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> It’s specifically a high risk, high reward form of compensation. This really only applies to the first few employees, or maybe the first few hundred if you h

> It’s specifically a high risk, high reward form of compensation. This really only applies to the first few employees, or maybe the first few hundred if you happen to be at the next Google (so the company has to 1,000x). After that, it's very unlikely you'd come out ahead even if the company 20x'ed compared to joining FAANG. And the other thing to consider is that FAANG stocks aren't stationary. I know people whose relatively modest AMZN stock offerings have made them millionaires. The fact of the matter is you don't join a startup to get rich (unless you're an idiot). You join a startup because of the many other benefits it provides - having a bigger impact, working on a smaller team, less bureaucracy, etc.

barclay 6y ago
> You join a startup because of the many other benefits it provides This. So much this. The exit is the lottery ticket. It'll likely fail. But the real lure is getting to wear a ton of hats and fly by the seat of your pants. Any engineer in a < 20 person eng team is going to have a ton of exposure to how the business works, to making real-time decisions, and just generally being impactful. _THAT's_ why you go. (And, that said, it's definitely not for everyone)
- dpeck 6y ago
  If you value having exposure to how business works, making real-time decisions, and being impactful at > $100k a year you’re a much better employee/coworker than I’ve ever been. The reality of the situations is working at a startup is a great opportunity to prove oneself and have stories to tell when it comes time for interviews (or drinks with colleagues). For most employees it gives those of us without the “perfect” education/gpa/etc an opportunity to work ourselves into positions to be making significant income at larger companies either through exit, acquisition or being hired somewhere else.

barclay 6y ago

> You join a startup because of the many other benefits it provides This. So much this. The exit is the lottery ticket. It'll likely fail. But the real lure is getting to wear a ton of hats and fly by the seat of your pants. Any engineer in a < 20 person eng team is going to have a ton of exposure to how the business works, to making real-time decisions, and just generally being impactful. _THAT's_ why you go. (And, that said, it's definitely not for everyone)

dpeck 6y ago
If you value having exposure to how business works, making real-time decisions, and being impactful at > $100k a year you’re a much better employee/coworker than I’ve ever been. The reality of the situations is working at a startup is a great opportunity to prove oneself and have stories to tell when it comes time for interviews (or drinks with colleagues). For most employees it gives those of us without the “perfect” education/gpa/etc an opportunity to work ourselves into positions to be making significant income at larger companies either through exit, acquisition or being hired somewhere else.