Great essay, I sure wish my reason was because of #10 (wealthy) and not #9 (family to support), so true, so true.
An alternative to starting a consulting business is to build your stuff on the side. Possibly draining? Yes, but if you're determined, I believe this is better than getting distracted by a consulting business. Time will tell if this is wise though.
If you choose a problem to solve where the customers move slowly, you actually have an advantage over a 23-year-old working 16 hours a day. With infrequent customer feedback, it's hard for the young startup to capitalize on all that free time, and it can burn through its cash waiting for feedback and growth.
An alternative to starting a consulting business is to build your stuff on the side. Possibly draining? Yes, but if you're determined, I believe this is better than getting distracted by a consulting business. Time will tell if this is wise though.