Fisherman

The American businessman 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 yellowfin 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 he
stay out longer and catch more fish?


The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate
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, senor."


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 LA and eventually NYC
where you will run your expanding enterprise."


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


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


"But what then, senor?"


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, senor? 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."