Disagree that startups are the best option for most people.
Right, it is definitely not a good option for "most people." What I was saying is, "startups make a lot of sense for people who are talented."
To draw an analogy, if you are a highly talented athlete, then pursuing a career in professional sports might make a lot of sense for you, even though the expected payoff in pro sports is quite low for most people. Similarly, if you are a particularly talented artist, then that career path might make a lot more financial sense than a traditional corporate job. It seems obvious when we talk about sports and arts, but I think it is less common for people to think about their corporate careers in this way.
Fair enough, and I agree with your qualification to highly talented and would add highly motivated and very lucky.
It does not seem prudent to recommend that people become singers or actors or soccer players on the basis that Madonna and George Clooney and David Beckham have reached and exceeded their retirement saving goals.
Right, it is definitely not a good option for "most people." What I was saying is, "startups make a lot of sense for people who are talented."
To draw an analogy, if you are a highly talented athlete, then pursuing a career in professional sports might make a lot of sense for you, even though the expected payoff in pro sports is quite low for most people. Similarly, if you are a particularly talented artist, then that career path might make a lot more financial sense than a traditional corporate job. It seems obvious when we talk about sports and arts, but I think it is less common for people to think about their corporate careers in this way.