[austenallred]

> What I think I have learned is that building a small business with around 5-10 people and making a regular salary of £200k a year is a much more enjoyable existence than trying for the millions and never quite getting there.

But what if you get there?

[mooreds]

Would you rather have a 1% chance of $100M/year or a 99% chance of $200k/year?

If all one thinks about is the math, they'd take the chance at 100M, because it is a higher number when multipled by the probability. But you can't pay a mortgage with a probability, and some folks want a mortgage (or other lifestyle features).

[oldandlesswise]

But I think the point is - would you be up for earning £200k a year when it's still your company doing what you want to do. I am not suggesting comparing a £200k a year with having a job - that's very very different and I would never want that. To me that really is a failure. I often ask the question - what would I do if I had £100m++. maybe I would go travel for a few years, but as I am still in my early 40s I would end up having a small company doing some cool stuff in the latest tech. Its what I enjoy doing. You can only sit on so many beaches!

What is the end game? having £100M+ in the bank account is only the start :) i wondering if anyone who has made some big money reads hacker news - or is that all now do :)

[mooreds]

That's fair. I remember talking to a co-founder of a successful company and he said if he ever left, he'd love to run a small engineering team at a company, take a salary, and leave some of the aspects of running a business to others.

It takes all kinds.

[austenallred]

But are you sure your math is right? How do you know those are the percentages?

Me personally, I know I’ll be able to pay a mortgage one way or another, so I’d prefer to shoot for high impact.

When you’re running the hopefully-$100m-company you can still pay yourself a six figure salary. It’s not all binary.

[mooreds]

I don't know those percentages, but I suspect they are optimistic.

I think it comes down to knowing yourself and your risk profile. Good on ya for taking the swing!

[soneca]

99% chance of $200k/year does not exist.