--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the early days of a startup, people's…" description: "\"In the early days of a startup, people's compensation is whatever you negotiate with a founder and it's all over the place.\" — Sam Altman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/sam-altman-1494_compensation_in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s_1363382.png" --- # In the early days of a startup, people's compensation is… ![“In the early days of a startup, people's compensation is whatever you negotiate with a founder and it's all over the place.” quote by Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/sam-altman-1494_compensation_in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s_1363382.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/sam-altman-1494_compensation_in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s_1363382.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/sam-altman-1494_compensation_in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s_1363382.png) > “In the early days of a startup, people's compensation is whatever you negotiate with a founder and it's all over the place.” [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early startup pay is fluid, often set by founder negotiation, leading to wide variance. **In simple terms:** Compensation is negotiable and inconsistent. Key Takeaway Negotiate clearly with founders. Themes startup compensation negotiation Mood cautious realistic Type advice warning When to use this quote - job offers - seed funding - team building - salary discussions Key Concepts equity market rates founder dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What factors should guide your expectations? - How can you protect yourself? A Different Perspective Negotiations may lack transparency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compensation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compensation/) [Entrepreneurship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneurship/) [Founders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/founders/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Startup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/startup/) ## Related quotes > [When you’re in a startup, the first ten people will determine whether the company succeeds or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/when-you-re-in-a-startup-the-first-ten-people-will-determine-whether/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It's a standard thing you hear from startup people - that their product is somehow improving the world. And if you follow the reasoning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/it-s-a-standard-thing-you-hear-from-startup-people-that-their-product/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [You have to be decisive. Indecisiveness is a startup killer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-have-to-be-decisive-indecisiveness-is-a-startup-killer/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [A single mediocre hire in the first five will often in fact kill a startup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/a-single-mediocre-hire-in-the-first-five-will-often-in-fact-kill-a/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [For most of the early hires you make in a startup, experience doesn't matter very much, and you should go for aptitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/for-most-of-the-early-hires-you-make-in-a-startup-experience-doesn-t/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Wait to start a startup until you come up with an idea that you feel compelled to explore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/wait-to-start-a-startup-until-you-come-up-with-an-idea-that-you-feel/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [More important than starting any startup, is getting to know a lot of potential co-founders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/more-important-than-starting-any-startup-is-getting-to-know-a-lot-of/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [It takes years and years, usually a decade, to create a great startup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/it-takes-years-and-years-usually-a-decade-to-create-a-great-startup/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You need this sort of a tailwind to make a startup successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-need-this-sort-of-a-tailwind-to-make-a-startup-successful/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Everyone starting a startup for the first time is scared, and everyone feels like a bit of an imposter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/everyone-starting-a-startup-for-the-first-time-is-scared-and-everyone/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [It's easy to move fast or be obsessed with quality, but the trick is you have to do both at a startup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/it-s-easy-to-move-fast-or-be-obsessed-with-quality-but-the-trick-is/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [In general don't start a startup you're not willing to work on for ten years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-general-don-t-start-a-startup-you-re-not-willing-to-work-on-for/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [When it comes to starting startups, in many ways, it's easier to start a hard startup than an easy startup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/when-it-comes-to-starting-startups-in-many-ways-it-s-easier-to-start/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [We hear again and again from founders, that they wish they had waited to start a startup until they came up with an idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/we-hear-again-and-again-from-founders-that-they-wish-they-had-waited/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You can have a startup and one other thing, you can have a family, but you probably can't have many other things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-can-have-a-startup-and-one-other-thing-you-can-have-a-family-but/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## More by Sam Altman > [The best people know that they should join a rocketship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/the-best-people-know-that-they-should-join-a-rocketship/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You really want to know your cofounders for a while, ideally years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-really-want-to-know-your-cofounders-for-a-while-ideally-years/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Employees will only add more value over time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/employees-will-only-add-more-value-over-time/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One thing I tell startups all the time is that the best way to grow is to make their product better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-thing-i-tell-startups-all-the-time-is-that-the-best-way-to-grow/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [A winning team feels good and keeps winning. A team that hasn't won in a while gets demotivated and keeps losing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/a-winning-team-feels-good-and-keeps-winning-a-team-that-hasn-t-won-in/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [You're either not hiring at all or it's probably your single biggest block of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/you-re-either-not-hiring-at-all-or-it-s-probably-your-single-biggest/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [The thing that kills startups at some level, is the founders giving