I find your comment fascinating and, from the perspective of a twice founder, mystifying. Your screen name evokes two vector forces or rivers coming together to form a new, stronger, force in a common direction. Ironically this is the true nature of an employee and employer.
I have worked for fortune 10 companies and for 3 man crews. Yet my own assessment of my value has not changed. If an individual understands their own value then they can not be taken advantage of and an employer would not want to. I have taken payment for my services in stock, units, FRNs, gold, beer, and good will. I did so knowing the value of my work and accepting, in my perception, an equal or greater value in return.
To many the culture fit crap you deride has value. Your statement that companies exist to make managers/founders rich is misguided as can be demonstrated if you speak to zealous founders who obsess over their passion. And no person, Mr. Graham included (whom I believe would agree anyway), will ever convince me employees risk as much as a founder or even an early stage investor. I will not enumerate all that I have lost (more than money to be certain) in the two companies I have started. I don't say this to diminish the employee role or risk but to correct a grave misunderstanding.
The very few founders who do get rich damn well deserved it and I guarantee the money doesn't cover all of their losses.
I have worked for fortune 10 companies and for 3 man crews. Yet my own assessment of my value has not changed. If an individual understands their own value then they can not be taken advantage of and an employer would not want to. I have taken payment for my services in stock, units, FRNs, gold, beer, and good will. I did so knowing the value of my work and accepting, in my perception, an equal or greater value in return.
To many the culture fit crap you deride has value. Your statement that companies exist to make managers/founders rich is misguided as can be demonstrated if you speak to zealous founders who obsess over their passion. And no person, Mr. Graham included (whom I believe would agree anyway), will ever convince me employees risk as much as a founder or even an early stage investor. I will not enumerate all that I have lost (more than money to be certain) in the two companies I have started. I don't say this to diminish the employee role or risk but to correct a grave misunderstanding.
The very few founders who do get rich damn well deserved it and I guarantee the money doesn't cover all of their losses.