Last week I attended an all-day workshop at the outplacement firm, on becoming an entrepreneur. I anticipated a large turnout, since the venue had been up-scaled from the original conference room, but I was surprised to see that attendance was around fifty or so. It didn't surprise me, however, to find that many of the professionals attending were folks like me, who were getting no reaction from a dead market (why expect a zombie to return your call?) and were looking to build a knowledge base in the event they will need to strike out on their own. The workshop was interactive, and the information presented was relevant and timely. Many of the attendees had already defined their personal approach to entrepreneurship, and some were already working on building the foundation for their business.

Here is what I found to be very intriguing. When the group broke up into four distinct categories (1. be a consultant; 2. start a business; 3. buy an existing business; 4. buy into a franchise), over 90% self-categorized #1 or #2. I believe the most obvious driver of these decisions (and perfectly legitimate) is that the initial capital investment required to accomplish #3 and #4 may not be a good economic decision at this time in history. But, I also think there may be a feeling that #1 and #2 are far easier to get started in the short-run, and I also believe that many of the budding entrepreneurs have themselves dealt with consultants or business owners in the past, and feel that they can do the job just as well or better.

Personally, I feel the same way. I wouldn't have attended the workshop if I didn't believe that. But here's an economic certainty: businesses will not begin spending again until consumers begin spending again. From a timing perspective, for new entrants in the "I'm my own boss" industry, does it make more sense to concentrate entrepreneurial focus on businesses or consumers? Or, perhaps, on that segment that represents both business and consumer: entrepreneurs?