[mcbeth]

I suspect that happens a lot more often in movies than in the real world. In the real world you have to figure out if you will be able to make a living off your passion, raise a family in the near future, save some money and tend after your parents in their last years (depending on your culture YMMV).

Of course, every once in a while you hear about somebody who did exactly that and it worked out for them. It that an exception or the norm?

[csomar]

Well. You go do what you want. But you should ensure that you don't come back with your hands empty.

For example, you take one year off to study and experiment with JavaScript. You waste one year and burn all your expenses and makes no money but you made something amazing (let's say a popular JavaScript library).

Since you come back after that one year and your hand are not empty, you should probably find a good job at a nice company or startup.

[ulisesroche]

It's something you tell developers so they can go to sleep at night, but a lot of us don't actually have the economic freedom to do that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory

[ricardobeat]

Having a family to support certainly makes things more difficult, but if you're unnattached I believe you can just go after what you want. You'll survive.

[wccrawford]

I don't think many people try.