[jschwartzi]

Because I'd rather help someone else make their thing. For me it's not an ego trip, but rather a way to contribute to someone else. I happen to be good at it, and it happens that a lot of people will pay me good money to do it. I think what you're really asking when you get down to it is "Why do other people have to have different motivations than me? It's weird that we're not all the same. How can you be any good if you're not exactly like me?"

My greatest accomplishments were all done as paid work for other people and I'm very proud that they could build a successful business with the things I've created.

I'm not terribly interested in going into business for myself because A) I suck at it and B) it's just not that interesting for me. I'd rather someone else take on the risk of having a cool idea and the knowledge to run a business and let me help them get the technical side under control. That's what I'm good at.