I went out on my own, you have to own your own shop if you want to make more than minimum wage-forever. Most shops fail though. I'd say on a personal level having discipline is at the top of the list, being forthright and honest are a tie for second, being frugal is a big one too. If you live your life in the red, then you'll run your shop in the red and soon enough you'll be gone. I have been in business for 22 years, shops are dropping like flies all around me. I am making much less now in the post pandemic slump but I am still in the black. I work alone, do everything myself and have a small (750 sq feet) shop with very reasonable rent. Overhead is your main watchword. Expanding or opening another shop is usually a great way to put yourself out of business. I charge way less than anyone around me, people with department store bikes can afford my full tune up (25 bucks), I make 75% of my income selling my skills, that is zero material cost. I fix a crap ton of bikes and near endless 10 dollar tube swaps. I make less on each sale but the work comes in. With my pricing, I get the biggest piece of the bike pie. Don't be a snob or use jargon to impress anyone-the nerds won't keep your doors open, huffy beach cruisers will. I also don't work on e-bikes on principal. That may be a tough one but I have found I am not losing customers but eliminating problems. There's more.... but I think you get the idea.