[toddmorey]

This is an interesting perspective. However, I come for a different vantage point: I'm a terrible employee and I feel that the world worked hard to force a "corporate career path" on the wrong guy for years. Perhaps startup life should be always an anomaly because it isn't for everyone, but it's the only place I've ever felt like I was a meaningful part of meaningful work.

I do think it's still underrepresented as an option, though that appears to be improving. Also, access to investment and radically cheaper startup costs have made this very difficult path just a little less difficult. I think it's an amazing time to start something, an amazing time to be an indy developer. I also think these early-stage laboratories will help replenish some of the SMBs America has lost on the street corners. Maybe the days where you can make a living as a local grocer are gone. But the days to make a living as an innovative, startup grocery delivery service are just beginning.

EDIT: It's timely that the post immediately under this one on the front page is "Pushed to the limit as a banking intern". Maybe it's just my nature, but I didn't work less in a corporate environment. I was just more disconnected to my work and the results. I didn't feel the same impact.

[Clanan]

I'm not so sure your vantage point is that different. The issue here is risk. The bank engineer may love the idea of doing a startup, but if they're like me, it's vitally important that one's spouse and children get to eat every day. More important than having meaningful work. In reality the decision isn't that stark, but it does serve to highlight the thought process.

[johnthealy3]

You bring up a great point that some people are naturally great fits for startup life and terrible fits for corporations. As the ecosystem improves for startups, fewer and fewer of these types will be forced into corporations which hopefully leads to more productive and happier people overall ("improved overall utility" if you're an economist).