Chapter 6: The Parable of the Fisherman
“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.” – Dale Carnegie
There was once a successful businessman vacationing in Mexico. Like most people who don’t understand the four essential principles of Wealth, he was vacationing to escape something, not find something.
While standing on a pier overlooking the Pacific Ocean, he watched a young Mexican fisherman pull a small boat into the dock. Inside the boat were several large tuna. Enjoying his week-long escape from the rat race, the businessman inquired the young fisherman.
“Those are some nice looking fish!” he exclaimed. “ How long did it take you to catch ‘em?”
“Oh, only a few hours,” the fisherman modestly replied, in mostly good English.
“Why don’t you stay out there and catch a few more fish?” The businessman wondered out loud.
The fisherman smiled and replied, “Well, this is more than I need to feed my family.”
The businessman was confused. “Then what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The young fisherman laughed, “I sleep late, play with my children, watch our local Futbol club, and take siestas with my wife. In the evenings I stroll to other parts of my village, see my friends, play the guitar, sing a few songs…”
“Look,” the businessman patiently interrupted, “I have an MBA from Harvard, and I can help you become more profitable. Start by fishing a few extra hours each day. You can sell the extra fish you catch, and use the money to buy a bigger boat, one that can hold more fish. Continue to sell the extra fish until you can buy a second boat, and hire another fisherman to fish for you. Then you can buy a third boat, and a fourth, and so on, until you have a fleet of fishing boats working for you!”
Excited with his train of thought, the businessman continued, “Then, instead of selling your catch to the middleman, you can sell it right to the supplier, or even open your own cannery. Eventually, you could vertically integrate, controlling the entire distribution chain. You’d make millions!”
Never having thought of such a thing, the fisherman asked, “But how long would this take?”
After a mental calculation, the businessman proclaimed, “Not longer than 15-20 years!”
“And then what?” asked the fisherman.
“Well that’s the best part!” answered the businessman with a grin. “When the market is right, you sell your company for millions.”
“And what would I do with millions?” the young fisherman pontificated.
The businessman boasted, “You could then happily retire and do anything you want!” The businessman had clearly worked himself up into a fervor. “What is it you want to do that would make you most happy?”
The young Mexican fisherman thought long and hard. “Well,” he started, “if I had all the money in the world, and could retire anywhere I want, and do anything I want,” he paused, “I would buy a small boat, fish for my family, sleep late, play with my children, watch the local Futbol club, take siestas with my wife, take strolls throughout the village, make friends, play the guitar, and sing a few songs.”
The businessman, knowing nothing of Time Wealth, understood nothing and eventually left. The young Mexican fisherman, knowing fully well the value of Time Wealth, understood everything and stayed.