There’s some psychological scarring to overcome, I’m beginning to completely understand why my older relatives who lived through the Great Depression were so very overly cautious with financial matters to the point of being detrimental. I kept my S-Corp active through the whole period, hoping for better days and am actually generating enough income to support myself through it now, so that’s progress. I built it from nothing to a fair amount of something originally from 1997 to 2007, so given an equally favorable economic environment it’s certainly feasible to get myself back to where I once was. I’m considerably older now, though, so the very long hours will take more of a toll, it won’t be as easy as it was before.
If you can chalk it up to experience without wallowing in shame and blame, you might be surprised where the grace of God may lead. Contracting is a very hot job niche today.