So why become an entrepreneur instead of developing technology in an R&D lab? Three reasons: change the world, make customers’ lives better and create an organization of lasting value. If you only want to do one of these things, there are better options. But only startups combine all three.
Making money is a fuel to a goal, not a goal in itself. As Tim O'Reilly[2] put it very well:
You should regard money as fuel for what you really want to do, not as a goal in and of itself. Money is like gas in the car -- you need to pay attention or you'll end up on the side of the road -- but a well-lived life is not a tour of gas stations!
[1] http://www.startuplessonslearned.com/2009/10/myth-entreprene...
[2] http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/01/work-on-stuff-that-matters-...