Working Towards What You Already Have

The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal
Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.
Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The
American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and
asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."

The American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch
more fish?"

The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my
family's needs."

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your
time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with
my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village
each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have
a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You
should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger
boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several
boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of
selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the
processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the
product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave
this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los
Angeles and eventually New York where you will run your ever-
expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15 to 20 years."

"But what then?" asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is
right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the
public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions?...Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal
fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with
your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the
evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your
amigos."


- Author Unknown