For what it's worth, I had a 'drag' score of 7 when I founded my startup. Without a wife and a child to motivate me to try harder, and without 10+ years of experience in technology, I would never have been able to accomplish half of what I've done.
I am 26, and my professor was quite clear. He said you have maybe a couple of years when you can take all the risks and pursue your startup dream. (Yes, my score is 1 and I am still close to failing. How about that...)
Would really appreciate sharing your accomplishments to inspire and give hope to people, telling youngsters they have more time than they think they do, and more experienced ones the push they might need to make that jump.
If you're going to wait before going on your own, just make sure you get the most out of your job. Avoid boring and routine stuff, venture out of your comfort zone, learn skills beyond your own specialty.
I am also doing everything myself, until this point at least. i do have a co founder, but he is a busy man (Department head of CS form my university.)
I am also doing everything alone, that too on the side (I had to start doing a job some 6 months after starting my startup, due to financial and immigrations issues).
So, here I am , a 26 year old, immigrant startup founder, who doesn't know how to get more people (or if I want more people). I am getting to know and learn a lot more, and I am doing it very cheap. So successful or not, personally I think I will gain a lot. My question really was due to the fact that I might be failing soon enough, and more and more I see my friends and they all SEEM to be enjoying more and relaxing more doign their regular jobs. So, I am more afraid I might not be able to do more later on, and do any more startups if this one fails.
Somewhere in my head, at least I know one person who did it in his 40s. Gives me some level of confidence that it's not too late. Also, hearing all these stats about younger guys doing it and succeeding, Zuck and the likes, doesn't boost confidence either. Quite few times, I end up thinking, maybe this is it, after I am old, I might not be able to do it, since not so many people seem to be doing successful statups, or at least we don't hear about them much.