The mental model that has helped me make +€100,000
→ THE SECRET: positive optionality and asymmetric risk.
I’ve applied this principle to the stock market, work, and life itself. It’s about identifying opportunities where the 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 graduated, with barely any work experience, no job, almost no savings, and nowhere to live.
From the outside, the decision seemed 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, in the 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 work. 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 better future.
It meant EARNING MORE THAN BOTH MY PARENTS COMBINED—although, to be fair, one of them was unemployed (thanks, Spain).
Bottom line: I was risking a few thousand euros for the potential to earn hundreds of thousands in the years ahead. A bet with limited risk and exponential upside—exactly the kind of opportunity I love.
