The Only People Who Win The Lottery

The only people who win the lottery are people who don't know what a bad investment it is.  The stories of the winners convince others to play.

The startup community sometimes operates in the same way.  In some cases, investors are selling lottery tickets to founders and early employees who sacrifice too much for the hope of striking it rich.

The relationship between the investors and the company reminds me of the old joke about the chicken, the pig, and the bacon and egg breakfast: the chicken is interested, but the pig is committed.

If you have the opportunity to be involved with a startup, don't let hope blind you to the situation.  If you want to buy a lottery ticket, go for it.  Otherwise, make sure you are treated properly in terms of the work conditions and compensation.