The short answer is that you're right to ask the question because it could hurt you badly. A lot depends on your specific situation. How accomplished and in de

The short answer is that you're right to ask the question because it could hurt you badly. A lot depends on your specific situation. How accomplished and in demand are you right now? Do you have a network of people who would hire you in a heartbeat or at least enthusiastically recommend you and actively help you find a job? If you are in demand (i.e., frequently turning down overtures from recruiters) and/or you're very confident that if you lost your job tomorrow that you could find another equally good job in a matter of a couple weeks or less, then going out on your own for awhile probably won't have any negative impact. On the other hand, if the above does not describe your current career situation, then I'd think hard about it. There are many recruiters and hiring managers who look at self-employment as barely better than unemployment. That's outrageously stupid, but it's reality. I personally know half a dozen people who experienced significant setbacks to their careers after leaving their jobs to try self-employment or work on their own startups. (But, again, a lot depends on how hireable you are currently, where you live, etc.)