The Fisherman and The Businessman

SUCCESS

 

It is in our human nature to desire to be successful. We all want success. But how do we measure success? 

 

This is a story about a Mexican fisherman who illustrates success in a simple life well lived.

 

The 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 businessman 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 businessman 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 businessman 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 a 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 businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I 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 and eventually open 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 New York City where you would run your expanding enterprise."

 

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But señor, how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "15-20 years." "But what then, señor?" The businessman 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, señor? Then what?" The businessman 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 a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

 

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"

 

-Author Unknown

 

We live in a world in which being successful means everything. Success is measured by power, popularity, control, achievement, and winning. By having more and being more we think this equals "success". The businessman measured success by the accumulation of wealth and by living a plush life. Sure, wealth may momentarily help us to escape emptiness but it cannot cure it. Only love, happiness and peace can fill the empty voids in our lives.

"Money has never made a man happy yet, nor will it. The more a man has, the more he wants" -Benjamin Franklin

The businessman encouraged the fisherman to accumulate "things". "Buy a bigger boat," then "buy several boats," and then eventually buy a "fleet of fishing boats." The businessman claimed all this would lead to power and status. What does all this really mean?

"Too many people buy things they don't want, with money they don't have, to impress people they don't like" -Will Smith

To me it sounds like more "things" we have, the more we have to show off our increasing ego to hide behind the insecurities because we are afraid to bring forth what we really want in life, we fear judgement and falling behind in the food chain of being filthy rich. People use the phrase, "the bigger the better". Well I say "less is more". 

Life is not a Race, but indeed a Journey. Be honest. You will get the same in return. Work Hard. You will appreciate everything that much more. Be choosy with people. Quality beats quantity everytime. Say "Thank you", "I Love You", and "Great Job" to someone every day of your life. Someone deserves to hear it.  Let your handshake mean more than what is enclosed in pen and paper. Dream your own dreams. It allows you to become that which you aspire to, not someone else's vision of you. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free.

In closing, these wise words from Waldo Emerson would have to sum up with this to the fullest on my definition of success...

"To laugh often and always; to win the respect of loved ones and the affection of children; to learn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best inothers; to leave the world a little bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed socialcondition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."