Enjoy life now or wait after ten to twenty years later?
An investment banker was standing on the pier of a small coastal village in Mexico when a tiny fishing boat pulled up beside him. Inside were several large tuna.
“Great catch,” the American said. “How long did it take you to catch them?”
“Just a few hours,” the fisherman replied.
“Then why don’t you stay out longer and catch more?” the banker asked.
“I already have enough to meet my family’s needs,” the fisherman said calmly.
“So what do you do with the rest of your time?” the American asked.
The fisherman smiled.
“I sleep in late. I fish a little. I play with my kids. I take a nap with my wife in the afternoon. In the evenings, I go into the village, drink wine, and play guitar with my friends. I have a full, rich life.”
The American laughed. “I have an MBA from Harvard, and I could help you. You should wake up early and spend more time fishing. With the extra income, you could buy a bigger boat—then another, and another. Eventually you’d own a whole fleet. You’d open a processing plant, hire employees, sell directly to distributors, and even build your own cannery. You’d move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles, and eventually New York to manage the growing business.”
“How long would that take?” the fisherman asked.
“About fifteen to twenty years,” the banker replied.
“And then what?” the fisherman said.
“Then, at the right moment, you’d take the company public, sell shares, and become very wealthy—millions of dollars.”
“Millions?” the fisherman repeated. “And then?”
“Then you’d retire,” the banker said. “You’d move to a small coastal village, sleep in late, fish for fun, play with your kids, take afternoon naps with your wife, and spend your evenings drinking wine and playing guitar with friends. You’d finally live the life you want.”
The fisherman looked at him and said: “But that’s how I’m living now.”
We often postpone the simple joys of life for “someday,” chasing big success—while real happiness may already be right in front of us.
So whose side are you on: the fisherman’s or the investor’s? Curious to hear your thoughts.
Note: This story has become widely shared as a folk tale, but it does have an author—not an American, but a German Nobel Prize winner. Heinrich Böll wrote this satirical piece in 1963, titled “Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral” (“Anecdote Concerning the Lowering of Productivity”).
Adapted from the article shared by our Facebook friend, Motorland recently.
First picture taken from mStar, second picture from Motorland.
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