I’ve been spending a bit of time talking to Dale recently about life, careers, and where we both want to end up in the next few years. During one of our recent iChats, I was reminded of this Mexican Fisherman Story I heard a few years ago and managed to track it down. After I showed it to Dale he suggested I post it up here, because it has a fairly important message in it.
An American tourist 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 tourist 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 tourist then asked, “Why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?”
The Mexican said, “With this I have more than enough to support my family’s needs.”
The tourist 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 tourist scoffed, ” I can 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 could leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York where you could run your ever-expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
The tourist replied, “15 to 20 years.”
“But what then?” asked the Mexican.
The tourist laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would 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 siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
Ah, so true. If you aren’t doing something that will make you happy, then what is the point in doing it. For example, just last week someone asked me why I wasn’t going to be an accountant even though I have the ability to be one. The answer was simple but she just didn’t get it. I would be miserable as an accountant. Instead I’m pursuing my goal of becoming an entertainment lawyer.
He who knows he has enough is rich.
Lao-Tzu
Very enlightening!
So true.
Amen.
I have a beautiful wife, a beautiful newborn son and a wonderful family.
I could not ask for more than that.
Who could.
“The tourist then asked, “Why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?”
The Mexican said, “With this I have more than enough to support my family’s needs.” ”
This is my philosophy of working. When I am asked why I “only” work part-time, my answer is “Because I can.”
So good.
My soon-to-be-ex-husband used to bug me to get a job that paid more. And I could, my organizational skills would be highly utilized in some boring back room of a stuffy office building. I much prefer my jewelry store Office Manager position. Not as much money, but oh so much more enjoyable. He just couldn’t wrap his mind around it. But if I’m not happy with what I spend 40 hours a week doing, what’s the point of doing it?
Sounds like the “New Rich” to me.
Tim Ferriss tells this exact story in his book “The 4 Hour Work Week.”
I read it a few months ago but this almost looks like a cut and past from the book.
I found it to be an interesting read.
I took more from it than I thought I would.
I actually read The Four Hour Work Week. I thought most of it was fluff, and the guy was in a unique position to be able to do that. But I thought his ideas about vacation and retirement were pretty sound, in that it actually costs far less to do all the things that most people want to do (like travel the world, go sailing, etc).
Man, that’s great.
[quote comment=”50540″]He who knows he has enough is rich.
Lao-Tzu[/quote]
Great man… but i must say this “joke” really made my day… Thanks, and that “4 hour work week”, book sounds like an interesting read I’ll definitely be picking it up sometime soon.
[quote comment=”50548″]My soon-to-be-ex-husband used to bug me to get a job that paid more. And I could, my organizational skills would be highly utilized in some boring back room of a stuffy office building. I much prefer my jewelry store Office Manager position. Not as much money, but oh so much more enjoyable. He just couldn’t wrap his mind around it. But if I’m not happy with what I spend 40 hours a week doing, what’s the point of doing it?[/quote]
Ha, I can SO relate…my ex STILL says I’m “wasting” myself at my job and he says I have so much more potential than what I’m using. Money’s everything to him…means little to me (more than having the bills paid). I LOVE my job – I run the place, have freedom there and the people (my customers) mean the world to me. I was in a high paying job as an exec secretary when we were together, but I was miserable and hated going to work. Sometimes you just have to weigh out the priorities and money doesn’t trump happiness in my world…he just can’t understand that and it’s probably a good indication of why we’re not longer together.
I loved this post btw.
Love it. Describes my philosophy on life beautifully. What is the point of life if you don’t enjoy it, if you spend all your time and energy planning for the future?
Thats a wonderful joke/story. We could all learn a lot from it. Money can buy you a lot of “stuff”, but u can’t put a price on the things that really make life worth living.
The happiest part of my life is friday, payday. Working sucks, school sucks, everyone I meet is a jackass, hanging out with friends is fun, but money makes it more fun. I live in Vancouver, not a small village, and you can’t pay the rent with fun.
i’ve read this before and love it. i’ve always been trying to relocate it and now i have, thanks!
its great perspective on the ‘full wheel/circle’ of life
What if one finds pleasure in business? Find a job you like and you never work a day in your life.
[quote comment=”50575″]What if one finds pleasure in business? Find a job you like and you never work a day in your life.[/quote]
That’s true, but I think that very few people actually end up in a job they love.
it’s so true… doing the job search thing right now, i’ve caught myself saying that if i’m offered two jobs within a short time span, i’ll take the one that pays more… although, my reasonings for that is to be able to buy a car, a house and have enough in savings that in the future, if i want to take a year off from working, or once i figure out what i actually want to do with my life, i’ll be able to do so without concern over money.
a very wise guy once told me, make money when you are young, and find fulfillment later on in life (although if you can do both, go for it, but that’s not how society is anymore unfortunately)
if interested, i suggest reading anything about sociology and the comparison of north american and european cultures (work hours, lengths of vacations, etc). fascinating difference… when i was at a recruiting firm, i said i want a proper 9-5 job, with work that doesn’t follow me home. might as well of been put in a straight jacket for saying that…
apologies for the essay…
There are many people who share that mentality – my parents are among them. I, however, do not, and have purposefully made compromises between enjoying my life and setting myself up for a financially secure future. Most of the reasons are personal, but I had a cousin die when he was 30 years old, quite unexpectedly, and it sort of made me realize that betting on the future isn’t always a sure thing.
