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This. It's really only obvious why founders deserve a much larger exit than employees after you've tried to start and run a company. There's plenty of edge ca

This. It's really only obvious why founders deserve a much larger exit than employees after you've tried to start and run a company. There's plenty of edge cases where it doesn't feel fair, but in general, starting and running a successful startup is nothing like being an engineer. And it deserves a very different level of comp. Also - there's plenty of engineers at startups that wouldn't get a job at a large tech companies.

shamino 8y ago
My issue is that just because something was hard before you came, but you're just as talented, why do they get 10x in compensation ? It's kind of like saying because Steph Curry came to the Warriors 3 years before when they weren't a Championship-contending team, he deserves 10x Durant's salary. Curry was drafted by the Warriors and started the culture and created small-ball, but could you imagine his salary being so high ? That would be absurd, with Curry making $250 million per year.
- whb07 8y ago
  Your example isn’t that accurate. Imagine being a talented sailor coming into an already sea worthy vessel. That’s for sure worth something. Now imagine having to create convince people to invest in your crazy boat idea, build the darn ship, prove it won’t sink, and then finally do some sailing. In no alternate universe is sailing a ship the same as all the other steps. Maybe you’re just as talented as the main dude/owner of the ship. But you sure as heck don’t have the experience or skill in building a sea worthy ship.
  - shamino 8y ago
    Good point. Let's say you do have that experience or skill in building a sea-worthy ship. Let's say you are more valuable than your founder given where the company currently is. Maybe the company is in the growth stage, and your skills matter more to the company's survival than the founder. Why, oh why, does the founder make out like a bandit, and you make out like a chump.
    - whb07 8y ago
      I mean...so go do it ? That’s the point. You might be a better version of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, but if you’re not striking out on your own you will never get the rewards of the person who actually did do it. At this point all you’re saying is what the bitter/jealous little boy says “oh I could do that” while watching from the sidelines.
      - shamino 8y ago
        I'm not disagreeing that one should become a founder if they don't like the early employee packages. I'm saying we should make early employee packages suck less.

shamino 8y ago

My issue is that just because something was hard before you came, but you're just as talented, why do they get 10x in compensation ? It's kind of like saying because Steph Curry came to the Warriors 3 years before when they weren't a Championship-contending team, he deserves 10x Durant's salary. Curry was drafted by the Warriors and started the culture and created small-ball, but could you imagine his salary being so high ? That would be absurd, with Curry making $250 million per year.

whb07 8y ago
Your example isn’t that accurate. Imagine being a talented sailor coming into an already sea worthy vessel. That’s for sure worth something. Now imagine having to create convince people to invest in your crazy boat idea, build the darn ship, prove it won’t sink, and then finally do some sailing. In no alternate universe is sailing a ship the same as all the other steps. Maybe you’re just as talented as the main dude/owner of the ship. But you sure as heck don’t have the experience or skill in building a sea worthy ship.
- shamino 8y ago
  Good point. Let's say you do have that experience or skill in building a sea-worthy ship. Let's say you are more valuable than your founder given where the company currently is. Maybe the company is in the growth stage, and your skills matter more to the company's survival than the founder. Why, oh why, does the founder make out like a bandit, and you make out like a chump.
  - whb07 8y ago
    I mean...so go do it ? That’s the point. You might be a better version of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, but if you’re not striking out on your own you will never get the rewards of the person who actually did do it. At this point all you’re saying is what the bitter/jealous little boy says “oh I could do that” while watching from the sidelines.
    - shamino 8y ago
      I'm not disagreeing that one should become a founder if they don't like the early employee packages. I'm saying we should make early employee packages suck less.