YES, I just left my job as Assistant Vice President of iHub Media in the middle of a recession to start my own business!

I'd been with the Internet marketing company for three years as one of my passions is media sales. As such, I was not with them when they went through the Asian Financial Crisis or the SARS crisis, but having been in the industry for many years, our main problem in any recession is always the dip in business since all companies tend to cut advertising expenditure as one of the first methods of cost-cutting. During such periods when I was with other companies, however, I saw it as a great opportunity to introduce efficiency and build teamwork during the slow periods.

This time, I saw it as an opportunity to pursue other passions in my life.

Fitness has always been one of them - and I've always wanted to do something on my own. For example, in 2007, I took one month off work at iHub to do the pursue the Amazing Race, which I eventually won. (Ed's note: It was aired in February 2008.)

So when my fitness teacher and mentor Alvin Giam, Director of Pilates Bodyworks, offered me the opportunity to run my own franchised Pilates studio under the Pilates Bodyworks brand in the Holland Village area. I used all my winnings from the Amazing Race (US$50,000) plus S$50,000 of my own savings to start-up earlier this month. This little nest egg, I think, will be enough to tide my business through the current recession as I build up my clientele.

It's a big risk, but I figure the opportunity might not always be there. If it doesn't work out, I think I will go back to media sales since that too is something I enjoy.

During this period, I think there will be quite a few people, like myself, thinking about starting their own business - either by choice or because they've lost their jobs. My advice to them would be: Just do it! Life is too short to wait if starting your own business is something you want to do.

But make sure you have a team of very supportive and positive friends and family members that will stand by you. And a mentor who can guide you too.

It's going to be an amazing race of a different nature, but I'm confident for now that I can see it to the end.