I know what you mean but despite the high potential return on the investment his articles gave him he still didn't throw money at it to try and make it happen q

I know what you mean but despite the high potential return on the investment his articles gave him he still didn't throw money at it to try and make it happen quickly. i.e. the quote suggests rather than $50,000 is all you need to start something like Fog Creek the lesson might be even starting from his position which was likely to be more privaledged than yours or mine he still kept costs as low as he could until he turned a profit.