Yes, yes, no one is forcing you -- but you are being sold a bit, at least in America. And while there's nothing wrong with that, per se, the story you're being sold is that you just need to build a better mouse trap. That story, however, is a lie.
What I'm saying is a warning, not a complaint. I'm saying that you'll be told that you can be a hero if you slay the dragon and all you need is a new strategy. But if you look closely you'll notice that some adventurers come from a noble background and have a strategy -- plus a sword and armor. You are a peasant; you don't. The ones that came back, almost exclusively, had that sword and armor.
No one, I repeat no one, looked at the Page Rank algorithm and said, "I love the idea! Here's money to prove it." (Remember that statement about having to shove good ideas down people's throats.) No, instead, they looked at Page and Brin and said, "Stanford? Here's money to prove your point." That's the key. Without that reason for people to believe in you irregardless of the idea, you're in for an exponentially harder time. And even if you make it through, saying, "I killed the dragon without armor or sword," it will impress no one. You didn't notice the difference, why would anyone else? It will have been millions of times harder and no one will fucking care.
I'm an exception that proves the rule. After years of nosebleeds and broken ribs, my company is poised to explode. And yet it was easily the hardest, loneliest thing I've ever done. Yes, yes, no one is forcing you, but they're also not telling you the whole story. If you, as a sans-culottes, understand what I'm telling you and go to hunt the dragon anyway, God bless you. But I'll repeat what I said above: I wouldn't wish that journey on my worst enemy.