At what point did you decide to create/join a startup?

I ran into a problem (having to replace the pictures in my photo frames often since I make a LOT of photographs), and decided to hack together a solution. Then I figured that if I had this problem, more people probably have it. However, I've always felt that having a job isn't my cup of tea. I can and will work very hard, just not for a boss.

For me it was the lack of innovation. I think people are so busy coming up with new new ideas. They forget there are more fundamentally simple solutions to more carnal problems. Its like supersonic planes, and space shuttles, but we are just now releasing electric cars. Lets start innovating earth!!!

you can probably find many great reasons for why someone started a startup. But what I found underlying most reasons was the fact that a person thought that they could do something better than what was out there coupled with the fact that they deep down desperately wanted to be their own boss and be in control. Sometimes the latter even predated an actual idea for a startup.

Personal problems meant it was much more practical to make my own way than to have anyone else help me. :\",

I wasn't happy working for other people. Being told to work on something I didn't really care about for long periods of time made me depressed. I decided I would much rather fail doing something I love than make money doing something I hated.

After you've accepted that, the rest is easy (decision wise at least!)