"Oddly that advice is rarely heeded. Most Founders feel incredibly guilty about their newfound wealth, no matter how hard they worked to get it." - Wealth isn't earned in isolation. Maybe fair compensation from the founder to early employees would ease guilt? I've been at the receiving end of "nothing" a couple of times, after buying into whatever motivational hubris was served at the time. Mind you, I think those days are over for the next-gen of workers as they appear to be a little more aware of the game.