The worst reality, which is also part of what makes entrepreneurship so visceral — is the true feeling of Failing With 100% Responsibility.
You will never, ever feel Failing With 100% Responsibility as a “mere” employee. It’s hard there, too — but it’s not the same. If you aren’t the founders, and the business fails. You pick yourself up, and find another job. You move on. If as a non-founder, you fail at your individual job, that is rough. But the company can survive that. You move on.
