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| Fish fish, you got 'ur wish! |
An
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 siestas 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 laughed and said, “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 New York City, 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?” 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 siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings
where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
The Mexican replied, but sir that’s what I do right now…
Image: Sunset on Los Muertos Beach, Mexico - © colorqueeny
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