I will do a double blind experiment where I do startups in one version of my life and don't do them in another. Then I'll know whether doing a startup damaged my career.
Ok, just kidding.
I knew it was the right move when I realized I was learning 5 times as much in the startup.
Nothing matters more to your career than the development of your brain.
And if you're not excited by what you're learning, if its become stale and dreary, make a change.
Just one note from myself. I don't think your career depends on your 'brain development' or self taught mad skills. It all comes down to gaining experiences imho.
What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't endeavour in a startup just because you like coding, and you like learning new languages and whatnot. Being a great technical person most of the times doesn't suffice.
I think you're brain is developing when you have experiences.
Not all learning is technical. I didn't even mention that specifically. You can learn marketing, sales, leadership skills, project management, customer relations and qualities like tenacity and creativity at startups.
Ok, just kidding.
I knew it was the right move when I realized I was learning 5 times as much in the startup.
Nothing matters more to your career than the development of your brain.
And if you're not excited by what you're learning, if its become stale and dreary, make a change.