[jmheinkle]

> golden handcuffs

There's no way you won't feel like you're taking a major salary hit. You want to save up enough for a year of expenses basically, and reduce expenses. This hurts and is hard.

> legit product

This is critical. You should absolutely believe in and find working on your product to be better than anything you can do in your job

> cofounder

Not sure other than usual networking. Note that cofounders are like marriages, its a damn committing relationship.

Your questions are excellent, but overall based on them you seem far, far off. I would try to look for entrepreneurial situations in your work or try to hop onto a startup you like, versus founding.