An American businessman 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
yellowfin 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, Senor."
The American then asked, "Why didn't you 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 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, Senor."
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 LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding
enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But Senor, how long will this all
take?"
To which the American replied, "15-20 years."
"But what then, Senor?"
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, Senor? 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."
"You mean being a Harvard MBA, you have to go thru all that
to finally get to where I already am, Senor?"
