Let's chat more in 2 days @CEDIA.

I saw a Facebook post a few weeks ago about the $1000 apple monitors stand. An American machinist proudly announced he could make one himself for $300. Then a Pakistani guy said "we can do it for $20".

Great...so one guy wants to work three times as hard and another 50 times as hard to earn the same money that apple makes by selling one monitor stand. Working for less isn't something to be proud of.

I left the industry as i was forced out due to health issues. I was a key employee at the time as senior AV and automation tech.

My former boss is in the boat of wanting to get out but unable to sell and has tried many times over the years. He'd probably just close the doors if he didn't have a small but solid team that can take some of the managerial load and whom he doesn't want to have to let go. He has one of the best operations in the state for this industry but i still doubt he could sell the business.

As for me, i became a wholesale sales rep in 2012 for pretty basic money at the time with a startup, that i have grown into a 2IC position in the company for 5 times my previous income as a senior AV and automation tech. For me the change has worked out very well.

I have been rattling around the higher end part of the residential world for coming up on about 15 years now (after 5 years doing satellite and retailer fulfillment work).

Over the years I have built up a pretty good sized network of former employers, fellow business owners, programmers etc.

"Exit strategy" and the frustration with the rapidly changing direction of the industry are pretty much the two main topics of discussion when we talk.

Margin is gone from almost everything and what few products that are left with margin are often out-featured by zero margin, mass market, data mining devices.

The validity of a $250k+ home automation system can be ruined (in a client's eyes) by the malfunction of a ~$100 mass market streaming box "My Questron system is junk, or you installed it wrong, I can't even sign into Netflix on my Appletv".

The idea of starting over in a different career at 46 with no college degree and the scarlet letter of "self employment" on a resume is terrifying but I feel like I am going to have to pick a direction and go in it sooner or later.

I keep hearing that the automation of menial tasks (retail, food production etc) is the next big horizon. Trying to figure out how one can capitalize on it.
Beyond that I have zero ideas/clue where to turn.

At 50, you could still get a job after taking four years to get a degree, but if you already have college credits, it would take less time although real life experience does count in some jobs.

The last line says it all.

You must get to the point that it doesn't bother you to say NO to a potential client, or you're just like the bottom feeders you complain about.

Hell, even DTV will charge $85.00 just to send a dumb ass to your house.

Truth. I just paid 240$ for an hvac guy to come out and fix/reattach the dryer vent to the junction box in the wall. The only “parts” I saw him use was metal duct tape and a band clamp...and I still have to pay someone else to patch/paint the hole the hvac guy cut out behind the dryer lol. Raise. Your. Rates. And more importantly, stop giving away free labour because you feel bad, are hoping for a referral or want to be their friend.

I still have about ten more years, but I hope to use the old dentist model when I sell/retire. Find an employee(s) or buyer, carry the note on a four year term. Retain ownership, but cut back hours 25% each year until I'm paid and there has been a transition period.

Electrician. Looking to focus on industrial control networks and automation.

The A/V businesses I worked with prior never really appreciated their staff or subcontractors. My skills in IT and A/V transferred well into the electrical trade and I'm now paid what I'm worth.