One of my professors at Saint Mary’s University gave this to us as a handout; I believe it was my ethics class professor. I always thought it was a great story and held onto it. I came across it the other day and decided that I would reproduce it here. Give it a read, it has a fantastic message.

An American businessman was at a pier in a small costal 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 he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish.

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.

The American then asked the Mexican how he spent the rest of his 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, señor.”

The American scoffed, “I’m a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and, with the proceedes, 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 costal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “but señor, how ling will this all take?”

To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”

“But what then señor?” 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. You’ll become very rich, you would make millions!”

“Millions, señor?” replied the Mexican. “Then what?”

The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small costal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll into the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”

- Author Unknown.