Have you heard the story of the Mexican fisherman?

Standing on a pier in a Mexican village, an American businessman watched a small boat manned by a single fisherman pull up to the dock. He complimented the fisherman on his catch, which included several large tuna. “How long did it take you to catch them?” he asked.

“Just a little while,” replied the fisherman. The American asked why he didn’t stay out longer, then, and catch more fish.

“I have plenty to meet my family’s needs,” said the man.

“But what do you do for the rest of your day?” asked the businessman.

“I usually sleep in, fish for a while, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, and go into the village in the evening to join my friends to sip wine and play guitar. I have a full life, señor.”

The American seemed not to hear him. “With my Harvard MBA, I can help you. If you spend more time fishing, you can buy a bigger boat with your earnings. With the amount of fish you’ll then bring in, you can buy more boats. Soon you’ll have a fleet! And rather than selling to a middleman, you can sell it right to the processor or even open a cannery of your own. You can leave this village and move to Mexico City, then LA, and ultimately New York to run your growing enterprise.”

"How long will this take?” the fisherman asked.

“About fifteen to twenty years,” said the American.

“And what will I do after that, Señor?”

“At that point, you can announce an IPO. You’ll sell your stock and grow very, very rich—you’ll be a millionaire.”

“And then what?” asked the astounded fisherman.

The American beamed. “Then you can retire. Move to a coastal village and sleep in, fish for a while, play with your grandkids, take a siesta with your wife, and join your friends at the village in the evenings to have wine and play guitar.”

Most of us can take a lesson from the story of the Mexican fisherman by finding more balance in our lives. Instead of focusing on what we will accomplish down the road, we can spend our days in the present, enjoying what is right in front of us right now!

For much more advice from Joel on career development, visit https://garfinkleexecutivecoaching.com. He shares guidance on enhancing your leadership style, communication skills, and executive presence.

At https://joelinspirationalspeaker.com, book Joel for an inspirational speech or corporate training with your organization. Through stories and actionable strategies, he’ll catalyze lasting change.



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