Exactly….my Mom busted her tail working 16 hours a day, sometimes 10 days in a row. “For the future”. At 50, she dropped from a brain aneurysm and was paralyzed on her left side. She recently died of brain cancer and it’s all made me reassess “the golden years” and how we’re lucky if we even make it there.
Sure, it makes sense to work hard and think about tomorrow but I also believe you should live while you can. Because you just never know what the future holds.
tiffanychantelle- I think that’s the idea. So many people settle when there should be a balance of what you love to do, and a way to live by it.
Duane Storey- I was going to respond to that girl’s comment, but you took the words right out of my mouth! I loved this joke btw, funny with a life lesson. I really enjoyed it!
Brilliant mate, thats getting framed and going up in my study
GDP is our prime economic yardstick but it’s just a measure of money changing hands. It makes no attempt to characterize those transactions (saw a study of how a superfund waste cleanup site was great for increasing GDP) and places no value on so-called “intangibles” like free time or the environment. I would propose a new economic progress indicator: the number of hours a week that an average citizen must work to provide a set standard of living (subject to environmental concerns, health impacts, and other constraints) for himself and one child. The goal should be to reduce this number over time. It could include, if desired, bureaucratic barriers that force people to work longer than they need too and of course the standard of living should be updated with time to reflect advances in technology. This is merely a yardstick; someone could always work more than they needed to in order to purchase luxuries.
There are some that would read/hear that and not get the irony. It also shows that life itself is cyclical in ways you don’t always expect; the potential for self-fulfilling prophecies lurk everywhere.
[quote comment=”50585″]
There are many people who share that mentality – my parents are among them. I, however, do not, and have purposefully made compromises between enjoying my life and setting myself up for a financially secure future.
Most of the reasons are personal, but I had a cousin die when he was 30 years old, quite unexpectedly, and it sort of made me realize that betting on the future isn’t always a sure thing.[/quote]
yeah, that is always a risk. i refuse to work hours upon hours upon hours, i just won’t do it. but as far as what i’m doing, i don’t really care at the moment. i guess i might have an alternative reading to it, because i take it strictly about work (always have fulfillment in your life, but not necessarily from work… make the money, live your life outside of work how you want, and then, once saved up enough to be financial secure, have your hobbies be your job)
At least it was not Achy Breaky heart by Billy Ray Cyrus or My love will go on by Celine Dion my nightmare songs. And really even a few seconds of those songs have the same effect as that dream to me. It’s kind of strange how a simple song can make paradise feel like you are trapped in a steel cage. Ear plugs work great though in real life.
Sorry that was meant for another article. Me and lack of coffee and snow don’t mix.
The “Lazy” will latch on to any excuse to remain lazy. I am by no means suggesting that everybody who agrees with this article is lazy. The sad truth to our society is that we are quick to criticize all that happens around us yet fail to offer any solutions. Laziness and this “Entitlement” attitude is destroying our country.
I believe it is noble to want to go out and give our time to the causes we believe in…better yet, give your time and give $100k and you will be shocked at how much good you can do. This is not what most do though. They generally just give their opinion… and that is just not enough any more.
[quote comment=”50586″]Exactly….my Mom busted her tail working 16 hours a day, sometimes 10 days in a row. “For the future”. At 50, she dropped from a brain aneurysm and was paralyzed on her left side. She recently died of brain cancer and it’s all made me reassess “the golden years” and how we’re lucky if we even make it there.
Sure, it makes sense to work hard and think about tomorrow but I also believe you should live while you can. Because you just never know what the future holds.[/quote]
I know what you mean girl – two years ago Tuesday I lost my mum and yesterday was the funeral of my young sister in law. Heartbreaking stuff.
Another brilliant post, as usual ;0)
Matthew, my Other Half is going to use this Mexican Tale at work – can’t really say what he does (sensitive controversial) but he treats some very bad and dangerous people. Thanks big guy.
xx
OOPS!!! Sorry Duane… Just realised this wasn’t Matthew’s post (gets big whip out and beats her own butt…)
Jesus was awesome. Not sure about the faith that followed him.
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
“Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?’ or “What shall we drink?’ or “What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be provided you.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
[quote comment=”50636″]
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.[/quote]
Isn’t that how we wound up with global warming?
Nice. Dale, Have you read A New Earth?
I haven’t been on here in a while, but was happy to see this posted.
This is one of my favourite ‘life lesson’ stories/jokes. I heard it years ago, and when I’m playing with my kids or lounging by the pool with friends and they tell me how hard they’ve been working, of all of the upgrades made on their homes, and how they have reached the next award level at work…I often think of the story of the mexican with the perfect life in his sleepy fishing village, smile and reply how very proud of them I am (and I am proud of my friends achievements), and then I ask what they’ve been doing with their families, and their kids? They usually have 1 evening set aside a week for their families, if a deal doesn’t get in the way. One evening a week. 52 evenings over the span of a year to spend with the people they love most in this world.
I may not have my dream career or be making tons of money. But at the end of the day, I do what most people want. I work, I spend time with my kids, playing, laughing, doing. I enjoy dinners with my family and the company of my lover and look at it this way…when the kids are grown and out of the house (which is in the blink of an eye for those of you that don’t have any), I can then worry about my big career and the major upgrades…or, I can maintain the joy and balance in my life that I share with the mexican man in the sleepy village….