Working at a big company often makes you a small part of a large machine, which limits your learning and slows your pace of growth compared to creating your own startup where you are responsible for everything.

In large companies, internal politics can drag down your personal standards, making it harder to succeed compared to the freedom of starting your own venture.

If you enter a big company with clear goals, like saving money or gaining specific experience, you can benefit from the experience without falling into the trap of staying longer than necessary due to financial incentives.

If you find yourself energized by side projects while feeling drained by your day job, it may be time to consider starting your own venture.

If you're living in emergency mode for an extended period, there's no energy for growth and repair, which hinders long-term projects.

Surrounding yourself with colleagues who prioritize lifestyle upgrades can lead to increased spending, making it harder to save for starting your own company.

Big companies excel at retaining employees by offering signing bonuses and regular stock option grants, making it difficult for young people to leave and pursue their own ventures. Working at a big tech company can be a trap because it often leads to increased spending on lifestyle, such as nicer apartments and vacations, rather than gaining valuable experience for starting your own company.

When ambitions are bigger than available resources, it leads to creativity and innovation, which is often lacking in larger companies.

Working at a large company can cost you opportunities; for instance, I missed out on a chance to work with Peter Thiel, which I later realized cost me significantly.