Pursue it. Get some of the value you add and share some of the success. Not that easy or common, but when it works, it really works.
California graffiti artist David Choe will never want for spray paint again. As Facebook prepared for its initial public offering, much of the public speculation revolved around what it would mean for Mark Zuckerberg and other top executives who have millions of shares in the company. But the stock offering would mean millions for more unlikely figures. One was U2 singer Bono, whose venture-capital firm (!) had invested in Facebook. Another was Choe, who was once hired to paint murals on the walls of the company’s offices.
Because he took his payment in stock options, instead of a few thousand dollars in cash, he stands to reap an estimated $200 million. While Choe’s career had already taken off after his commission at Facebook, his “renegade’’ reputation may be finished if he starts, say, buying expensive baubles or funding super PACs. In any case, his experience offers some insight into how some people strike it rich: Part is working hard, taking risks, and making wise decisions. And part of it is being in the right place at the right time.