[saddino]

As someone who has been both, I don't think the distinction is that important. Either route carries enormous pressures and the associated stress that comes along for the ride. Plenty of lifestyle businesses have taken the same toll on their founders' marriages, families, net worth and more. In fact, probably more entrepreneurs have offed themselves due to business failures than startup founders.

The actual question for would be business owners is: does the intensity of your passion drive you towards accepting this risk? If you are unsure, then either title is probably the wrong one for you.

[swombat]

In fact, probably more entrepreneurs have offed themselves due to business failures than startup founders.

Certainly, since historically entrepreneurs have outnumbered startup founders by a very wide margin and for a very long period.

I disagree that the entrepreneurial route carries that much risk. Importantly, as an entrepreneur you're largely in control of the risk. You can manage it, minimise it, explore it, etc. You can take (large amounts of) money out of the business any time you want if it's making that money. You don't have to wait on a binary exit event years down the line, that may be foiled because another similar startup got even further than you and took the market away. Hundreds of thousands of businesses make plenty of money for their owners without ever getting near an IPO or acquisition.

I've done both too - I much prefer the entrepreneur route. As I argue in the article, I also believe that it's more transferrable. Entrepreneurs are always in need, everywhere in the world. Startup founders, nowhere near as much.