Life - changing moments: asymmetric opportunities

After reading this article, you’ll learn:

1. What is an asymmetric opportunity?

2. How to find these opportunities.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying “life - changing moment”. Common examples may be - winning a lottery, making a 100x return on a stock or the moment you met the love of your life.

Sometimes we’re presented with moments where our decision can impact our future tremendously. If we take these decisions, the potential is virtually unlimited. But the risk is limited. Such opportunities are called asymmetric opportunities

Our time on this earth is precious and limited. If we change our mindset to think this way and look for such opportunities, we increase the chances of living a fruitful life.

To explain one example from Naval’s list above, tweeting or writing daily can generate an asymmetric opportunity. If your content provides value, it can reach thousands of people. You can build leverage this way, and many opportunities will open up for you - getting the job you want, obtaining clients or investors for your business. The possibilities are endless.

The downside is limited - at worst, people may be nasty to you, or the time you put into writing may be wasted.

How to find these opportunities.

• Always surround yourself with people smarter than yourself.

• Look for areas of disruption. e.g. bitcoin, ChatGPT.

• Keep your mind free & open, and stay curious.

• Be a creator, rather than a consumer.

• Stay outside your comfort zone.

• Experiment.

Questions for you, to create life- changing moments:

• What can I read e.g. best selling books in the area of your interest.

• What relationships can I cultivate e.g. find a mentor.

• What habit can I start today e.g. writing daily.

• What skill can I develop e.g. coding.

Let me know, what you will start today, which will lead to a life - changing moment.

Further reading

"Antifragile" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

"The Black Swan" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

"The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries.