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."
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