Lets face it, there are a lot of “computer guys” out there.  It’s no secret that the IT industry is growing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  The demand is there and the money is good.

However, not every computer guy is created equal.  Just because you have a degree related to computers, you solve all your friend’s computer problems in less than 15 minutes, and you can hack into the pentagon, doesn’t mean you’re cut out to start your own computer repair business.

Since starting my business, many customers I service seem to be relieved when they realize that I’m not out to make a quick buck, and that I can speak to them about their computer in terms that they can understand and relate to.  Some have even related to me the pains they’ve experienced at the hands of some other computer guys that they’ve worked with in the past.  Couple these experiences with the fact that, through interviews on this website and other encounters with successful computer techs, I’ve noticed that there are some characteristics that make certain independent computer consultants really stand out among the competition.

There are many obvious traits that one must posses in order to be a successful independent computer consultant.  You must have people skills, business savvy, and broad technical knowledge.  But that’s just the beginning.

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It wasn’t until after I started this blog that I came across the website Technibble.com. I wish I would have found it sooner, because it’s proven to be the single best resource I’ve found for people like me who are just starting to forge their own path in the computer support/repair business field.

The man who started Technibble, Bryce Whitty, created the site because he saw a need for an online resource for independent computer consultants. Not a general “techie” website or a “how to fix windows errors” message board, but a community dedicated specifically to the nerd entrepreneur trying to start his own business.

Technibble offers great resources like an extremely helpful and friendly forum, a blog, and the Computer Business Kit, which is a collection of documents and forms that you’ll need when starting a computer business.  I plan on purchasing the CBK for review here on this site in the future.

Bryce himself runs his own one-man computer consulting business which gives him the inspiration for his website.  I decided to pick his brain a little and see what approach he took to starting his business.  Check out his responses below.

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Last week I had to make a choice: to extend my contract of service with the US National Guard, or to let my contract expire and leave the military for good.  This was a big decision for me and my business, one that I didn’t take lightly.  Although the National Guard is a part-time job in the military, it still requires  a big time commitment and many sacrifices on my part.

I’ve been in the military in one form or another for almost ten years now.  I joined the Army in 2000, traveled the world, learned a lot, and had a wonderful time.  My contract ended in 2003 and I decided to stay in the military part time, serving in the National Guard.  I’ve been serving in the National Guard ever since.

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about the military.  Although I don’t always agree with how our country uses it’s military, I believe it is an honorable organization full of amazing people.  That’s why I’ve stuck with it up to now.

This time around, when I was asked to reenlist, it was a harder decision than it has ever been before.  My computer business is one of the main catalysts in my struggle to make a decision this time around. As always, I had to factor in the positive and negative outcomes of my decision.  I was left making some uncomfortable choices, but choices that I feel will be beneficial in the long run not only for me, but for my business.

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Welcome to the 5th edition of Computer Guy’s Corner.  This is where I collect a small handful of links to useful news, reviews, and blog postings that relate to Tech and Small Business from a computer consultant’s viewpoint.  Feel free to comment about any of the links and let me know your take!

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The “My Inspirations” series is my opportunity to highlight specific people, books, or resources that have helped lead me to where I am today and inspired me to take on the challenge of starting a computer business.  No journey is ever taken alone.

If you stay abreast of the latest trends in personal development, or read a fair number of blogs, you’ve probably heard of The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss.  This book skyrocketed to the top of the New York Times Best Seller List out of nowhere about two years ago, thanks to the viral nature of Tim’s marketing campaign, which concentrated heavily on word of mouth and the Internet.

Normally I don’t pay too much attention to books with titles like this, promising something for nothing or a quick and easy “plan” to make millions of dollars.  However I was intrigued not by the book itself, but the man behind the phenomenon.

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Welcome to another book review brought to you by Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy.  I try to keep these reviews simple to read and concise in delivery so you can quickly find out if the book being reviewed is right for you.  I will focus on books specifically about starting a computer business. If you’re in a hurry, skim the BOLD sentences and then read the Final Verdict.

Today I’ll be reviewing a book called How to Start and Run your own Computer Repair Business (HSRYOCB) by Joe A. Wisinski.  I stumbled across this book while looking for a new book to review for this blog.  The two other books I’ve already reviewed, Computer Repair Business Lessons Learned and Start your Own Computer Business, seem to be the most well-known among the do-it-yourself computer business crowd.  But I was pleasantly surprised to find this one, along with a few more,  that I will be reviewing over the coming months.

The front cover of HSRYOCB is pretty straight forward: a photo of the guts of an ATX computer case set against a white background.  Lets see if there’s some meat underneath this unassuming exterior.

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The following is a guest contribution written by Tim Lenahan, author of many blogs including TimmyJohnBoy.com, where he often speaks about technology and computer support topics.  Make sure to welcome Tim in the comments below the post!

This post marks two firsts for Y.F.N.C.G.  It’s the first post in a new series I’ll be running here called “Computer Guy’s Toolbox”, which serves to highlight a product or service that I think will benefit the independent computer tech with an emphasis on affordability.  This is also the first post written by a guest contributor!  If you are interested in joining the Y.F.N.C.G. team as a guest contributor, please contact me and let me know what you’d like to contribute!

What is LogMeIn?

I’ve been using LogMeIn Free for quite some time and have fallen in love.  LogMeIn.comoffers several paid services with different levels of usability, but in this post I would like to focus on LogMeIn Free.

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Happy February all you friendly neighborhood folks!  Lets kick the month off with a guest post, shall we?

This time I’m flexing my blogging muscles for Matt Ringer over at SmallBizBee.com.  I’ve been a loyal reader of SmallBizBee for a while now. Matt’s posts are easy to digest and always insightful, perfect for a small business beginner like me!  Both Matt and I have been blogging on our respective websites for about the same amount of time, and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing SmallBizBee really start to take off from the very beginning.

In the article, I take a look at some of the techniques the Fast Food industry uses to consistently stay successful.  I then offer suggestions on how all small business owners can use these techniques in their own entrepreneurial endeavors.

But enough of my yapping.  Head on over to SmallBizBee.com and check it out:

Would You Like Fries With That? The Fast Food Approach To Thriving In A Down Economy