For me there was a lot...
Being pushed around by members of the founder's entourage who are untouchable, especially incompetent people who would never be hired at the same level elsewhere.
As a new grad coming in fresh out of school, realizing your equity is probably worth 1/10 what you thought when all is said and done.
Dealing with the middle management takeover and dodging accompanying political bullets as the new VPs and Directors try to clean house and eliminate threats to their authority / careers.
Dealing with underdeveloped HR that mishandles issues like sexual assault and harassment.
Seeing some early coworkers who play their cards right get fast tracked in their career and go into management shortly after graduation, and feeling like a loser for remaining an IC / little person.
The worst one is realizing you worked somewhere for the equity, only to discover that you are X years behind in your professional development because you spent most of your time hustling and rushing your work.
> Seeing some early coworkers who play their cards right get fast tracked in their career and go into management shortly after graduation, and feeling like a loser for remaining an IC / little person. The worst one is realizing you worked somewhere for the equity, only to discover that you are X years behind in your professional development because you spent most of your time hustling and rushing your work.
You must take it as a lesson and don't do same mistakes twice.
