#395: Working For What You've Got

The following story comes from the MTL Stories that Coach collection on "The Secrets of Success".

An 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 tuna.

The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked why he hadn’t caught 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 I could help you.”

He then spent a couple of hours outlining how the Mexican fisherman could fish more, buy a bigger boat and land more fish. He could then afford a fleet of boats and sell direct to the processor.

Eventually he could move to somewhere like New York where he could open his own cannery, and, in time, sell his business for millions.

"But what then?" asked the Mexican.

The American said, “Ah, that’s the best bit. Then you could 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.“

Moral: The wisest are those who appreciate what they've already got.