The secret to Yuri Aberfeld’s success in the technology industry is always saying yes. The 31-year-old Aberfeld said yes when offered a job at his uncle’s tech hardware business in Los Angeles some nine years ago after he came to the U.S. following his compulsory military service in Israel. He said yes when asked by his former business partner to join him at IT Support LA, the Tarzana company of which Aberfeld is now the chief executive. “It is saying yes to things without overthinking it,” Aberfeld explained. “Maybe if I were 50, I would not take those risks but at the age of 25, I was like, ‘Screw it.’” Since joining IT Support LA about four years ago, Abereld has worked on growing the tech support company with a goal of reaching $10 million in revenue in the next couple of years. He does that through offering the company’s services without a contract and placing a premium on customer service. He also actively promotes the business. For instance, this fall Aberfeld will start going to business groups and organizations, such as chambers of commerce, to give a presentation on cybersecurity. The free presentations are meant to educate businessowners about what they need to do to protect their companies from hackers, Aberfeld said. “The more businesses that are aware of cybersecurity and can take proper measurements, it will make my life easier,” he added. Aberfeld had no experience in IT or computers when he went to work for his uncle at his hardware tech company. There he started in the warehouse and moved over to the online sales department. His success there had him becoming the sales director and then eventually in charge of all operations. “I was running every department at some point,” Aberfeld said. From there he came up with the idea of offering hardware and software services. He brought the idea to Igor Pinchevskiy, the founder of IT Support L.A. Aberfeld was asked to join the company and later bought Pinchevskiy out when he moved to North Carolina. Aberfeld said he still has a professional relationship with his former business partner as he doesn’t believe in burning bridges because “you never know when you are going to need someone.” Personal relationships are important to Aberfeld and that is reflected in how he operates his business. His retention rate for his clients is high because of the focus on customer service. “I will never sell my soul to the devil and will not put the bottom line before customer service,” Aberfeld said. Money, after all, he added, comes and goes while personal impact is more important. After joining IT Support LA, for example, Aberfeld did not draw a salary for his first six months. He lived off his savings, despite having a wife and eight-month-old baby at home. After three months he could have taken some money but decided instead to put it into the marketing of the company. “I do not want to go nationwide; I want to improve the Los Angeles market and L.A. companies,” Aberfeld said.