The mental model that has helped me make over €100,000
→ Positive optionality and asymmetric risk.
This principle applies to the stock market, work, and life itself. It’s about identifying opportunities where your losses are limited, but the potential gains are extraordinary—even if they happen less often.
👇 My story, in short:
Moving to Switzerland seemed completely crazy. I’d just finished university, had barely any work experience, no job, almost no savings, and nowhere to live.
From the outside, it looked extremely risky. A lot of people were stunned when I explained my plan: move to a farm in the middle of the Swiss Alps until I found a job or, worst case, starved to death.
But was it really that risky?
In the worst-case scenario, I could lose a few thousand euros and a few months of my life looking for a job. A manageable loss at my age, especially knowing that back in Spain, I had the support of my family and friends if things didn’t work out.
On the other hand, what if everything went according to plan? The starting salary for a junior programmer in Switzerland is around €80,000 a year—with a lower tax burden than in Spain. Coming from a lower-middle-class family, this didn’t just mean making more money. It meant a substantial improvement in my quality of life and a more secure future.
Bottom line: I was risking a few thousand euros to potentially make hundreds of thousands in the years ahead. A bet with limited risk and exponential upside—exactly the kind of opportunity I love.
