"Embrace the challenge in 2009."

HOUSTON-Lower oil prices could slow real estate more in the coming year.

Unpaid vacations, wage freezes, and flexible work schedules are also employed to avoid layoffs in order to keep teams in place. This approach is happening within companies that want to avoid re-building their organization should the economy suddenly roar back.

'It's fair to say that there is going to be a shake-up of epic proportions within the SEC.'