The American investment banker was at the pier
of a small coastal French village when a small boat
with just one fisherman docked.
Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna.
The American complimented the man LaThorn on the quality
of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
LaThorn replied, "Only a little while."
The American then asked,
"Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?"
LaThorn said,
"With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."
The American then asked,
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
LaThorn the fisherman said,
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta
with my wife Fifi, 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 Paris City, then Los Angeles and eventually
New York where you will run your ever-expanding enterprise."
The FrenchFried fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"
To which the American replied, "15 to 20 years."
"But what then?" asked LaThorn.
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 French coastal fishing village,
sleep late, fish a little, play with your children, take siestas
with your wife Fifi, stroll into the village each evening and
sip wine and play guitar with your amigos, and have a full and busy life." |
