My friend Greg Hyer, founder of the LinkingRaleigh networking group and website, posted a question in the accompanying group (the link may not work if you're not a member of that group) on LinkedIn. Greg wrote: "If you lost your job would you start your own business?" and he referred to a comment I made in a post where I wondered why none of the people at a recent LinkingRaleigh meeting seemed to consider starting a business after having lost their job. A lively and very interesting discussion started in the LinkedIn group.  (If you're not a member of LinkingRaleigh, AND you live in the Triangle, contact Greg to inquire about joining.  With 2300+ local LinkedIn members its a great networking resource).  My take-away was that people see the challenges of a startup and still may choose to take the leap and start for themselves.  Not necessarily because a job-loss forced them to, but because they prefer the personal fulfillment of going out on their own. Some of the best comments were from Don Crouse who wrote "Starting my own business, while a challenge has given me freedom and happiness that I have not had in years.  We are now in charge of our own ship and we are staying docked in Raleigh.", and from Jeff SanGeorge who wrote "I keep going back to something a Professor from NC State told me, 'its much easier to find new business than it is to find a new job'." I never really thought about it that way, but its very true.  The very thing that makes companies hesitate to hire us, may give us the incentive for a startup.  You know, as in "Necessity is the mother of invention".  Of course, you could interpret it as "I started my company because it seemed like less work than looking for a job."   :-)