up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/the-thing-that-kills-startups-at-some-level-is-the-founders-giving-up/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Execution gets divided into two key questions: 1) can you figure out what to do and 2) can you get it done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/execution-gets-divided-into-two-key-questions-1-can-you-figure-out/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [If you want something in a deal, just ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/if-you-want-something-in-a-deal-just-ask-for-it/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Most things are not as risky as they seem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/most-things-are-not-as-risky-as-they-seem/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [I prefer to invest in a company that's going after a small but rapidly growing market than a big but slow growing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/i-prefer-to-invest-in-a-company-that-s-going-after-a-small-but/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Startups are not the best choice for work-life balance, and that's sort of just the sad reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/startups-are-not-the-best-choice-for-work-life-balance-and-that-s/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One of the biggest advantages that start ups have is execution speed and you have to have this relentless operating rhythm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-of-the-biggest-advantages-that-start-ups-have-is-execution-speed/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [One of the keys to focus, and why I said cofounders that aren't friends really struggle, is that you can't be focused without good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/one-of-the-keys-to-focus-and-why-i-said-cofounders-that-aren-t/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) > [Startups are very hard no matter what you do; you may as well go after a big opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/startups-are-very-hard-no-matter-what-you-do-you-may-as-well-go-after/) [Sam Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) [Explore all 235 Sam Altman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/) ## More Compensation quotes > [The only place where compensation comes before service is in the dictionary or anywhere the government meddles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orrin-woodward/the-only-place-where-compensation-comes-before-service-is-in-the/) [Orrin Woodward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orrin-woodward/) > [“Time wasted can never be compensated”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/time-wasted-can-never-be-compensated/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A contract is an ask game, and if it asks for an hour, and I submit to an hour, then it's an hour. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/a-contract-is-an-ask-game-and-if-it-asks-for-an-hour-and-i-submit-to/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [Today there is no symbolic compensation for old age, no recognition of a specific value: wisdom, perceptiveness, experience, vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/today-there-is-no-symbolic-compensation-for-old-age-no-recognition-of/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Providence has given us hope and sleep as a compensation for the many cares of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/providence-has-given-us-hope-and-sleep-as-a-compensation-for-the-many/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [Because what happens is, as the economy suffers, tax revenues go down. But unlike businesses, where at least your variable costs go down, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-whitman/because-what-happens-is-as-the-economy-suffers-tax-revenues-go-down/) [Meg Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-whitman/) > [For the sacrificed, in the hour of sacrifice, only one thing counts: faith-alone among enemies and skeptics. Faith, in spite of the humiliation which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dag-hammarskj-ld/for-the-sacrificed-in-the-hour-of-sacrifice-only-one-thing-counts/) [Dag Hammarskjold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dag-hammarskj-ld/) > [“In other words, what we seek is some kind of compensation for what we put up with”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/in-other-words-what-we-seek-is-some-kind-of-compensation-for-what-we/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-we-overlook-that-intellectual-versatility-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only compensation, gained through the influence of nongovernmental organizations, consisted in slightly broadening for private individuals the possibility of access and appeal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-cassin/the-only-compensation-gained-through-the-influence-of-nongovernmental/) [Rene Cassin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-cassin/) > [Were God to show grace to all of Adam's descendants, men would at once conclude that He was righteously compelled to take them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/were-god-to-show-grace-to-all-of-adam-s-descendants-men-would-at-once/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [What we seek is some kind of compensation for what we put up with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/what-we-seek-is-some-kind-of-compensation-for-what-we-put-up-with/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [We also have no incentive compensation of any kind. And the reason we don’t is because it is detrimental to teamwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/we-also-have-no-incentive-compensation-of-any-kind-and-the-reason-we/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [Different artists are talking about the laws that exist and how they need to be fixed so that compensation does happen to a far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-wonder/different-artists-are-talking-about-the-laws-that-exist-and-how-they/) [Stevie Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-wonder/) [Browse all 369 Compensation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compensation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the early days of a startup, people's compensation is whatever you negotiate with a founder and it's all over the place.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Altman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s-compensation-is-whatever-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compensation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s-compensation-is-whatever-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/sam-altman-1494_compensation_in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s_1363382.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/sam-altman-1494_compensation_in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s_1363382.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6fd/sam-altman-1494_compensation_in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s_1363382.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In the early days of a startup, people's compensation is whatever you negotiate with a founder and it's all…” — Sam Altman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sam Altman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-altman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "In the early days of a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s-compensation-is-whatever-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-altman/in-the-early-days-of-a-startup-people-s-compensation-is-whatever-you/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```