What really matters in life

21 replies
I was out browsing and ran across this and thought I would share as it does have a valuable lesson.
Source: Mexican Fisherman Meets Harvard MBA: What Matters in Life?

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A vacationing American businessman standing on the pier of a quaint coastal fishing village in southern Mexico watched as a small boat with just one young Mexican fisherman pulled into the dock. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. Enjoying the warmth of the early afternoon sun, the American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American casually asked.

"Oh, a few hours," the Mexican fisherman replied.

"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American businessman then asked.

The Mexican warmly replied, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The businessman then became serious, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

Responding with a smile, the Mexican fisherman answered, "I sleep late, play with my children, watch ballgames, and take siesta with my wife. Sometimes in the evenings I take a stroll into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs..."

The American businessman impatiently interrupted, "Look, I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you to be more profitable. You can start by fishing several hours longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. With the additional income that larger boat will bring, before long you can buy a second boat, then a third one, and so on, until you have an entire fleet of fishing boats."

Proud of his own sharp thinking, he excitedly elaborated a grand scheme which could bring even bigger profits, "Then, instead of selling your catch to a middleman you'll be able to sell your fish directly to the processor, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this tiny coastal village and move to Mexico City, or possibly even Los Angeles or New York City, where you could even further expand your enterprise."

Having never thought of such things, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But how long will all this take?"

After a rapid mental calculation, the Harvard MBA pronounced, "Probably about 15-20 years, maybe less if you work really hard."

"And then what, señor?" asked the fisherman.

"Why, that's the best part!" answered the businessman with a laugh. "When the time is right, you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions? Really? What would I do with it all?" asked the young fisherman in disbelief.

The businessman boasted, "Then you could happily retire with all the money you've made. You could move to a quaint coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, play with your grandchildren, watch ballgames, and take siesta with your wife. You could stroll to the village in the evenings where you could play the guitar and sing with your friends all you want."

The moral of the story is: Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think.
#life #matters #wha
  • Profile picture of the author Michael Ten
    Nice point. It can be nice to slow down and relax sometimes.
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  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    i have seen this story several times..

    the best book to read on it is the 4 hour work week.. it isn't really about working 4 hours a week as tim ferris is a very busy guy .. it is about putting work and living your life hand and hand ..

    most people spend so much time working they never get around to living life..

    and right now if you are under 40 years old the advancements in anti aging ..and the future rise of integrated medicine ..home testing for everything, dna testing , stem cell treatments .. means that we can easilt see many of us who don't parish to random life events .. living between 150-200 years of age and not getting old withered and frail ..

    so you will be working a lot longer than your teachers told you you would.. and trying to get rich and live easy is not an option either ..the only choice is to find a way to support yourself doing thing you are passionate about doing... great artists never stop creating things ..
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  • Profile picture of the author geekpreneurinc
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author stan22
      Good find, Jesse!

      Actually, neither of those two men has any control whatsoever about their life fulfillment, and resulting level of satisfaction.

      All we humans do is living a life.
      As to how we live it, some of us can kidd ourselves better than others.
      Get this: you control/influence nothing!
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    • Profile picture of the author eugenedm
      People, relationship and love matter in life. We can have people around us but not all of them are good. We can have relationships but not all of them are healthy relationship. So there has to be love in our lives or life ain't worth living at all.
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  • Profile picture of the author RyanLow
    Thanks for sharing, Jesse. Makes me pause and think
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  • Profile picture of the author JeremiahSay
    if given a choice, which one would you rather be? The fisherman or the MBA?

    No doubt, I choosing to be the fisherman He seems to be much happier than any dick tom harry in the city.
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  • Profile picture of the author therenegadeleader
    Either to wait 10 to 15 years just to be financially independent and can spend a whole day with family or take enough and spend time with family with your spare time.
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  • Profile picture of the author nuworld
    When it all it all comes down to it, it is the person you become to be.
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  • Eye catching story. Its actually a dream for a lot to step back and relax as well a story for others who are very satisfied with what they earn and support thier families..they can earn big and make a fortune. Thanks Jesse!
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  • Profile picture of the author motivatedchampion
    Excellent story and nice reminder...

    "Know what really matters in life, and you may find that it is already much closer than you think."
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  • Profile picture of the author eternalsongbird
    Choosing in a good life partner really matters in life. Without a good partner life becomes hell.
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  • Profile picture of the author motions5
    Nice story, I've seen it in other places, too. What matters in life are the virtues you develop in your soul, because they are the only ones that will stay with you. when you leave this place... Everything material will disappear. But it's also true that sometimes in the pursuit of material things we learn a lot, so in truth it's all about finding the right balance.
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  • Profile picture of the author red5host
    i wonder if there are any mexican fishermen on this thread lols. yup its the important things in life that count.. amongst all above sleep is very def. a goody. cheers for the post. hmmm might go fishin tomorrow
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  • Profile picture of the author WebPen
    I'm learning more and more how much I love helping people.

    Think about how much better the world would be if everyone was focused on helping others instead of just staying in our own bubble, taking care our just ourselves.

    It's crazy optimistic, but it's still a nice thought.
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    • Profile picture of the author Odahh
      Originally Posted by Justin Stowe View Post

      I'm learning more and more how much I love helping people.

      Think about how much better the world would be if everyone was focused on helping others instead of just staying in our own bubble, taking care our just ourselves.

      It's crazy optimistic, but it's still a nice thought.
      but are you being the mba trying to help the fisherman ?

      in the old world the mba's way was the "helpful" way after all the fisherman was making the choice to not be successful in most people terms and be just another fisherman ..

      more bigger more bigger..otherwise you are a failure .

      now update the story today ..and

      Justin Stowe while running his mobile internet business while traveling through mexico.. notice a fisherman with a nice catch of tuna ..(skip the part where the guy explain what he does)

      Justin Stowe compliments the guy then mention.. hey you could set up a blog and a website telling other people about what you do and how it is nice to have a life you enjoy doing something you love.. you can sell people recipies your wife uses to cook the fish you bring home..and sense this is close to a tourist area.. you can offer to take people out on you boat and fish with you to catch their own tuna ..you after building up a following.. you may be able to take days off when the weather is bad ..and you will not even have to leave home ..much or fish much more .
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  • Profile picture of the author NestZone
    Sorry, if we only work what we can eat, what will be left.
    Much will not be saved;
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  • Profile picture of the author JuliusKellowan
    Seems like the businessman with the MBA is horrible at prospecting...
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  • Profile picture of the author successproducts
    One word to describe - Greediness. We don't fish to eat we destroy the whole ocean for profit.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dong Lee
    Relationship, love, family, money matter in life most. If i could have happy family i would be really happy.
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  • Profile picture of the author kungz13
    Peace, love, family, friends, money, good music, clients
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