[ryhanson]

I too am a young father, my daughter is almost 10 months old. Last week I just recently left the startup I was a part of. I was getting paid an alright salary for it being an early startup who had raised funding or launched yet. I made it a point to make sure I didn't stay late at the office unless it was an absolutely necessity. So I didn't have the extreme hours to deal with, but rather the uncertainty... Not knowing if your next paycheck is going to be one of your lasts or not is not a way I want to live. Having a family to provide for is a bigger and much more important job than grinding out code for a startup that has the potential to be big.

Because of the uncertainty and risks that come with working in a startup, I pursued other options. I ended up talking with a smaller software development agency here that has the startup atmosphere in the office (doesnt feel like some corporate job). They are very well off and there is very little chance of them failing or running out of work. The increased salary and full benefits were easily enough for me to leave the startup where I had a slightly less salary, but 20% equity. The 20% equity definitely had the potential to have some huge payoffs, but I wouldn't see those for atleast 5 years, and I much rather have guaranteed stability now rather than hoping for it to come later.