how do you avoid burnout and getting taken advantage of?
dualogy: There's always a "risk" that a company in which you work as a salaried employee "takes off", which could cause thoughts like "the founders are rich now" (are they? have you seen their bank accounts?) "because I worked so hard and well" (as did others in your team, I presume --- pat yourself on the back, take a day off, look into the sun and enjoy your capabilities and life, that's about it).You mutually agreed to certain salaries and jobs with fixed rates, you got your money and you did your work. Who is being taken advantage of here? If you feel abused by such a simple, mutually voluntary agreement, then clearly you need to stop working for the man. While that will be worthwhile no matter how much you make, I'd caution you to rethink your take on your current situation, and your underlying mode of thought. Employees make a certain amount of money even when the company doesn't yet, for the sole reason and on the calculatory basis that if it succeeds, they still don't make that much more money. In return, they only work a fixed number of hours and take some time off for holidays or sickness every once in a while, unless for some reason they choose to work harder and longer than they'd have to, like you did. Go to the other side of the table and be a founder, if you have or have earned the means to take on the financial risks. You certainly have the passion and work ethic to make more money for yourself, but don't take it out on your previous employers now when all they did was stick to their part of your agreement.Other models exist in the world if you don't like that one, such as mutual co-ops, non-profit foundations etc.Oh yeah, your sex life with your girl friend is certainly something you need to sort out yourself too, just like your riches --- your previous or current employers might not care that much. Sometimes they do and that's great and all, but they certainly don't have to and hence you better not count on it...