Car Alarms: mecp licenses, personel management, mobile dynamics

Question
hello,
i just passed the basic level mecp today(82%} from first shot. i am going soon to arizona to attend mobile dynamics to get my advanced one. will i be able to find a job at big places, respectable one doing big jobs after certain time. i need  to  put in time to be able to become a master installer one day. i been doing electronics on car since i was 19 , i am 32 now but never worked for a real work place. am i doing the right thing? any professionnal input is appreciated. i want to make it my life, is it a dream or it can be done.
i started my bs in electrical engineering online a while ago, but half way now i dont see a point, because to get a job with it i need years and years of experience and its boring. i find myself when i work on a car. even when i hit a problem, it feels good when i solve it.

thanks,
jay

Answer
I say continue the home study, but get in there
and get some experience in high end wiring, sales
service and day to day business management.

Get into a shop and start from the installers
level, and work up to management. Everyone
should do that as a "pay your dues" or
"cutting your teeth" sort of thing.
It's what seasons you as a tech.

If you have the means to just do school,
then I say go do that. Never can get enough
of that, but in the real world, go get
your hands dirty and learn your craft.
Know what's hot and what's not, what cars are
easy, and what cars to avoid or charge more
to do. There is a lot to be said for hands on,
go to work in a shop and deal with all phases
of the business including customer relations,
parts buying, pricing and the management sort
of things.

The meat and potatos of this business is in the
knowledge & application of all phacets of it,
not just the technical aspects, but to keep
up with the trends, correct stock placement
and personel management skills etc....

Again, my suggestion is to do both.
School is fine, but as you've said, to make
it to the big time, a SEMA level installation
technician, you need to start doing a day in and
day out, hands on regimine and learn the other things
needed to make the dream a reality.

Go to the best custom shop in the city
and apprentice for 1 year. It'll put
you on the right path.

Good question.

Keep moving towards the goal.

A.