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."
