>>I actually lost an investment because the investor thought I should not pay myself at all while trying to build the business.

That is absurd, they don't deserve to be investors. You receive money in exchange for equity. The money is used to run the company and build value for the investors. Providing salary to everyone who is engaged in building value must be part of the equation. Otherwise if you think about it, in extreme case you will give away your entire company to build value for investors and you will get nothing in the end.