The Recession's Accidental Entrepreneurs (SLIDESHOW)

The recession has put thousands of people out of work, creating a new class of accidental entrepreneurs. Whether by ingenuity or just plain luck, many of newly unemployed have formed their own small businesses as a result of the shrinking job pool.

Last week, we asked readers to share their stories of becoming an accidental entrepreneur and today we made a slideshow of your submissions. Please note, the slides and captions were submitted by readers and not the editors of the Huffington Post.

Cmarchuska

cmarchuska:
After getting laid off from my investment bank job in NYC last May 2008, I decided to pursue my true passion and launch a chic eco-friendly clothing line for women. So in November 2008 I officially started my business, cmarchuska. In April of this year I held my first fashion show at Ultra NYC during Earth Week. This picture was taken of me on the red carpet right after the show.

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Comments

[macwizard]

11:34 PM on 09/13/2009

I'm one of the entrepreneurs featured here (MovieWedge - www.moviewedge.com) and it's nice to read about the success of others - especially during these tough economic times. Despite some of the negative comments I've read to the contrary, if it wasn't for stories I've read in the past about entrepreneurship and people turning a passion into a business, I wouldn't have gotten where I am today. Not only are stories like these inspiring, they form the essence of the American dream - it's nice to be reminded what we should all be striving for.

[yourlibral]

05:16 PM on 09/13/2009

Everyday it's the same old rethreads. NO change form Washington.

good articles: http://www.iamned.com ....

[armadillious2002]

02:01 PM on 09/12/2009

Actually I read years ago that 3 out of 4 businesses close their doors within the first year of opening. Hopefully that figure has changed for the better. But one reason people don't go into business is because self employed people can't afford health care as premiums for self employed are astronomical if they can get it at all.

[csmcmillion]

08:28 PM on 09/11/2009

Laid off and forced to risk it all. And, of course, HP is only showing us the winners. For every one of these there are hundreds, maybe thousands of losers.

[calakutha]

01:11 AM on 09/12/2009

He's right! More focus on the negativity, misery and poverty in the world! Everyone wants to read that!

[SiouxSayer]

08:22 PM on 09/11/2009

For 10 years I was a stay-at-home dad. Wife's work paid the bills as I struggled to make my small photo studio work. 3 years ago we discovered my wife had a rare cancer. She is in remission and fine now. Medical bills ate away all savings. 2 months ago my wife, as a cancer survivor, decided she wanted another bite at the apple and has decided to leave me. Doctor says this happens frequently after chemo. I'm devastated, lost and unemployed. With no formal degree to fall back on and at 41 years old with no family for help, (HuffPo is really my only family) I am in deep, deep trouble. I'm scared, feeling hopeless and not eating or sleeping particularly well. I am alone. I have no prospects to hang a little hope on and have never begged for anything in my life. Yet, I feel that before my internet is turned off and the lights go dark, ..I simply need to ask for some help...from anyone. I've managed my studio for 8 years and have a high degree of IT experience. (no programming, though). I'm wired creative, not so much mathematically. I'm a bleeding heart liberal with a few tanks of gas and no reason to stay here. If anyone can help...or guide...or suggest...anything...please, please help. Is there anyone here that could shine a light...please.

[jjdo]

05:55 PM on 09/11/2009

These are nice stories. I wish all good luck. I am baffle, I also have a web store, selling unique crafted items that I enjoy making. On 911 incident I was laid-off from a great job. Since then it has been small jobs here and there. I realized I had a better chance winning the lotto than getting a job. I set out to go on my own with craft items I was good at. I guess my crafts are not on demand or good enough. I do not sell nearly enough to survive on!

On a second though. It amuses me to see we can rate the success of each "Accidental Entrepreneurs" based on an image and two paragraphs. This is very typical of our news media, (facts based on nothing and no research). Humanity will destroy itself not from war, but IGNORANCE.

[marcain]

04:50 PM on 09/11/2009

I love to see people succeed. Especially in such an independent way with ones own business during this recession. It always surprises me when others become envious of someones success. Maybe, I just never inherited the jealous gene.

