Putting things in persepective

Svashtar

Svashtar

Joined
Dec 28, 2003
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This one has been floating around for a while, but I got it again today and thought I would pass it on for those who haven't seen it. Some good wisdom here.

Regards,

Norm

***********************


A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, play the guitar, and sing a few songs...I have a full life."

The American 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?" asked the Mexican.

"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?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.

"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 doing what you like and enjoying your friends."

The moral: Pay attention to your journeys, and you may find you are already at your destination.

Don't take life too seriously; no one ever gets out alive.
 
Food for thought, Norm. Thanks:thumbup: I find myself often on the fence as to what I want out of my job. Do i put in a million hours, make big bucks, and have the bleeding sores in my stomach to prove it? Do i settle with what I have and scrape along a bit? I guess it's going to be a combo of said things. My goal is to get this place making a bit more money so that I can afford to hire in 2 or 3 great people to watch the place when my future kids have ball games, or plays, or need to spend a sunny afternoon with their dad at a wooded park. I gotta take a lesson from my dad on this one...both good and bad. When i was a kid he worked all of the time because he had to. Now that he is remarried, has two adopted babies, and step-kids in activities that require trecking across several states, he takes more time off to do things. If he had been more prudent with his financial planning, then he probably wouldn't have to work as much or as long. My wife and I are saving now to work smart and not hard in the future

Jake
 
Yeah , yeah I know . Normal state . It is something that I hold close to my heart andan interesting approach as well . All I need is a little mexican fishing boat and everything else will fall into place . Well...... at least its a game plan . I think the key is to be secure in your own right and everything else may fall into place . Neat story .
 
Wonderful story, passing it on.

Approaching 63 yo, I am so ready for that little village, etc. Just need to get a few things under control . . . . . yeah, right. Sometimes businesses own you, rather than the other way around.

"It is easier to mount a tiger than to dismount."
 
I am the Mexican. My wife doesn't get it. She likes watching the D. Trump show (you're fired). I can't see myself ever living like that. I think all that gaudy guilt crap that he surrounds himself with is just like his combover. When I say I'm not interested in getting one of his stupid jobs and working myself into the floor just to ge rich my wife gawks at me. People put too much stock in wealth. I have a shop. I'm learning to use my hands to shape wood and metal. I like farming things in the earth. I have a good wife who can cook and doesn't spend spend spend, and a beautiful little girl. I own my house (through the bank) and someday will inherit 160 acres of land in the woods. I am the Mexican.
 
For the official record, the intergalatic Cantina one, I've thought very little of Donald Trump since first viewing his lost wife/fortune quest, his 'return', and the television program. The fact he thought it worthwhile to take the time and money to publically scold what's-her-name-the-kitchen-felon in an ad that his show was successful and her's was not, well: McDonald's has sold a trillion Big Mac's, Clinton did not inhale, OJ is innocent because a Detective used the N word, the US invaded Iraq just for the OIL and we caused it all anyway, and oh yes, Michael Jackson and Brittany Spears and Madonna are better than Bach because they sold more records......

One of the most successful men I ever knew died of Cancer nearly broke, owner of a few acres of land and a shop outside Bighorn Wy. He worked for pennies and made enough for food, thanks. Another died after the State of Idaho 'scolded' him and removed him from the list of those allowed to sell stock in that great State.....come to think of it, Rusty died leaving a cat, a wife, a kid and a leaky roof. THe toilet wasn't much either.

I'm not saying everyone who ever died broke, busted and with not much to show for it except friends and all the hearts they ever touched are all pure genius; but I know a lot more pure genius that is in need of a friend and a heart more than another buck.

munk
 
Great stuff, and thanks...

I wrestle with that stuff a lot.


The lust for excellence in my work, and all the roadblocks in the way, give me the stomach troubles.

Talk you all later,

Tom
 
It's an old, but good story. Not exactly sure where it came from, but I'll remember it eventually. The one I read involved a tourist and a fisherman, no 'mexicans' or 'americans'.

Thanks for sharing :)

Keno

Edit: Google helped me remembering. It's a story by Heinrich Böll, a german writer, originally called »Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral« and written somewhen around 1950-1970. It didn't involve any nationalities though, the translation isn't quite accurate, but still has the same conclusion
 
sounds like a good plan to me! :thumbup:
 
I like it. After all, nobody dies thinking, "Gee, I really wish I'd spent more time at the office"...
 
munk said:
For the official record, the intergalatic Cantina one, I've thought very little of Donald Trump since first viewing his lost wife/fortune quest, his 'return', and the television program. The fact he thought it worthwhile to take the time and money to publically scold what's-her-name-the-kitchen-felon in an ad that his show was successful and her's was not, well: McDonald's has sold a trillion Big Mac's, Clinton did not inhale, OJ is innocent because a Detective used the N word, the US invaded Iraq just for the OIL and we caused it all anyway, and oh yes, Michael Jackson and Brittany Spears and Madonna are better than Bach because they sold more records......

One of the most successful men I ever knew died of Cancer nearly broke, owner of a few acres of land and a shop outside Bighorn Wy. He worked for pennies and made enough for food, thanks. Another died after the State of Idaho 'scolded' him and removed him from the list of those allowed to sell stock in that great State.....come to think of it, Rusty died leaving a cat, a wife, a kid and a leaky roof. THe toilet wasn't much either.

I'm not saying everyone who ever died broke, busted and with not much to show for it except friends and all the hearts they ever touched are all pure genius; but I know a lot more pure genius that is in need of a friend and a heart more than another buck.

munk
Click to expand...


I have never known the kids of the rich to be worth a shiny nickel either. Not to say it can't happen, but there is a reason Rockefeller gave it all away in his will.
 
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