The Story of the Mexican Fisherman
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This is the story that started the “be more with less” movement for me. While I knew all work and no play wasn’t the way, I thought I would forever be stuck in the cycle of working to live. I thought I would always have a car payment, credit card debt and not enough month at the end of the money. I thought I had to work harder to make more, buy more and have more. At one time, I really thought that would make me better somehow.
This story is my inspiration to slow down, reassess, and get real about how I want to live life.
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, 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.”
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What inspires you?
32 Responses to “The Story of the Mexican Fisherman”
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Courtney, I love this post! You have no idea how much it hits home with me. I’m preparing to sell my house and downsize to a cozy little condo where my overhead will be less so I can spend more time doing what I enjoy. Thank you for this! I love it.
By the way, where’s your Twitter button? I’d retweet this for you if you had one!
Sincerely,
Angela Artemis
Angela, I can’t wait to hear about your move! Working on the Twitter button! Thanks – Courtney
Courtney,
I came back and tweeted you!
I hope to put my house on the market by June 1. Right now I’m in the furious cleaning and sprucing up stage.
I’ll keep you posted.
Thanks again for this terrific post. I’m going to reference it in a future post – next week on Mystic Musings. I’ll send you a link
Angela
Great story and one that we all need to be aware of these days!
It is OK to sit around and do nothing more than what you need to sustain yourself.
We are all okay just as we are without having to embellish ourselves with excessive trappings.
Who needs an MBA when you can have a siesta in the sun?!
What a great reminder that enjoying life and being content are more important than money could ever be!
Many thanks,
Kate
Glad you liked this story. I think it is so powerful to be able to say, “I have enough”.
Love this story, I can see why it inspired you. This is just what I needed to read today; a great reminder that there is so much more to life than just work and money, and really, what is the end goal of it all anyway?
Courtney,
Glad you got the Twitter button in! I see it’s been used – alot!
Come over to my site today to read my latest post: Would You Rather Have a Big House Or A Big Life?
I cited you and your blog and linked to you.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Hey Courtney, I came here from Angela’s Mystic Musings and Meditation blog. I really like this post because it shows us that people have different views of what happiness means, just like between the American businessman and the Mexican fisherman. Thanks for this story. It’s one of my favorite ones from The 4-Hour Workweek.
Hulbert, thanks for your feedback. Is the Mexican Fisherman story on the 4-Hour Workweek website or in the actual book? I don’t think that is where it originated but would be curious to find out! Take Care, Courtney
This is a great story! I made some changes in my own life a couple of years ago. Now I’m no longer stressed out and have more energy than ever. Thanks for sharing this story with us. Take care, A.
Truly Amazing!!!
thank you for sharing this, I will treasure this piece of advice and Share it with others… thanks!
Wow, this is an amazing story.
Reminds me that it is better to live in the PRESENT and with what we need.
We don’t need to have it all.
I have to share this.
Hi Courtney
I am from India and we have the culture of saving (first) & then spending which is slowly changing. Secondly there is lot of money that might require for child education. so the idea given Amercian MBA looks great to me.
What a great reminder of what our priorities are and how to live. There’s a song that’s based on this story that I recommend: “The Life” by Kenny Chesney. Even if you’re not into his music the lyrics are worth reading.
Great story. I left Hollywood about 10 years ago to start http://www.projectbluesphere.com now i am a minimalist sailor I make my own wine, bread, pasta, ect…. and spear fish most days.
It’s good to see others interested in becoming free
Cheers
Hi Courtney,
This is absolutely one of my favorite stories! I first it heard it told by a motivational speaker at a conference about six years ago. It was also a major turning point in my life…not one towards minimalism, but one that truly launched my search for what is most important in life. I’m happy to see you sharing it here and that it resonates with so many others as well.
~Adrienne
Great story … wonderful reminder about the choices we make and whether they are beneficial or not.
This is my favourite tweet of the week! 😃
I’m going through the archives of the blog, and I must say I find this story wonderful and truly inspiring
Thank you…