[kayla9170]

04:31 PM on 09/11/2009

I am one of the Entrepreneurs featured in the story. First, I want to thank the writer of this story for including my business in this article. Second, in this tough economy, it is NICE to have the opportunity to be noticed for your passion or dream. For me, my business venture was both!!

To those on here that comment that the "Featured" business are not real---check out this link first please-
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/ServiceMaster.Building.Services.of.Wayne.County.734-328-3025. My business is VERY REAL and has been operating in the difficult S.E. Michigan Market since July 2008.

It has been a up and down ride to say the least, but my Commercial and Janitorial Franchise, ServiceMaster Building Services, has a small number of regular accounts and receives project work on a ongoing basis. We are committed Green Cleaners, that use non-toxic chemicals to maintain the office or personal spaces that we clean. Do I hope the Michigan Market would get better--SURE--I would LOVE to hire addition people to decrease our unemployment figures (which is at 15% and climbing). Hopefully, with prayer, my business will be able to do more of this, in the future.

Finally, I won my business on a Scholarship for Women and Minorities though the ServiceMaster Clean Company and Professional Basketball Player (hometown native) Shane Battier. I had some money saved, of course, but this head start assistance helped me realize my dream!

[paulita]

05:50 PM on 09/11/2009

Awesome!

Best of luck..

[kivaswise]

04:14 PM on 09/11/2009

Wow - thank you Huffington Post!! Nothing like a little media exposure, my inbox overfloweth - as they say. As one of these accidental entrepreneurs, I so appreciate the feedback I am getting and just want to say how wonderful it is to get to do something that I love everyday. I always thought that those "make your passion your work" people must have trust funds. But it seems that it is possible, even in a recession - to do something great.

Kiva Leatherman
Founder, Wise Workshops

[bbk129]

03:49 PM on 09/11/2009

Glad to see a piece celebrating successful ventures amidst the sea of tales of hardship and woe. A glimpse of light in this otherwise gloomy economic climate. Hurrah for accidental entrepreneurs.

[liberal politics]

02:55 PM on 09/11/2009

I did NOT like this article..small business is not the path to sal.ation or fre.edom.

This more than anything else is why I don't trust Obama anymore.

The moment it became clear he wasn't going to fight to actually clean up the financial industry is the moment it became clear that the hope and change rhetoric was just that, rhetoric. All he cares about is keeping corporate money in dem hands, he doesn't dare anger his corporate sponsors.

good articles 4 slow news day: http://www.iamned.com

the system needs to be overhauled cuz nothing seems to change

[sippewissett]

02:03 PM on 09/11/2009

The headline about entrepreneurs "forced to risk all" is very misleading since entrepreneurs standardly put their assets on the line to start businesses. That impulse to build a business often ties up all their assets and has nothing to do with the recession.

[LindyK]

01:25 PM on 09/11/2009

Interesting article but did the author do any research or did he or she just solicit info and post what sounded nice? First off, it is very hard to create a high-revenue t-shirt line no matter how easy anyone makes it sound. I know this, having had a line, having won awards and notice for it - there is so much competition, it was tough getting it noticed. I noticed a couple of clothing lines up there. Good luck, but it's very tough...

I went to one listing - JobShout.com to check out what was up there. Only 10 jobs listed in total, The service is free for everyone and revenue is based solely on online ads and the company has NO online ads. Their plan is to make revenue later down the road. Ten free listings and no ads = no revenue. Many people said they took their retirement money out to start some of these companies. Not to downplay anyone's good intentions, but the fact that these sites were not really examined to see what was going on makes this article rather disingenuous and I would caution any budding entrepreneur to proceed with caution.

[liberal politics]

02:55 PM on 09/11/2009

agree... i found this article to be smug, flippant, and irritating to those who are out of work or have failed at small busines.s

[calakutha]

01:20 AM on 09/12/2009

Wow. You were able to get a consensus from everyone out of work or who'd lost a business and the result was that this was flippant and smug? Good researching!

[GoingRogue]

01:25 PM on 09/11/2009

Be an entrepreneur, it will set you free.

You don't need a loan from a bank to start your own business - you just need brains.

[idisVA]

12:29 PM on 09/11/2009

drmidnite, we are rooting for you. may your new venture thrive.