SUCCESS - A Simple Life Well Lived

The 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 businessman complimented the Mexian on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, "only a little while."

The businessman then asked, "why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?"

"I have enough to support my family's immediate needs," said the fisherman.

"But what do you do with the rest of your time?" asked the businessman.

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Maria, and then I 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 fisherman replied.

The businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I 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 and eventually open 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 New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise."

"But, senor, how long will all this take?" questioned the Mexican fisherman.

"15-20 years," replied the businessman.

"But what then?" asked the fisherman.

The businessman 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?"

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

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said "isn't that what I'm doing right now?"