I think it's perfectly reasonable to suspect that some proportion of people do not conform to Maslow's model.<p>Wikipedia says that a large study "found little evidence for the ranking of needs Maslow described, or even for the existence of a definite hierarchy at all":<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs</a> (scroll to "Criticism" section)<p>Part of being a (successful) human is making sacrifices to get the things you want the most, and this contradicts an established hierarchy of needs like that supposed by Maslow.<p>I suppose a great example would be people who participate in dangerous sports - they sacrifice their safety in the short term to achieve the success, money and respect they aspire to.
This made me feel special as an entrepreneur and it's an interesting, entertaining read, but ai must call bunk on this one.<p>Entrepreneurs are a special breed but we don't defy all the rules. We still need to go in order. We do sacrifice our health and living conditions at times but by choice. If you have the option to make a conscious decision to live on Ramen for a year then you've already gotten up the pyramid some ways. Those who are barely meeting this level of needs without choosing to are not entrepreneurs. They have a long way to go.<p>We don't sacrifice Safety without already achieving it too. First we secure employment and everything that comes with safety, then we become dissatisfied with the situation and, again, make a conscious decision to throw ourselves into the great unknown. We cannot make this choice without having achieved this level first.<p>These last 3 are tricky but the rules still apply to us. No one is an island and so if our personal relationships suffer during the course of starting our businesses that doesn't mean that this level comes at a different time for us, has a different importance or isn't necessary. First off, we have to have relationships first before they suffer. Secondly, we gain and absolutely need relationships with customers, prospects, vendors, partners, employees etc. this is a case where the hierarchy isn't flipped on its head but just takes on different terms.<p>Then self-esteem and self-actualization go in order as we need the rest in order to get there.<p>Sorry to be so long-winded but I just disagree with the premise that the hierarchy applies differently to entrepreneurs. It just doesn't. Nothing against the author, I could definitely understand his reasoning and think this is something young (young as in just beginning, not age) entrepreneurs could read and be inspired by and feel special.<p>I guess I'm just in one of those cynical moods today or something.