That isn't much time to get to an IPO-but it is time enough for a big rival with cash to pick you off. But that will change with time and maturity, like a pipeline loading effect that has yet not reached steady-state. We are seeing the first bumper crop of IPOs finally hitting the market in 1999 and 2000. Certainly, there are people out there who just want to make a quick buck. As an individual, you want to strive for excellence in all that you do.
Life is too short to sacrifice personal fulfillment and play a charade for opportunistic gain.
That can be a chase that never ends. Always pursue your passion. At this moment in the Net economy, the pace of work makes it easy to lose sight of that. But individual fulfillment shouldn't be confused with corporate fulfillment. Entrepreneurs will continue to pursue their dreams, but that doesn't mean that a specific corporate entity should expand forever.