If a potential employee without experience in the Internet economy asks to read the business plan, I might have reservations about his or her ability to judge and analyze the document effectively. Generally speaking, I allow potential employees to read the plan on-site, and then I ask them to review the highlights of our strategy. If they get it, it's a plus for them. But if they don't understand the marketplace, they're taking a huge risk. The 10-K report is a document filed annually with the SEC that provides a comprehensive overview of a company's business and financial condition.
Timing is the trickiest issue.
Many companies meet any early demise because they are ahead of their time or are unable to keep up with the pace of change in the Internet economy. Perhaps the best advice for the uninitiated is to aim for a job that fits your interests and values, and that will allow you to develop your skills, regardless of the company's economic future. Whether or not your company hits big, you're going to be there for two to four years, so you should believe in its mission before you join. Fast Company LLC Fast Company retains the copyright in all of the material on these Web pages as a collective work under copyright laws. You may not copy, republish, redistribute or exploit in any manner any material from these pages without the express written consent of Fast Company.