Timing and picking your battles will make you or break you.

Starting a company just because everyone else seems to be doing it and because it's the hot new trend are the worst reasons. Good reasons to do a startup though, what counts as being in the right place at the right time, I think are: (a) having a great product in a strong market, (b) meeting exceptionally talented co-founders with good chemistry, and (c) being in a good position to take risk in life (minimal debt, decent finances, good confidence in being able to rebound and get a job amidst this recession, just in case the venture completely fails)