Comment by frickinLasers

Why are "running a business" or "holding a regular job" the options? That's the most mundane description of making a living I can imagine. What about "extend laser emissions to a new part of the spectrum to enable new imaging modalities" or "found a nonprofit focused on addressing the coming water crisis," or "teach gifted kids what they're capable of accomplishing"...anything less boring than "run a business?" They should have exposed you to the wider potential you had available and tried to find your motivation.

I went the way the article discusses--stopped doing homework, finished high school on schedule with a C average. I found my motivation ten years later, and I guess I should be grateful for that, but it's been a long road to recovery. My best years were squandered drinking and fighting pointless wars, and I resent that.