Being laid off was the kick-in-the-pants I needed to start my own business. Within a year I had more money than I knew what to do with and some of it was .. erm .. I forgot to enter it in the books for tax purposes. I was able to retire to a nice island.

So my advice is to grasp the nettle. It stings for a short time but it makes you stronger. Being your own boss means never having to ask for time off; never asking for permission; never reporting to anyone. But you have to be self-disciplined to organise your time and logistics.

Being laid off was the kick-in-the-pants I needed to start my own business. Within a year I had more money than I knew what to do with and some of it was .. erm .. I forgot to enter it in the books for tax purposes. I was able to retire to a nice island.