The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman

The Mexican Fisherman and the Investment Banker -(Author Unknown)

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, and 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 have an MBA from Harvard, and can help you,” he said. “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, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middle-man, you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening up your own cannery. You could control the product, processing, and distribution,” he said. “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles, and eventually to 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, “Oh, 15 to 20 years or so.”

“But what then?” asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time was 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 could retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”

Reflection

Each year of my life I look at the last and feel amazement with how far I’ve gone. Each new opportunity and situation completed has inspired a new direction and another new beginning.

Almost two years ago I was given an opportunity to be on a TV show focused on my adventurism and self reliance. I went through months of interviewing, research scenarios, and panel discussions to dissect my passion. In the final review a psychologist was brought in to determine my mental stability when isolated for the duration of the show pushing me to a limit I’ve never experienced before. In the end I boarded a plane back home as I quickly developed a fever and severe flu like symptoms from the stress and anxiety I went through to achieve the goal.

I declined the role and found comfort knowing I could join my wife on a trip for her own spiritual journey to find her inner voice. It ended up being a trip I took a short 2 day hike through some mountains in the wilderness that changed my mind to start living in the now and stop pushing so hard for a future that may never come.

I was laid off from a role within a company I was determined to be a part of for what seemed to be forever and sent on a path to find a new career while figuring out how to understand what happened to me. I had offers and excitedly took one that felt the most challenging and opportunistic. I was ready for something to pay off big. I wanted to do my 15 to 20 years pushing change and improvement in an environment that was poised for greatness. This wasn’t something I did lightly but it was something against my desire to find love and peace in everyday.

Revisiting that decision a year later I’m at that same crossroad again but with a wiser more holistic vision about my previous choice. I’ve been down that road before. I pushed hard and lost a great deal of time trying to achieve greatness so I could again feel love and joy. This time I followed my heart and went for where I could find that love right now and embrace an opportunity that aligned best with my passions, desires, and supported me as much as I support it back.

Reading the parable of the mexican fisherman resonates heavily with both sides of my own thoughts and desires. I related to both roles, and with a recent post by David Heinemeier Hansson referencing the symbolism within this parable I felt it was worth sharing with the chance you too might be inspired.