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I had a one-on-one once where a manager reassured me that although my vesting schedule was almost up, it would be replenished soon with new options. I thanked h
by jasonmp85 11y ago
I had a one-on-one once where a manager reassured me that although my vesting schedule was almost up, it would be replenished soon with new options. I thanked him for his concern but told him I viewed them as "monopoly money" (exact words), so I could take or leave them.
There was eventually an acquisition, and I made a nice sum, but I never planned on them being worth anything. It was my first startup; how are so many convinced that these things are some sort of golden ticket? Where does that narrative come from?
- swampthing 11y agoI think the narrative comes from the cases where it's true - i.e. the really successful acquisitions and IPOs. I think the issue is that overly optimistic companies (and probably some unscrupulous ones) estimate the likelihood of such an outcome to be greater than it is. But that doesn't mean that's never true (like it sounds like you found out).
- lucaspiller 11y agoDon't forget as a startup noob you also don't have much experience, so when your manager/CEO says you'll get a big payoff eventually, you probably believe them.
- TallGuyShort 11y agoThere's also an aspect of optimism to it, I think, not just naivete. I have enjoyed the startups that I've worked at, but I feel very out-of-place when I'm around many serial entrepreneurs because they seem to latch on to an idea and think it has extreme potential far more easily than I do. If you're optimistic and actually ENJOY being motivated by potential more than a paycheck, you'd probably trade salary for it. Just not who I am, nor a bet I think is sensible. But each to his own.