Is that rational? I can see why, for example, airlines don't get a second chance. If you even give off a whiff of cluelessness in aviation, nobody will want to touch you again - there's too much at stake.
Other industries are less risky, but a lack of professionalism can still be expensive - people are relying on you to help carry their project.
On the other hand, there's plenty of cases where management is just too thick to deal with risk.
In either case (risk is bad, or management can't handle it), screwing up can be a career limiting move.
With publishing at least there can be a high opportunity cost in partnering with a startup. Content providers might be losing access to exclusive publishing channels that bring a lower risk. If you get exclusive rights to my content for 18 months and don't make me any money with it then you might just have burned a bridge.
Other industries are less risky, but a lack of professionalism can still be expensive - people are relying on you to help carry their project.
On the other hand, there's plenty of cases where management is just too thick to deal with risk.
In either case (risk is bad, or management can't handle it), screwing up can be a career limiting move.