Guy

Big J

adventurelife

Big J

PI Guy

profitxchange

BusinessIdeas

Naughty Vend

lockie

deniser

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