Thanks, I always did like that 'parable'. I heard it a bit
different, but the lesson's the same.

SBV

"RW Salnick" wrote in message

An American businessman was at a pier in a small coastal
Mexican village
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 fish and asked how long it
took to catch them.

"Only a little while, senor," replied the Mexican.

The American then asked, "why didn't you stay out longer
and catch more
fish?"

The Mexican explained that he had enough to support his
family's
immediate needs.

The American then asked the Mexican how he spent the rest
of his time.

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little,
play with my
children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the
village each evening
where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a
full life..."

The American interrupted, "I am a Harvard MBA and could
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. 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 LA and eventually NYC where you will run
your
expanding enterprise."

Then the Mexican fisherman interrupted, "but senor, how
long will this
all take?"

The American replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then, senor?" asked the Mexican.

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. You'll become very rich, you would make millions!"

"Millions, senor?" replied the Mexican. "Then what?"

"Then you could retire, move to a small coastal fishing
village where
you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids,
take siesta
with your wife, stroll into the village in the evenings
where you would
sip wine and play guitar with your amigos."


bob
s/v Eolian
Seattle