The banker and the fisherman

coyote

Well-known member
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 fisherman replied, only a little while.

The American then asked why didn't he 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."

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, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15-20 years." "But what then?"

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."
 

Hottie

Well-known member
It's saying why spend decades making money that will enable you to retire and enjoy the simple pleasures in life, when you can just start enjoying them right now without having any (or much) money to begin with.

Ah right, i see now ha thanks !! :)
 

Rembrandt Broam

Well-known member
And perhaps be able to save up money for things like sending your kids to college so that they don't have to be fishermen...

But surely the point is that even after going to college, and getting high powered jobs as a result, the fisherman still has more quality time than they'll have. The fisherman doesn't have to be a fisherman - he chooses to be one, because that lifestyle allows him to spend more time doing the things that really matter to him.
 

coyote

Well-known member
But surely the point is that even after going to college, and getting high powered jobs as a result, the fisherman still has more quality time than they'll have. The fisherman doesn't have to be a fisherman - he chooses to be one, because that lifestyle allows him to spend more time doing the things that really matter to him.

yes... the fisherman lives his life on his own terms,

not according to the dictates of society.

is he the loser in the story?

or is he the winner?
 
yes... the fisherman lives his life on his own terms,

not according to the dictates of society.

is he the loser in the story?

or is he the winner?

I guess it comes down to figuring out what you want from life and going for it, and not caring whether "society" approves... so long as you're not infringing on the ability of other people to do the same.
 

coyote

Well-known member
is achieving just for the sake of achieving really an achievement?

or as Dorothy Gale said, "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard, because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with."

i like butterscotch pudding
 

philly2bits

Well-known member
yes... the fisherman lives his life on his own terms,

not according to the dictates of society.

is he the loser in the story?

or is he the winner?

He's the loser because...

Forget it. I'm in a good mood and must keep the cynical thoughts at bay

So he's the winner.
 
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