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I keep running into this story in my research lately, so I thought it must be important enough to share with you. I do not know the original source, it’s all over the place.

A life half-full, or half-empty?

The businessman 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 fish. The businessman 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 businessman then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The businessman 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 a siesta 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, señor.”

How much is enough?

The businessman scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and I 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 and eventually open 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 would run your expanding enterprise.”

When will you be “Done”?

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?” To which the businessman replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then, señor?” The businessman 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, señor? Then what?” The businessman 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 a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

Update: Mark Albion has commented and left a link to this video:

Albion says, in the end “we won’t remember you for the size of your wallet as much as the size of your heart.”

How big is your heart?

Are you like the fisherman right now? With a full and busy life? Or are you looking at your life like the businessman, always seeing greener pastures further along the path?

Ask yourself a couple of questions:

• If you were not worried about money, would you keep doing the things that you are doing today?
• What would you stop doing? And why?
• If you are worried about money, are you at least taking some time to “play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings“? Because your kids won’t be kids in 15-20 years when it’s time to sell your empire.

What is one thing that you are not doing today, that would make your life better right now? Why aren’t you doing it?

If you found this post useful, please share it with your friends on Twitter using the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/5sly8b. Thanks, I appreciate it! Feel free to comment below, I enjoy discussing these ideas. ~@Stephen