Same here. That jwz piece really left an impression on me, so whenever I run into an article, like the TC one here, with some founder/VC/"serial entrepreneur" talking about culture or work ethic or some crap like that, I really have no choice but to assume that this guy is just some scrub trying to lure me under a desk.
The old adage "follow the money", or the even older, "cui bono"[1] really should be brought into play here.
jwz made out all right, he got the startup lotto. But most people won't. And I'm not keen on seeing underpay and overwork glorified in some song and dance by a CEO/VC/$etc. Cui bono.
Of course, if someone wants to pour blood, sweat, tears, health, and their life into a company, that is of course their choice. But I think they should own both that risk and that reward for that risk. I think that if an employee is asked to go without, then the employee should also own the reward as well. It is a basic principle of investing: higher risk carries higher rewards (otherwise you don't invest).
If the employee with a family who works 80 hours a week and sleeps under his desk wants to write a paen of glory to their lifestyle, that I will respect. They will know of what they write.
I think I would rather be underpaid in graduate school, personally.
