More execs starting own businesses, including scooping poop

Joseph Gliottone has a quick comeback to his former advertising colleagues when they ask him about his new job picking up dog poop.

"It's the same product category, but a different clientele," said Gliottone, 53, who was a senior vice president of print production at an ad agency in Boston, and earned $158,000 a year before being laid off in December 2008.

He's now a professional pooper scooper and franchise owner of DoodyCalls, which charges about $16 a week to clean up after a dog. Since starting his business in Essex County, Mass., in September 2009, Gliottone hasn't made any money yet with the 12 clients he has, and needs about 50 to break even.