In a couple of years, your conversation will sound like this: You: so, what are you doing these days? MBA: well, I've been at McBainCitiGold for a couple year

In a couple of years, your conversation will sound like this: You: so, what are you doing these days? MBA: well, I've been at McBainCitiGold for a couple years, but I'm getting bored, I'd like to start up! You: oh really? Go for it! I really don't regret doing it myself. MBA: yeah, but I'm just waiting for the right idea. And the salaries are too low. The kids, school, car, condo... By the way, do you have any ideas? Wait a few more years and this time they'll tell you about how they'd like to invest in startups, but the entrepreneurs ask for too much, so they just had to invest it in property instead. Or are on their 17th meeting with a poor founder who for some reason (location, CV, lack of connections) is stuck raising from this type of amateur angel, unable to pull the trigger and "keeping options open". This being said, I don't blame them. Startup life (outside the megafunded) is tough, has low expected value, requires sub-optimal life decisions (goodbye family) and, I think, only fits certain types of people who are very independent minded and enjoy that kind of challenge. The MBAs I know who did it with the express intent of getting on with a company fit that type, and one of them has hired his 100th employee last year. When I hear a corporate type say "oh, I'd like to do startups" I think it's pretty similar to hearing many people say "I'd love to try the military". A passing thought, either being polite (admiring your life choices) or to be rapidly dismissed once encountering what those career paths entail.