Fishing Happiness (IM#99)

There is a Mexican Fisherman story that teaches us how to fish happiness. This story reveals the secret behind doing more with less and also provokes us to be patient and slow down in this hurried world.

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor's order. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked down to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just a fisherman had docked and inside a boat were several large yellow fins tuna.

The American complimented on the quality of the fish and asked, "How long did it take you to catch this Tuna?"

"Only a little while." The Mexican replied.

"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American then asked.

"I have enough to support my family and give a few to my friends," the mexican replied as he unloaded them into the baskets.

"But... What do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican looked up and smiled, "I sleep late,fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into my village, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have full and busy life Senor."

The American laughed and stood tall. "Sir, I'm a Harvard MBA and can help you. You should spend more time fishing and buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy many boats with increased haul."

He continued, " Instead of selling your catch to the middleman you could directly sell to the costumers eventually opening your own cannery. You would control product, processing and distribution, You would need to leave this coastal village, of course and move to LA and then to New York City, where you could expand your enterprise."

The Mexican asked, "But senor, how long will it take?"

To which the American replied." 15 to 20 years.25 tops."

"But then what Senor?"

The American laughed and said, "That's the beat part. When the time is right you could announce an IPO and sell you company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions, Senor? Then what?"

"Then you would retire and move to small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your children, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll into the village in the evening, where could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos."