To IT or not (Score 1)

In response to your IT question, the only way to get paid more and stay with computers/networks is get out of configuring and installing and into designing. Be the guy that hires the IT folk. What do I mean by this? I mean learn. Forget certifications, there are a thousand other guys just like you that will, reluctantly, take the $13 and thus subvert your asking for $14. This is a no win situation. Go back to school and get a degree. Exactly what the degree is in doesn't matter. It only matters that you have a degree. So take MIS or CS or whatever suits you. Have fun with it. When you get out of school you'll be able to apply for the jobs that require a degree and therefore demand greater wages. Become an engineer. IMHO, starting a new business is too hard without a specific domain subset to focus on. So go to work for a company that does something similar what you really like. Learn the business. Over the long run you will either be promoted to higher pay (and headaches) or you'll discover that sweet spot you've been looking for and be able to develop a specific business plan that makes you rich. On your way to getting rich perhaps you'll discover that you can get more work done by paying $13/hr to some 12 year old to do what you used to do. Good luck. BTW, I started out as a Mac and network support guy. Today I'm a senior systems engineer for a large aerospace firm working to solve the worlds problems. Let me tell you, using a computer to help solve problems is a hell of a lot more fun that fixing one.