Mary Russell & Chris Zaharias are trying to do that here http://stockoptioncounsel.com/ with a bill of rights endorsement by educating folks on stock options and their rights. There are all sort of clauses and tax implications around given options that confuse people. Most end up believing the % they got will make them a millionaire.
This is a great opportunity for Freakonomics to dig into the state of stock options in startups.
When I was in my 20s I was more gullible by all the talk of stock options and becoming a millionaire from them. However I never stopped investing in property and after 10 years I am happy I continued investing into tangible assets that I was in control of. Stock options is a lottery at best. And as you get older, and learn the value of money and your time, you see the opportunity costs clearer.
As a side note, I've been through an IPO and fed all the brain wash leading up to it. Reality is always far from the dream. Many people don't like to talk about their failures only successes hence you hardly ever hear about this.
Now saying all that, there are the minority that strike it rich either by being an early employee of a startup that goes big (small % of something large) or are a founder of a successful startup when the stars align.
Employee compensation in startups will need to change as more folks start to realize the opportunity costs.
My word of advise, invest in yourself and stuff "you are in control of".
This is a great opportunity for Freakonomics to dig into the state of stock options in startups.
When I was in my 20s I was more gullible by all the talk of stock options and becoming a millionaire from them. However I never stopped investing in property and after 10 years I am happy I continued investing into tangible assets that I was in control of. Stock options is a lottery at best. And as you get older, and learn the value of money and your time, you see the opportunity costs clearer.
As a side note, I've been through an IPO and fed all the brain wash leading up to it. Reality is always far from the dream. Many people don't like to talk about their failures only successes hence you hardly ever hear about this.
Now saying all that, there are the minority that strike it rich either by being an early employee of a startup that goes big (small % of something large) or are a founder of a successful startup when the stars align.
Employee compensation in startups will need to change as more folks start to realize the opportunity costs.
My word of advise, invest in yourself and stuff "you are in control of".