I was naive and blind to this fact for way too long. I just assumed that everyone that founded a startup had a cast iron constitution and could somehow stomach

I was naive and blind to this fact for way too long. I just assumed that everyone that founded a startup had a cast iron constitution and could somehow stomach the risk of destitution if it failed. It only later dawned on me how little risk these people were taking. It was almost all 'opportunity cost' for them.