Equity is an investment, and like any investor you need to be smart it. You should evaluate how your investment (stock options) are doing on a regular basis (quarterly or semi-annually) with your management or CEO. Ask the tough questions, talk about metrics/milestones, talk about growth, talk about future prospects. Evaluate and re-evaluate.

If you believe in the company, where it’s going, and the company has the numbers/growth to back-it-up, your equity can be extremely lucrative and life-changing

But it’s only lucrative if you’re willing to go the distance (3-7 years). Over this time, you should receive multiple grants and can build significant ownership in the company (along with earning a market salary)