[zxcvb]

I'm glad that I've spent the last couple of years making a name for myself in the big consultancy firms.

I may have to work as hard as a start-up founder but at least I get a nice pay packet and none of this '6years out of college with no career or anything to show for my efforts'.

I don't get why people spend years coming up with crap start-up ideas, failing, then trying the same failed recipe again. I wouldn't try and take something to market unless it was really hot. Your average web 2.0(crap) is just a waste of everyone's time. You could have been working your ass at a big consultancy or trading firm as a technologist in that time and made yourself some good money whilst actually having a life that doesn't involve ramen noodles.

[chr15]

You're getting downvoted because of the condescending tone of your comment.

I used to work at a big consultancy and quit my job not too long ago to work on my ideas full time.

I had a comfortable paycheck, lived in a nice apartment, and drove a nice car at the age of 23. I learned that none of that matters to me. I didn't want my job and my car and my suit to define who I was.

Contrary to many people on HN, I don't do startups for the money. If I were working for the money, I would have stayed in consulting and received a guaranteed six-figures. I do it because, as a hacker, there's no better feeling in the world than creating something and seeing an idea materialize. It sure beats the feeling of waking up to the same routine every day. Turns out you can make a living at it.

The OP will probably get a job so he won't be much different from you. If I were the OP, I wouldn't regret a single thing. That's the risk you take.

[mmcdan]

I thought this was a good comment up until "Contrary to many people on HN, I don't do startups for the money." By what metric are you judging this?

[chr15]

This is just the impression that I get. Seems like the number of people that expect to get rich quick on a startup has increased. I receive a number of emails from people wanting to build the next big thing.

[kbutler]

Part of the reason is the potential upside: why should you "work as hard as a start-up founder" without the potential payoff of a startup-founder? (Probable value = size of reward * probability)

Another big part is self-determination: work on what you feel excited about. A startup can also add intangibles like experience, excitement, independence.

Will your current job help prepare you to take that "something really hot" to market? Will you be likely to even find that "something" with all your energies devoted to your current job?

I'm currently a captive employee bootstrapping some development on the side, and have previously been an early employee in a small startup, so these are factors I evaluate for myself.

[zxcvb]

Down voting me because you don't agree with me is stupid.

[jasonlynes]

the entire concept of downvoting is based on disagreement.

(haha, awesome whoever just downvoted that)

[zxcvb]

Typical HN downvotes. Far too busy circle jerking over your failed statups that rarely lead to anything other than wasted youth.

[prodigal_erik]

> Resist complaining about being downmodded. It never does any good, and it makes boring reading. - http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html