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“I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

forbes.com

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Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#21

Post by JoeAltmaier »

fu9ar wrote: post #17
JoeAltmaier wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Capitalist success isn't something paid out by the hour. They capitalized on an opportunity. They made out big. Its the system we live under.

Well, it seems like the OP was supposed to get stock options at these places where they worked, but somehow their stakes vaporized in some kind of finance shell game. But of course, it's all caveat employtor, right? Silicon valley companies were illegally depressing wages for years, and it's all about the individual workers not "negotiating good enuf". Fuck off. Capitalism is broken because the owners are scamming th…

Yeah if it takes too long, initial valuation may suffer and stock options vaporize. Its dangerous to stick around after a revaluation downward, with no new stock options offered.

Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#22

Post by PhilWright »

Anyone that uses the phrase 'monthly expense profile' to indicate they have large monthly expenses is clearly great at marketing. Your credentials are proven sir.

As an employee you get paid employee wages. If you want founder wages then you need to become a founder. Instead of joining an existing company/start-up I recommend you reach out to your network and join up with others starting a company.

Alternatively you could start your on your own. As a marketing expert you should have the skills to market your new business to others that need marketing skills. If you cannot, then your marketing skills are not that great!

Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#23

Post by dikdik »

PhilWright wrote: post #22

Anyone that uses the phrase 'monthly expense profile' to indicate they have large monthly expenses is clearly great at marketing. Your credentials are proven sir. As an employee you get paid employee wages. If you want founder wages then you need to become a founder. Instead of joining an existing company/start-up I recommend you reach out to your network and join up with others starting a company. Alternatively you…

I think you are being overly presumptuous, CEO != founder.

Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#24

Post by matt_wulfeck »

dmitrygr wrote: post #16
x5n1 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If people took your advice Silicon Valley would be toast.

Silicon valley is built on naive dreamers who time and time again expect to make money as startup employees against all rules of logic and contrary to historical data.

Not sure why they're naive. Even if you don't get rich you still make very good money and get nice perks. Why must the end goal to be filthy rich?

Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#25

Post by dmitrygr »

matt_wulfeck wrote: post #24
dmitrygr wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Silicon valley is built on naive dreamers who time and time again expect to make money as startup employees against all rules of logic and contrary to historical data.

Not sure why they're naive. Even if you don't get rich you still make very good money and get nice perks. Why must the end goal to be filthy rich?

Most startups don't even pay enough to rent a 2br apt. Must the end goal be to be single and family-less forever? ;)

Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#26

Post by PhilWright »

dikdik wrote: post #23
PhilWright wrote: post #22

Anyone that uses the phrase 'monthly expense profile' to indicate they have large monthly expenses is clearly great at marketing. Your credentials are proven sir. As an employee you get paid employee wages. If you want founder wages then you need to become a founder. Instead of joining an existing company/start-up I recommend you reach out to your network and join up with others starting a company. Alternatively you…

I think you are being overly presumptuous, CEO != founder.

A CEO does not get hundreds of millions unless they have a large chunk of the company. So either a founder or given lots of shares so they are like a founder.

Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#27

Post by curun1r »

raarts wrote: post #12
hyperliner wrote: post #5

Company 1) "I got my first job working in the marketing department for a wireless device company, ten years ago. I got paid the market rate which was very good, but as you know, Northern California is an expensive place to live. My first company got sold. I had stock options but they ended up being worthless after the deal." ---> That does not count. You stayed for 10 years, learned a lot, and it seems you came in at…

> I don't see how you deserve any of the millions they got I also don't see how they did. Did they work so much harder as to 'deserve' a ten to hundred fold turnout of their investment?

Whether they were funded or bootstrapped, they did a lot of speculative work or fundraising that someone earning a paycheck from day 1 didn't. It's not about working hard, it's a willingness to take risks. The person asking the question wasn't willing to take risks. They've got the $6500/mo mortgage and the comfortable life with almost zero risk. They were compensated as a wage earner rather than an investor.

Yes, working that way will come with equity, but it's table scraps rather than a full meal. If you want the full meal, you need to work on something before the company is anything. If you wait until they can pay you, that's your compensation.

Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#29

Post by rotten »

In my 30+ years in the workforce I've worked at large companies, small companies, startups, government organizations, and not-for-profits. Whether or not I ever get rich, I'm planning on spending the rest of my career working for startups. Why? Because it is exciting, it is fun, it is fast paced. I get to build things, I get to innovate, I get to play with and try the very latest technology. There is minimal bureaucracy. I know the names of everyone in my company. I find my work is infinitely more satisfying than just going in, doing what I have to, collecting a paycheck (regardless of its size), and coming home. Young people think I'm cool. It is a lifestyle and career choice and after all those other experiments - one that is working for me.

Re: “I made 3 CEOs rich – So why am I broke?”

#30

Post by hyperliner »

pikzen wrote: post #18
landryraccoon wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> founders still got paid a salary Founders get paid a salary? That hasn't always been true in my experience. > Founders took no more risk than the first employees. If it's actually that easy you should go be a startup founder. After all, there's no risk, right?

Let's be honest: people who found startups fall in three categories: * Those who have funds to fall back on in case the startup fails * Those who got VC funding * Those who are actually risking things because they invested everything in their startup I'd wager the first two categories make up 90% of startup founders. These people take absolutely zero risks. Whoop, startup fails. Oh well, it was either not your money…

So, if they have "funds to fall back under" isn't that a risk?
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