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The Mexican
Fisherman
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 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." 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, how long will this all take?" To which the American replied, "15-20 years." "But what
then?" 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."
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(posted 20 April 2003)
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