An American businessman was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village on vacation when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his catch 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 that 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 answered, “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 very full and busy life, Senor.”

The American scoffed, “I am a Stanford graduate and 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, and 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 then leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then to LA, and eventually to NYC where you would run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But Senor, how long will this all take?” To which the American replied, “15 to 20 years.”


”But what then, Senor?”


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!”


”But Senor, then what?”

The American replied, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village like this, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll into the village each evening where you would sip wine and play guitar with your amigos."