Apparently David Packard of HP did: "During my sophomore year at Stanford, I remember lamenting that I had been born one hundred years too late, that all the frontiers had been conquered and that my generation would be deprived of the pioneering opportunities offered to our forebears. But in fact, we went on to make breathtaking advances in the twentieth century."

I also read in "A Team of Rivals" that President Lincoln wrote a letter as a young man lamenting the fact that he has 'missed' his opportunity to make a mark on the nation, as the "Founder Fathers had done it all" or some such.

I do think it is a common refrain of the young.

nice post - deep thoughts, but presented in a simple format

Another poker analogy is a four - flusher; someone who is all talk and no substance. There certainly are lots of wantrepreneurs who fall into that category.

There are obviously circumstances when hiring people who once worked for a competitor do make sense.

However, I agree that anyone who wants to join your company with a vendetta against their former employer is likely trouble.

I am totally a bank robber - go in guns blazing and take ALL the cash...

I like the reference to the hot dog venders...They definitely know way more than college professors.