Or, really, to say the unsaid bit out loud: there are lots of important considerations when taking a job. The author seems to assume that money is the only driver, when, for many top candidates, money is not their primary motivation. The ability to plan well and thereby reduce stress is a good measure of the management experience. Other non-cash incentives tend to be given out more readily at well-run non-enterprise companies, including remote work, longer vacations, and more strategic control, to name just a few.
I can say that for me, at some point, you just really want a team with good vibes and low BS.
I took a 20% pay cut 3 years back and moved from one startup to another because the vibes were better with an older founding team. It was fantastic and we built some amazing stuff at an incredible pace.
That startup recently folded and the original startup reached out and brought me back at 150% comp of the other startup. But day to day I don't enjoy it as much and the vibes just aren't the same with this crew.
My lesson: team vibes are severely underrated and sometimes even more money doesn't make it better.
