Maybe side projects may actually just rock? They typically introduce tighter constraints (otherwise they risk undermining 'main' projects) and yet they almost inevitably feel much more 'safe-fail'. Isn't this special mixture likely to make side projects leaner, yet more 'outside the box' startups than main projects , combining an improvisation-encouraging restriction of resources with a creativity-inspiring 'fear-deficit'?

I second that - I'm finding promotion to be the #1 area I'm lacking in atm.