Over the years, a parable has been making the rounds of entrepreneurial magazines, websites, and even the walls of Jimmy John’s restaurants. It’s known by a few different titles – “The Banker and the Fisherman” or “The Mexican Fisherman” – and it brings a lesson in the beauty of simplicity and gratitude over blind ambition.
As entrepreneurs we’re often so focused on making money that we forget the reason that we started our businesses in the first place – to create the lives we’ve always imagined. This parable helps us to keep focused on the “why” of our endeavors.
Enjoy the story; I’ll share some lessons that I’ve learned from this over the years.
“The Mexican Fisherman”
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 fin 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.” The American 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 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 could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat, and 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 how long will this take?” To which the American replied, “Fifteen to twenty years.” “But what then?” 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?” asked the fisherman. “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 evening, sip wine, and play guitar with your amigos!”
Great story, right? As many times as I’ve read it I seem to find a new lesson or two each time. Here are a few of the ones that seem to stick with me over time:
Money Isn’t Everything – Yes, I know that this one seems obvious, but it really is THE great lesson from this story. As entrepreneurs, we’re often taught that the goal of a business is to make money, but. when we see that it doesn’t take money to live the life we’ve always imagined, we can focus more deeply on the REASON we have a business in the first place.
Advice Isn’t Always Required – The Harvard MBA certainly seemed to know his stuff and came with plenty of advice, but, in the end, all of his advice didn’t get the fisherman any closer to his dreams. Read, research, and listen to advice, and then do what you know will be best for your life.
The Time Is Now – You can have the things that you want in life much sooner than you believe if you simply focus on the things that matter to you, instead of doing the things that other’s think you should do. You don’t have to work like a dog your whole life to enjoy the benefits of your business. Your business can create this life for you right now.
Live Small so You Can Live Big – Much of the advice that we’re given as entrepreneurs focuses on doing the things that others won’t, so that we can eventually live the way other’s can’t. In this case, by getting truly focused on the real purpose of his business – s…his true “WHY” -, the Mexican fisherman was able to live the life he imagined now.
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