[sqrt17]

The basic advice in the article seems to be: use consulting as well as doing a lean startup to achieve (i) a fluid stream of income [from consulting] and (ii) a hopefully-growing stream of passive income [from startup]. (As far as I can tell, it's also what Patrick 'kalzumeus' McKenzie and others are recommending).

Part of the "nothing to lose" assumption seems to be that doing a startup gives you a learning effect that outweighs the lost revenue you had to give up for doing a (failed/failing) startup in the first place?