It really depends on your ability to time manage and keep focus. I know i can not do it. Its much easier for me to work for 16h and sleep till i am rested and then work some more than to follow strict schedule. Focusing on two projects (one being interesting and the other usually dull) is also very hard. There is also commute time ...

I work this way too - I think there are a lot of us. It is hard to get into the "zone" for coding, so once I am there I work until I am quite tired.

So usually i work in 20+ hour spurts, and that is when I get my best work done.

i am not sjure about 20+ hour spurts unless you include the most valuable time for coding: doing something away from any computer.. coding in you head. I think pg has written about it not too long ago. For me, this coding in your head continues and gets re-forumlated, stored as pseudocode in my head until i can write down the full the implementation in one step. This way i sometimes come to 48h+ of work (including dreaming of code;-) which is just 10percent pysical hacking at a keyboard. /Toni

Some people just can't work 9-5.

Some people just can't be told by their bosses.

Some people just like to do whatever they please.

Now for the issue of H1-B. I think the government should increase H1-B visas because it seems to me that most Americans loathe the idea of working in a cubicle and getting steady cheque with health benefits and stock options. If that is the case, why don't give your day jobs to people who need them the most?

There are thousands (or more) people that might envy at your day job.

I think US government should be aware of this situation. The reason why hi-tech companies need more human resources is because:

1) People don't major in CS anymore

2) People loathe the idea of working 9-5 for the man.

"Some people just like to do whatever they please."

Technically, entrepreneurs can't do whatever they please either. They have to do what their customers say.

That's perhaps a good test for whether you'll make a good founder: how do you react when asked to do something by a customer, vs. how do you react when asked to do something by your boss? If you jump to attention for the customer but blow off the boss, you'll probably do fine. If you jump to attention for the boss but blow off the customer (far more people do this than you'd think), you're better off as an employee. If you won't do anything for anyone, you have a very difficult life ahead of you.

That's all fine and dandy on the supply side of H1-Bs wanting to come over here & companies who want to hire them...

But where exactly would the financing capital come from to allow all these would-be entrepreneurs to quit their jobs?

I can see the headlines now, "In light of the recent downturn in the sub-prime angel investment market... "

In my experience a day job is probably the single biggest disadvantage you can have.

To what, launching a startup?

Anything that takes away 40 to 60+ of your most productive hours each week should be considered in the running.

1) job 2) sleep =(