The sweeping generalizations and alleged industry-crossing trends in this article undermine a very basic truth: that a small minority of people are successful b

The sweeping generalizations and alleged industry-crossing trends in this article undermine a very basic truth: that a small minority of people are successful by kissing ass rather than kicking it. The author has set up an imaginary "nobility" (including himself, presumably) of people who's intentions are—by his definition—"pure". You're either an entrepreneur or a "corporate stooge". There is no middle ground. There is no one in a Fortune 500 company who is responsible for delivering results, apparently. (Unless we're defining "entrepreneurs" as "anyone who is not a corporate stooge," which seems like a stretch.) Moreover, there's apparently no one who can both play the "political game" and deliver results. As if the mere presence of the former taints the well, so to speak. I think the fact of the matter is the politics—relationships, perception, track record—do matter and should matter. If you think you can build a good product and people will beat a path to your door, you're horribly naive. As a VC faced with two equal products, would you rather back someone who's already built a product and had an exit, or someone who's doing this for the first time? The former is certainly lower risk...