I had a one-on-one once where a manager reassured me that although my vesting schedule was almost up, it would be replenished soon with new options. I thanked him for his concern but told him I viewed them as "monopoly money" (exact words), so I could take or leave them.

There was eventually an acquisition, and I made a nice sum, but I never planned on them being worth anything. It was my first startup; how are so many convinced that these things are some sort of golden ticket? Where does that narrative come from?