Our current economic good times won't last forever. You won't always be able to found a company and go public in less time than it takes to have a baby. At some point, the venture-capital funds will dry up. And, when those tough times come, they will present a perfect opportunity for the pretenders to fold their tents. Filled with vitriol and busy looking for a lawyer so that they can sue someone, these entrepreneurial also-rans will find a way to blame their troubles on other people.
Real torchbearers run uphill with the same grace and style that they bring to gliding downhill.
Second, torchbearers often attract a crowd. People are fascinated by folks who are willing to carry responsibility. And sometimes these folks are loyal and hard-working enough to follow a torchbearer uphill as well as downhill. Third, most torchbearers don't realize how unique they are, how powerful their role is, or how hard their task is. Even though they could make outrageous demands and insist on all kinds of special treatment, most of them are happy just to perform their role and to handle their task.