Hobby Becomes A Fulfilling Career For Sacramento Small Business Owner

According to the latest US Census, more than 83 percent of Americans own a computer and 73 percent of Americans access the internet on a daily basis. Since then, that percentage has most likely increased. And with the proliferation of smart phones, technology has seeped into every part of our waking hours, from the time we're awoken by our iPhones, to the piece of quick news we watch while eating lunch, all the way to the built-in navigation we use while we are on the move. With so many different systems, hardware and software, over a period of time, problems are bound to arise. If you don't have the "proverbial millennial" on tap to fix your technology problems you'll most likely need a bit of help.

That's where Ryan Petta, Owner of East Sac Computer Repair comes into play. With more than 17 years experience, Petta continues to serve the Sacramento area by providing professional computer repair right at home.

What does your job entail?

"I provide friendly, in-home professional computer repair in the East Sacramento area."

What do you enjoy most about your job?

"I have great clients so that makes my business very enjoyable. In addition to that, I love technology and have basically created a way to monetize my hobby."

What was your education?

"High School, 4 years of college and lots of on the job training. I have learned a lot from the different tech jobs I've held over the years. But the important thing by far: being curious and just trying new things. As the years have gone on, I have found lots of great tech podcasts that keep me up to date on new technology and trends."

Has your education helped?

"Not really. I think college helped guide me and point me towards the IT field, but not towards starting my own business. In my case, a co-worker of mine was doing home computer repair and it had always been something that I had been thinking about doing. The co-worker told me all I had to do was get a yellow page ad and a business license, so I just went for it."

Any advice for someone seeking a similar career?

"Get a job. Work for free if you have to. Just get in the door and build up some experience. From there, figure out how to do it yourself and go for it."

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.