[krschultz]

Nit pick: we don't really take risks with our lives.

Guys doing construction, fishing, oil drilling, mining, they are taking risks with their lives.

What is the worst possible outcome from a startup? Bankruptcy? Gaining some weight and not sleeping enough?

What is the worst thing that can happen? It isn't climbing a mountain or sailing across the ocean. It doesn't help to inflate the "startup" bravado by claiming it is harder than it is. The fears your average startup has (oh no, we're out of money, our business if failing, and we're going bankrupt!) is felt by a lot of small business owners, not just cutting edge startups.

[ucentric]

Actually it can mean that you alienate your friends and family, harm your health, fail to provide for yourself in retirement, miss out on other opportunities and miss out on a life in general.

These are pretty big sacrifices.