Some people are happy being an employee. Some people are happy starting a business just big enough to support themselves. Some people want to "swing for the fences" and make a fortune and/or change the world.
Just because the majority of those swinging for the fences fail doesn't mean it's not an worthwhile choice. If only 1 out of 20 of those people do make a difference, but the difference is 20x more than 20 small businesses combined, then that group is net ahead in difference-making.
All are valid paths in life. It's simply a matter of choosing the best option for yourself based on your risk profile and ambitions.
> All are valid paths in life. It's simply a matter of choosing the best option for yourself based on your risk profile and ambitions.
Unfortunately, something reasonable and uncontroversial like that doesn't get people to link to your blog.
Furthermore, the whole thing is not a zero-sum game: it's not like every person who decides to go for the VC/big route is someone "taken away" from a happy life with a small business (maybe they'd be bored by that), or that people doing small businesses are making the world poorer by not aiming for the stars (maybe they're not able to or interested).
The idea that Payne is looking for hits is ridiculous. He's managing a company with tons of media coverage--one blog post won't change a thing for BankSimple.
Just because the majority of those swinging for the fences fail doesn't mean it's not an worthwhile choice. If only 1 out of 20 of those people do make a difference, but the difference is 20x more than 20 small businesses combined, then that group is net ahead in difference-making.
All are valid paths in life. It's simply a matter of choosing the best option for yourself based on your risk profile and ambitions.