Is jacking it all in to follow a dream worth it? CRN catches up with six former channel bosses to find out....
‘Frankly, cheese gives me more satisfaction'
Name: Mark Kacary
Best known in the channel for…Founder and director of IT security incubator CiRRUS Management Solutions from 2009-2012
Where is he now? Owner/Managing Director at The Norfolk Delicatessen Company
What was the trigger for you leaving the IT industry and starting your own delicatessen?
Did I lose my love for the IT industry or did it lose its love for me? In short I lost the love for conference calls, for painfully scrutinising sales forecasts. There had to be something I loved for and what it was was food!
How is your new venture doing, and what's been the highlight so far in your new career?
It's been seven years since I left the IT world and I genuinely wish I'd done so earlier. I love being my own boss, making the decisions, and creating a business. The deli has done exceptionally well, we've won many awards (on average one a year) and not only have we survived but grown year on year and have expanded the business with the addition of a cafe. We're looking to expand further in the near future.
Is the idea of pursuing your passion all it's cracked up to be?
I would say yes, but you've got to be prepared for a lot of hard work, to think on your feet, but more than anything using what you've learnt from working within the IT industry because what you learn within the fast moving world of IT is likely to place you and your business idea ahead of those who've only known the world you're moving into.
Would you ever return to the IT channel?
On occasions when I wish for a slightly easier life I think about IT, but I now know more about the cheeses made in Britain than I do about whatever is the current hot technology and frankly cheese gives me more satisfaction.
See next page to meet the reseller boss who jacked it all in to brew beer...
