Quality of Life
 
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."