I remember my CEO laughing at me buying my options when they vested. "Well Swader, you'll be able to wipe your as with those at least". Was a great guy, great company and a great bunch of people to work with. But facts are facts. We were successful but in a very competitive field so nothing was guaranteed.
I have always said I wish I had gotten toilet paper instead of options. Because at least I can wipe my ass with toilet paper, and at the start of the pandemic I’d have actually gotten rich.
Next time I’m offered options I’m going to request TP instead and see how they take it haha.
Indeed! You can still have a very rewarding experience in a startup, it's just rarely the "retire young and rich" outcome that I think a lot of people imagine it will be.
As someone else also said, I wouldn't trade my startup years for anything, but it was just a job like any other, when take a macro view of my career.
