[timbowen]

Is there really a huge faction in our community who isn't in business to make money? When I left my middle class desk jockey job to work for trailbehind.com the chance (however small) to create and own a valuable business was the main motivator.

I think that the author has a fundamental misconception about what a "badge of honor" is. Soldiers don't spend months or years in the trenches with the purpose of earning "badges of honor" they go into the trenches because they have to. The badges are awarded after the fact to recognize the accomplishment of putting everything on the line for some greater purpose.

While we are not soldiers, we do risk big chunks of our life because we believe in our products and businesses. We eat Ramen Noodles and scrimp by because the pursuit of our goals require us to, not because we like it.

I also think that the author has misconstrued the "badges of honor" concept. People get badges of honor as a reward for being in the trenches, they don't go down into the trenches with the main intent of earning a badge of honor. You are in the trenches because you have to be. While

[trapper]

There is a difference between being in it to make money and having no plan to make that money. Those that have a plan find it very easy, even in todays climate to make money. Those who don't won't. The future is clear, make money or perish.

I often have to point out to entrepreneurs the difference between an idea, project and a business, regardless of how many "eyeballs" they have.