If you work for startups, especially boot-strapped startups, there will always be cash-flow constraints sooner or later. Personally it came about a year into m

If you work for startups, especially boot-strapped startups, there will always be cash-flow constraints sooner or later. Personally it came about a year into my first job. Fortunately my wife was working, and we had minimal expenses, so we could ride it out. In lieu of salary, the founders made me a partner. We sank or swam together. And when cash came in we paid ourselves. Make no mistake, deciding to stay was a very risky strategy. But a few years later things took off, we got back-paid all that missing salary, and we've gotten stronger since. I was lucky. I didn't need the immediate cash, and could take a risk. The most likely outcome was we went under. But the upside turned out to be very strong.