My dad would always tell me the best stories growing up. Like Aesop’s Fables, there were always strong moral points to be made. They would highlight a chance to become more self aware and take a nuanced approach to life. After all, it’s not black and white but an infinite kaleidoscope of hues.
I vividly remember my father telling me the story of the Mexican fisherman and the American businessman. I can’t give credit to the original author, but if you know it, please feel free to enlighten me so that I can acknowledge them. I’m sure it was one of those chain-mail stories that did the rounds in the late ‘90s.
This is how the story goes:
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 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. The American then asked why didn’t he 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 siestas 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. 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 New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15–20 years.”
“But what then?” Asked the Mexican.
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 — 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 siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
It’s a great parable right?
Well, not exactly.
The story presents you with two rather cliché characters: (1) a brash and hubristic American businessman and (2) the diametrically opposed, laid back and “economically” poorer, Mexican fisherman. Both are seemingly ‘wealthy’ in completely different ways. Maybe a 21st Century re-write would at least reverse these stereotypes. Times are changing! I can easily name numerous empresarias of Mexico City who would happily take on this personified role of corporate motivation.
But I couldn’t help but notice the tension, envy and irony I felt comparing my business endeavours with the fisherman’s blissful life!
I believe that people operate at their best when they move towards their bliss-points. It’s a myth that you only have to work hard in order to succeed or that being self interested is always wrong. Success is highly subjective and working hard (at least indefinitely) may be diametrically opposed to someone’s definition of success. And this is where the irony bites: I do work hard as a CEO. Sometimes, like this week, very hard indeed!
The self awareness I’m cultivating helps me recognize that my business is the vehicle I’m using to get me, my family and my team to a place of abundance. There is no resentment for the hard work required, only gratefulness. And even though my ideal life does eventually involve spending long days at the beach (strictly no fishing though), unlike the fisherman, I didn’t start there! So for now, I’m more than happy to play corporate empresaria and hopefully create blissful moments en route.
Thanks for reading.
Zoe
CEO of BE School, Mexico City
