The most precious resource is agency
It boils down to risk<p>For me, I had at least the two following choices:<p>1) Following the straight edge - getting an education, taking a job I enjoy, and work/save for 25 years. I could retire before 60. Low risk, medium reward. 
2) Following my dream. Going all in on my passions, and trying to capitalize on them. Maybe if lucky, sell some startup and be able to retire before 40.<p>The problem, though, is that for each year I'd try and fail at option 2), option 1) also becomes less viable. One year for failure at 2) equals one year worth of savings and returns on investment from option 1).<p>FWIW, I'm from a wealthy Nordic country (Norway) - and it's not that entrepreneurship is looked down upon here, it's just that the safe option is much more probable, and the pay-off is pretty good.