[krschultz]

You are comparing "working for free at a startup" to working for a big company.

I worked at a startup that was funded, and paid well. I'd say the difference in pay between that and somewhere else was minimal, maybe 10-15% difference, it is hard to say. But I certainly was making real money.

Yes, I worked a heck of a lot hours there. But if I worked 50-60 hours a week there and I currently work 45-50 now, it really wasn't that big of a difference. Especially when the startup was flexible about things like working from home, telecommuting, they gave more vacation time, etc. And I liked every one of those hours a whole lot more at the startup than I do now at the corporate job.

I left for other reasons that really were not related to the job, the hours, or the pay. I needed experience for my career in a different direction to go where I ultimately want to go. I went to that startup to learn about startups, now I'm in the job I am in today to learn about this industry. Ultimately I'd like to start my startup in this industry, having experience in both areas for a few years first. But if it was just about the job and not where I am planning to go, I'd go back to the startup in a heartbeat.