My experience as being employee 8 million at a Large Corporation is nearly identical. I can choose my own tools, work from home when I want to, take breaks, etc.
We've already taken care of the cash flow thing, so it ends up being much more relaxing than working for a small company. We aren't going to go out of business if our software isn't released tomorrow, so we have lots of time to write quality solutions. We can build stuff that's really nice to work on, instead of stuff that will give us one more checkbox in a TechCrunch comparison article.
(I worked at a small company for a long time. It was less flexible, and every year, we "don't have enough money" for a raise. Eventually it was very stressful, my input didn't matter at all, and I got paid nothing. All for what most people consider "the ideal job". "Going corporate" was the best thing I ever did!)
It was less flexible, and every year, we "don't have enough money" for a raise. Eventually it was very stressful, my input didn't matter at all, and I got paid nothing.
As always, it depends on the company you're working for (it sounds like you're working for a great one!). I'm sure there are plenty of people who could claim the exact same thing while working for a big corp.
So that I can spend 99% of my time doing something I'm bad at, and 1% of my time doing something I'm good at? No thanks.
As an employee, I spend at least 80% of my time doing my best work -- no billing, no taxes, no finding new clients. I wake up, do some programming, chat with coworkers, eat lunch, do some more programming, then go home. And oh yeah, I get paid even if the company has a slow month or year.
Don't get me wrong; in many ways, I would love to have my own company. But I am pretty sure I will make more money, be less stressed, and have more free time not doing that.
(Anyone want to pay me to implement whatever random useless ideas interest me? Exactly.)
There is nothing wrong with being an employee at a large company. It all depends on your priorities. The important thing these days is to stay marketable in case circumstances change, and that large company decides not to be so accommodating any longer.
I'm interested in hearing about experiences on people who are not founders and made money in an IPO/buyout. How much can that realistically be? You're diluted down to 0. something percent by the time the exit happens. Compared to the opportunity cost of just getting paid each month for several years, do employees in a startup come out ahead, financially?
We've already taken care of the cash flow thing, so it ends up being much more relaxing than working for a small company. We aren't going to go out of business if our software isn't released tomorrow, so we have lots of time to write quality solutions. We can build stuff that's really nice to work on, instead of stuff that will give us one more checkbox in a TechCrunch comparison article.
(I worked at a small company for a long time. It was less flexible, and every year, we "don't have enough money" for a raise. Eventually it was very stressful, my input didn't matter at all, and I got paid nothing. All for what most people consider "the ideal job". "Going corporate" was the best thing I ever did!)