Here are the tips for people like me who skim YC comments before reading the article.
Tip #1: Don't worry about not being courageous enough for the uncertainty of the business world, as being an entrepreneur has nothing to do with courage.
Tip #2: Look for a big idea, and be rational.
Tip #3: Start small.
Tip #4: When faced with the fear of giving up a secure job, concentrate on the equally frightening possibility of someday looking back with regret.
afaik 1,2 and 5 need to be looked on with pure caution and might be an artifact of the kind of startup (consultancy, which works on contacts and is in general much easier than a product startup)the guy has done rather than a generic rule.
#1. It is hard and takes a lot of persistence
#2. The idea with which a startups starts out with rarely works out - so if its not going to work anyways why does it have to be big and there is little 'rationality' about the idea per se. I would go with guy kawasaki here - try to make meaning - build something useful and everything else will take care of itself.
#5 Having a backup plan is highly questionable. The only way you will get to fighting the devil is by burning the bridge which helps you cross over the deep sea.
Tip #1: Don't worry about not being courageous enough for the uncertainty of the business world, as being an entrepreneur has nothing to do with courage.
Tip #2: Look for a big idea, and be rational.
Tip #3: Start small.
Tip #4: When faced with the fear of giving up a secure job, concentrate on the equally frightening possibility of someday looking back with regret.
Tip #5: Have a backup plan.