Today's Jobless: Tomorrow's Entrepreneurs?

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Every day we read about higher unemployment rates, lack of job creation and projections that the outlook is unlikely to change soon. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recognizes that the majority of new jobs will come from small businesses.

The reality is, many of the millions of unemployed will need to start a business to find a job. Career derailment may just mean its time to get on another track as a business owner and entrepreneur.

When it comes to those who have more than succeeded at creating notable companies from career adversity, you may find inspiration from the likes of Oprah Winfrey (Harpo Studios); Steve Jobs (Apple, NeXT and Pixar); Mark Cuban (Broadcast.com); or Nolan Bushnell (Atari).

Independent contractor, consultant or business owner

You've heard the old adage: The only certainties are death and taxes. Job security is no longer a given, and whether employed or not, we are always "on the market." We are all free agents with skills, perseverance and a clear understanding of our capabilities; we are our own products to be packaged, priced and marketed to qualified prospects. Not only are you the product, it may be time for you to be the business that owns the product.

You've been an employee. How different would it be to be your own boss? There are many options for how:

• As an independent contractor for other companies.
• As a consultant, putting all those corporate and professional skills to work for multiple clients.
• As a business owner with a business name (J. Doe Inc. or J. Doe LLC); you can still be a consultant, sell products and services, but this goes further by formalizing your business legal status.

Each option has benefits and drawbacks. Whichever you choose, and whether it's "until I can find another job" or if you decide you want to run your own business regardless of the job market, changing your perspective from "unemployed worker" to "free agent and business owner" enables you to look at your skill set from a different perspective.

First, you will recognize that there are alternatives to working for someone else. You will look at your experience and skill set from a perspective of "product" marketing against the competition. You will be marketing not a dry resume, but the benefits you bring to a prospective employer.