A Parable

Subject: The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman





A classic parable to review your perspective…

An American businessman was at the pier of a small Mexican village on the coast when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American compliment 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 he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish.

The Mexican replied that 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 a siesta with my wife, Maria, and stroll in the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a happy, full and busy life, señor."

The American 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. Then from the bigger boat you could expand to several boats, and 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 canner. You would control the product from processing to distribution. You could then leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, the LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

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

The American replied, "Fifteen to twenty years."

"But what then, señor?"

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, señor? Then what?"

The American finished casting his vision, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your grand kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."