Mexican Proverb
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Mexican Proverb
I don’t know about you, but there is something about an anecdote or proverb that gets my mental juices flowing. A little while back, I heard a great Mexican proverb that got me thinking. Here it is and then let’s reflect for a few moments on it.
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, “Only a little while. The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed, “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, and 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 would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA, and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” 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 and become very rich, you would make millions!”
“Millions – then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
For starters, is that not a great proverb or what? Now let’s dig deeper. How many of you reading this can totally relate? We go to work, move up the corporate later, and grind ourselves to the bones. The hope is we wake up someday down the road and can finally appreciate the fruits of our labor.
What If?
But, what if? What if, you made just enough money to enjoy life today with your spouse, kids, friends, hobbies, and philanthropy? What if, instead of working late and moving up the corporate later you checked out on time and maximized the true joys in your life? What if, you looked at life differently and reprioritized things, how would you spend your time?
The way I like to interpret this story is to view it from: when is enough, enough? I mean who doesn’t want more? Sure, I’d like more homes and nicer cars, more vacations, and more of whatever I want. But does this come with a diminishing set of returns?
Do I, or anyone, really gleam the joy and happiness of what it takes to get “more”, or does it actually come at the cost of true happiness? Is getting on the devil’s treadmill worth it? That is the question I think all of us should really be asking ourselves. Is the hard work, and sacrifices worth the wealth at the end, or does it come at the cost of your and your family’s happiness today?
Do you know how many times I, or someone I know, have said I am working this hard for my family and their family? I want to provide for them and make sure they have whatever they actually want or need out of life. Heck, I am probably public enemy number one in this regard. However, have any of you actually stopped and asked your family if they rather you work all the time, and travel so they can have expensive things? Or would they rather you be with them all the time and spend time together making memories? I know heavy stuff for a Tuesday morning ha.
I guess in the end, there is nothing wrong with working hard and wanting to be successful. That said, I certainly think it is worth thinking about what you are sacrificing and if that is what you and your family want. Hopefully, this story can resonate with you as well and at the very least have you reprioritize your life if you feel it is needed.
Stay wealthy, healthy, and happy.
