I have recently received a lot of comments like this - and I could not agree more. So many people have lost jobs in 2008 and 2009, this reminded me what it was like in 2001-2002 era. I also recall when I lost my high paid job in 2005, I was devastated - but at the time, I was super-confident because my skills and experience, I could find a $100k a job in a month.

The reality was hard, writing a resume took about 1 month and always changing, interviews with agents took 6 months, and most of them are so ignorant as they see you just as a piece of goods, and not as a human.

Then you rarely made to the next round, and more interviews, and more interviews and more interviews. I was applying for a boring job which I had 6 interviews but lost it at the final round.

It took me 14 months before I gave up - and started my own business - how stupid I was, wasted entire 14 months looking for jobs, and because I was on a high paid job before, I could not apply for any government assistance, because the previous tax return.

I decided to launch my business after probably the most gloomy 14 months in my life - new family, no job, no money. I would never want to go back to that path again.

The fundamental difference between being a business owner and a job seeker is - as a business owner, you waste no time in waiting to hearing from recruitment agents or HR managers - and as a business owner, there is always plenty of opportunities you can chase. They may work, they may not work, but at least you have a chance to make them work. As an employee, you have no chance other than attending the job 9 to 5pm.

A lot of people have commented that being a business owner is a dangerous approach, as you are the one liable for all the costs, not the company. That is not a true point I think - if you consider the time wasted before you land on the next job, if you consider the amount of money you could make while waiting for interview - when you account for productivity - it is a very different picture. Plus, being a business owner yourself, you will become much more aware about cashflows as well.

So, even though 2009 is a tough year ahead, I actually feel much better than back in 2005 when I lost my job - because I feel I can control my destiny, I can change my business directions, I can create new business opportunities - and that makes me much happier than 2005.