The Illusion of Security
You've been taught that security is a lifetime job. Permanent contract, monthly salary, paid vacation. It feels safe.
But it's a 20th-century illusion.
My father worked 35 years at the same company. It was "safe." Until it wasn't. A change in direction, a restructuring, and suddenly the permanent contract meant nothing. He had to reinvent himself at 55 without having built anything of his own.
The real risk isn't starting something of your own. The real risk is depending on a single source of income you don't control.
What Is the Optionality Mindset
Optionality is simple: you have multiple paths forward.
It's not about luck. It's about designing your life so you have real options when you need them.
Naval Ravikant explains it well: "Wealth is having options." And so is security.
When you build something of your own—even if it's small—you have options:
- You can negotiate better at your current job because you're not completely dependent on it
- You can leave a toxic job without panic because you have alternative income
- You can make decisions based on what you want, not what you desperately need
- You can invest in learning new skills without immediate pressure
That's real security. It's not a contract. It's freedom.
The Paradox of Risk
Now comes the counterintuitive part:
Starting something small while working is less risky than relying completely on your employer.
Why? Because you have a cushion. You have time. You have options.
This is the asymmetric mindset: the potential benefits of building something of your own are unlimited, but your risk is limited because you have employment income.
While an employee has:
- Risk: Losing everything (the job) = 100% of income disappears
- Benefit: Salary increase = maybe 10-15% more
It's a horrible asymmetry. All risk, little reward.
How I Built Optionality
Five years ago, I was a developer at a company. Well-paid, secure.
But I started building small things on weekends. Nothing revolutionary. A blog, some open-source projects, small tools I sold.
At first they generated little. But they generated *something*. And more importantly: they generated options.
When I had a bad experience at work, I didn't panic. I could leave. I could negotiate. I could take risks.
Eventually, those side projects became my main income source. But the point isn't that everyone needs to be a full-time entrepreneur.
The point is that having options changes everything.
Three Levels of Optionality
Level 1: Portable Skills
The most basic and accessible form of optionality is having skills others want.
If you're a programmer, you can freelance. If you're a designer, you can sell designs. If you're a writer, you can write for others.
You don't need a product. You just need someone willing to pay for your work.
This is real security: even if you lose your job, you have immediate options.
Level 2: Small Product or Service
A step further is creating something that works without you.
It doesn't have to be big. It could be:
- A course you sell
- A tool that solves a problem
- A recurring service
- A newsletter with sponsors
In Spain, many developers build small SaaS projects while working. They don't generate much, but they generate enough to create options.
Level 3: Multiple Income Streams
This is true security: not depending on a single source.
My current portfolio:
- Freelance work (flexible, I can increase or decrease)
- Digital products (passive income)
- Teaching (courses, content)
- Consulting (occasional but high-value income)
If one disappears, the others continue. That's security.
The Real Cost of Traditional "Security"
A permanent contract has a cost you don't see:
Opportunity: While you build options, others are in comfortable jobs. But comfortable is the enemy of growth.
Dependence: Every year you go without options, your dependence increases. Mortgage, family, commitments. Suddenly, you can't make decisions. Your employer knows this.
Obsolescence: Skills age. If you spend 10 years in a specific job without building anything of your own, what happens if that job disappears? You're vulnerable.
Mindset: An employee thinks about keeping the job. A builder thinks about creating value. They're completely different mindsets.
How to Start Today
You don't need to quit tomorrow. You need to start small.
Step 1: Identify a skill you have that others want.
Step 2: Offer it. Freelance, consulting, whatever. Generate alternative income.
Step 3: Reinvest that income into building something more scalable.
Step 4: As it grows, you have real options.
It's not fast. But it's safe. And it's real.
The Mental Shift
The optionality mindset is a shift in perspective:
- It's not "abandoning security." It's recognizing that traditional security no longer exists.
- It's not "taking crazy risks." It's taking controlled risks while you have a cushion.
- It's not "being an entrepreneur." It's being resilient.
Those who understand this sleep better. Not because they're rich. But because they have options.
And options are true security.
The Takeaway
The question isn't "Should I quit my job?"
The question is "Do I have options if I need to change?"
If the answer is no, you're at risk. No matter how safe your contract looks.
Start building optionality today. Small. While working. No rush.
Your future options will thank you.