Pros
I've actually been here for 10 years this past November and couldn't have made a better decision. I enjoy working for a smaller company where my impact and opinion matters, and being able to wear multiple hats and really roll up my sleeves and go to work. I had no prior experience in the supplement industry but always enjoyed working out so having a CEO who has an extensive background in the fitness industry, formulates his own products, and is part of the day-to-day business participating in meetings, calls, team lunches, etc., has helped my learning curve tremendously. Every day is different and being the only supplement company in Silicon Valley (pretty much all of Northern Ca) has its challenges. Its not for everyone but when you have a passion for what you do and surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share that same passion and work ethic it all comes together. I treat it like it’s my own company and I take pride in seeing how much we’ve grown and all the hard work it took. I can’t see myself working anywhere else.
Cons
Scaling a company in Silicon Valley is not easy. There is no supplement company in Northern California that we can just pull people from with experience in our industry and the cost of living is crazy! So trying to bring in talent elsewhere and have them/family relocate is extremely difficult as well. We're up against some of the biggest tech companies in the world, stock options, etc. I work long hours; 12-13 hours a day is a normal day for me in my position. Not everyone has the drive, the passion, the work ethic to be in a start-up environment and that is ok. If you thrive off of challenges, learning daily, and upside growth, then this would be an excellent fit.