I make it very simple. you don't work at a startup to maximize the size of your wallet (at least in the short term). straight up. most startups fail. most s

I make it very simple. you don't work at a startup to maximize the size of your wallet (at least in the short term). straight up. most startups fail. most startups pay below market. you have to value the equity at 0 at all times till its actually worth something and then it simply is a nice (or very nice) bonus. you only work for a startup if 2 conditions hold 1) the pay is sufficient for your needs (and this is not just in an immediate sense of making ends meet, but also a long term sense of being able to save for future goals / retirement). 2) the job is something you really want to do and you cannot get that experience elsewhere at a more established company. i.e. if 2 doesn't hold, why would you take less pay than elsewhere? if 1 doesn't hold, you are making a bad long term financial decision for yourself, by essentially accumulating an actual or virtual debt (need to makeup retirement contributions or other savings) that you will have to pay back in the future. the #2 point can lead to earning more money in the long term even if the startup fails (i.e. the personal growth can outweigh experience you'd get elsewhere), but this is far from guaranteed. But even then, you shouldn't put yourself in "debt" to do that.