Of course, sometimes "what it takes" involves a degree of ruthlessness which allows you to put not only your finances, but you marriage and your guardianship of your children at stake. Different individuals have different scales on which they decide whether that kind of ruthlessness is worth the reward, even if they did have the capacity for it.
I agree. Tolerance for risk is another big aspect of all this. I'm not married. I don't have kids. So my real only concern is myself right now. Others aren't as lucky.
Hah, I think a large number of people would disagree with you that not being married and not having kids is lucky.
I'm not downplaying the importance of following sound economic principles (e.g. do NOT put your house as a collateral for a loan). Nonetheless, if you're going to be deterred by the economy, your wife, this article, or a friend, then you clearly don't have, and probably never had, what it takes.