Analysts are predicting that unemployment will not properly stabilise in the province until mid 2010.

A quick look on the Job Centre website confirms that all is not good in the job market. Let us not be negative about these things as it's an easy cycle to get into and quite difficult to get out of.

With the amount of high-tech skills out there I predict a new wave of micro businesses (with five employees or less) over the next three years. Their sales area will be global instead of local and their areas of expertise will be broad and far reaching.

The wake up call happens when you realise that the only person who can do something about it is yourself. Once you have that belief then I think you can make a difference.

First things first, do you have a clear idea of what you are going to offer? Take time to figure out a clear message. The next thing I would personally advise you to do is register for the Go For It programme (it used to be called the Start A Business Programme) at your local enterprise agency.

If you are currently unemployed you can start the ball rolling with them.

The Go For It programme doesn't give grant money out at the end of the course but the information is excellent in terms of financial planning, cash flow forecasts and marketing.

A major failing of a lot of high-tech firms is getting those initial things right.

The Inland Revenue also does a great deal of work on its seminars to help new businesses with the basic requirements in terms of income tax, national insurance and self assessment, your local enterprise agency will be able to tell you when these are happening.

The bonus of setting up an online business is that there's plenty of other online folk around. One of the best sources of information for Northern Ireland related things is Digital Circle, the Sector Leadership group for Digital Content in Northern Ireland. (http://digitalcircle.ning.com ). It lists industry related events, networking and funding opportunities. Be prepared to share what you are working on and you'd be surprised about the connections you will make and the help you could get.

Don't worry about not being established just make some time to get your name noticed. Trust me, it works.

If you can't programme a computer don't panic but find someone who can and get them roped in. If you explain what you are trying to do then people will help more times than not. You might have to give up some of the business but it doesn't have to be Dragon's Den sized chunks of it. Still not convinced that it can be done with nothing? Look at craigslist.com the small adverts site. It started with nothing and was generating $55m in revenue by 2004. And what about Amazon?

More to the point it can still be done with a good idea, great execution and the belief in yourself that you can actually do it.