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Technology Stocks : Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Techplayer who wrote (33935)	4/15/2000 10:19:00 PM
From: hal jordan	Respond to of 77400

I work at a pre-IPO startup and all you guys are right. It all depends on your risk vs. rewards ratio, and what your current options are worth. If I wanted to, I could have a job at Cisco. However, I'd rather be where I currently am because Cisco is offering squat for options compared to other startups. Its also more exciting to be in a small company environment. For those of us that work in startups, we work our *sses off as hard, if not much harder than other employees at a large tech company. That is because we want our options to pay off bigtime, then generally get the hell out of dodge in a few years. Almost nobody puts in 14-16 hour days because they love their job. Everyone wants the payoff. That said, there are great reasons to work for Cisco. Its practically a sure thing. It may take years, but you should wind up financially independent--assuming they can keep their lead. That is not guaranteed in this industry, even with Cisco's spectacular history. I believe the current market environment makes it riskier to work for a startup. I used to think when my company went public it would hit $80-$100 a share, no problem on IPO day. Now, I have to reconsider that potential. It all depends on the sentiment of the market. For the time being, no company is going to open at $100 a share or more. Actually, only a lunatic would go public within the next few weeks in hi-tech. I still would not want to work for Cisco because I believe my chances are better at my company. I think Cisco would offer between 1500 & 5000 shares for my line of work. Other startups offer between 15,000 and 40,000 shares. If the company has a very strong potential, the latter beats the former, hands down. Especially if buy in is under $5 a share. As for options versus salary -- only the very young just do it for options. Options don't pay the mortgage or college educations. This week is proof positive. If they hit, terrific, if they don't, you better get paid well for hard work + talent. Hal