[enobrev]

"Smart and Creative" does not mean "Lucrative". Less cynically, one might consider it a virtuous circle. Google gives smart and creative people a chance to organize into small teams and innovate. When some of those projects become lucrative, more smart and creative people can be hired, and so on.

I've certainly found myself at odds between projects I'd Love to tackle versus bills that Have to get paid. After enough failures and false starts, it becomes less personal risk and more general survival. I look forward to going out on my own again and trying some more, but I need to contribute to my current employer first as I save up the energy and resources for my next personal endeavor.