(Seriously: I am not a pessimist, but compared to some of the wild-eyed optimism that gets thrown around here, I may sometimes seem like one. My world view is that, given a choice, you should live life in a way that maximizes health, happiness and satisfaction, not money. Start a company because you want to work for yourself, not because you want to get rich -- because you probably won't.

If your whole goal when starting a project is to achieve fame and fortune, you will go through life in an almost perpetual state of disappointment. If, instead, you make choices that allow you to live a good life now, you'll be happier by definition.)