Skip to content

How to win at life by taking a portfolio approach to everything you do.

Mario Schulzke
Mario Schulzke
2 min read

I studied finance in college and even worked for American Express Financial Services. I loved some of the principles that drove half of our decision-making. I hated the greed that drove the other half. So ultimately, I ended up in marketing.

One of the principles that stuck with me was the idea of having a diversified portfolio. I've applied that principle beyond how I manage my investments to how I manage my life and career.

Here is how you can do the same.

  1. Build income streams beyond your day job. Eventually, that income might come from your investments but until you're wealthy, try to either build a side project or at least do just a bit of freelance on the side. It will allow you to create a second or third income stream, lessen your dependency on your day job, exponentially scale your skill acquisition and benefit your employer by having a more competent, better, and more independent employee. At this point, the majority of my income comes from income streams two and three.
  2. Network beyond your industry. I spent the first decade of my carer in Advertising. It would have been comfortable to just hang out with other people in Advertising. Yet instead, I built relationships with entrepreneurs, accountants, authors, lawyers, professors, coders, and engineers. That did two things. First, It made me a more well-rounded marketer, as I could bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table. Second, it ultimately led to me spending the next decade of my career in academia and then technology. Now into my third decade, I get to pick opportunities from many industries, which is kind of mind-blowing.
  3. Do interesting shit outside your comfort zone. I used to be a pretty good soccer player. It's all I did, and if I wanted to maximize my confidence, I would have just kept playing soccer. But I ultimately decided to become a rookie and start trying hobbies outside my comfort zones. With that perspective, I would have never learned to fly fish, done an Ironman, an ultra marathon, rode the continental divide on my mountain bike, or walked the JMT with my wife and one of my best friends. All those experiences started in rookie mode but ultimately made me a much more well-rounded, less egotistical, and happier person.

Last but not least, please make sure also to take a diversified portfolio approach to your investments. Because that works too.

Ps. Full disclosure. I am not applying this principle to my marriage.

LifeWork

Mario Schulzke Twitter

My name is Mario and I grow ideas, companies and hot peppers.


Related Posts

Members Public

Solar

We are getting solar panels installed at our house. Given the recent electricity price increases, I am confident it's a good investment. But to me, solar is the ultimate sign of loving your kids and country. I want my daughter to live in a place with clean air to breathe

Members Public

Granted

Once you live in a lovely big house, it's hard to live in a small one again. Once you drive a luxury car, it's hard to drive a normal one again. Once you fly first class, "comfort plus" loses its luster. None of these changes are real. They're felt. But

Members Public

Stuff

Beyond life’s necessities like shelter, food, and healthcare, we often use our money (or credit) to buy stuff. Clothes, gadgets, tools, toys, and whatever aligns with whoever we aspire to be and be seen as. The more money you have, the more stuff you can buy. Even though it