Perspectives

[M.D. Holloway]

A boat was docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.
A tourist complimented the local fishermen on the quality of their fish and... asked how long it took to catch them.
"Not very long" they answered in unison.
"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"
The fishermen explained that their small catches were sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children, and take siestas with our wives. In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs.
We have a full life."
The tourist interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
"And after that?"
"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City!!! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?"
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen.
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
"With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what we are doing now. So what's the point wasting twenty-five years?" asked the Mexicans.

[aigel]

Maybe you should take a time out and do some reading? This story is older than you, I'd wager:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anekdote_zur_Senkung_der_Arbeitsmoral

But it IS a good story. I have to remind myself sometimes ...

There was a lake where I used to live. One side was high ground and safe to build houses on. It was expensive land that had beautiful weekend homes with boat dry docks etc. The other side was a marsh and flooded regularly, so it was cheap and only temporary structures such as mobile homes, trailers and wooden piers etc. were put on it.

Every weekend when we'd be on the lake boating, the high ground boats were hanging in their docks covered up, nobody home, shutters closed. On the marsh side EVERYONE was out enjoying themselves with family, friends, playing music, drinking, singing ... That was a real eye opener to me.

G

[manbridge 74]

I sniff a replicant.

[onewhippedpuppy]

You can't take it with you, and I've never heard someone state "I wish I had spent more time at work" on their deathbed.

[ckelly78z]

I let others play the "keep up with the Jones's" game. We live in farm country, and don't really care what the niegbors are saying (there aren't any very close). I drive old cars with alot of miles on them, fix most of the problems myself, and wear work clothes almost exclusively.

I really like that Mexican story, and can just picture the tourist shaking his head at how poor those people were, when in actuallity, he should look in the mirror.

[Don Ro]

Oh, I don't know.
I've lived with it and without it...and I prefer with it.
"It" = $$$$$$$$$$
.
Of course, "It" has given me the freedom of a relaxed retirement which I enjoy more than I enjoyed the effort of making "It".

'Not sure I made sense, right there.
Maybe I should take a siesta.

[sammyg2]

If the fish suddenly stop biting, the fisherman and his family would quickly run out of food.
A day to day existance is NOT all fun and games.

I do not live extravagantly although I could if i wanted to, but i have enough $$$$ to not have to worry if the fish are biting or not.
Having enough money to make sure your family will always be taken care of is a responsibility
a man should not take lightly.

[930addict]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

A boat was docked in a tiny Mexican fishing village.
A tourist complimented the local fishermen on the quality of their fish and... asked how long it took to catch them.
"Not very long" they answered in unison.
"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?"
The fishermen explained that their small catches were sufficient to meet their needs and those of their families.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"We sleep late, fish a little, play with our children, and take siestas with our wives. In the evenings, we go into the village to see our friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs.
We have a full life."
The tourist interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."
"And after that?"
"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City!!! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."
"How long would that take?"
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years." replied the tourist.
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," answered the tourist, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the fishermen.
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."
"With all due respect sir, but that's exactly what we are doing now. So what's the point wasting twenty-five years?" asked the Mexicans.

I heard this one my freshman year of college. 😉

[GH85Carrera]

I too live fairly modestly. Zero debt and drive old cars that I can fix.

To have enough money to pay for insurance and to maintain my property and hire the services of a doctor or hospital are very important to me. That is why I keep working and collecting more money.

If the fisherman in the story has a hurricane wipe out his boat and fishing village is is going to be very hungry fast. If his boat is stolen then what?

Like many short warm fuzzy stories reality does not fit.

[Bugsinrugs]

To correct the story. When he is old he will be playing( or babysitting ) grandkids. Siestas will be spent sleeping with his wife( if she is still alive) because he does not have Viagra. That's my take anyway.