One day, a businessman stood on a pier in a small village and watched a fisherman sitting in a fragile boat as he caught a huge tuna. The businessman congratulated the fisherman on his luck and asked how long it takes to catch such a fish.
“A couple of hours, no more,” answered the fisherman.
- Why didn’t you stay in the sea longer and catch a few more of these fish? — the businessman was surprised.
“One fish is enough for my family to survive tomorrow,” he answered.
- But what do you do for the rest of the day? — the businessman did not let up.
— I sleep until lunch, then go fishing for a couple of hours, then play with my children, then my wife and I take a siesta, then I go to the village for a walk, drink wine in the evening and play the guitar with my friends. You see, I enjoy life,” the fisherman explained.
“I’m a Harvard graduate,” said the businessman, “I’ll help you, you’re doing everything wrong.” You should fish all day and then buy yourself a big boat.
- And then what? - asked the fisherman.
“Then you will catch even more fish and you will be able to buy yourself several boats, even ships, and one day you will have a whole flotilla.”
- And then?
“Then, instead of selling the fish to a middleman, you will bring the fish directly to the factory and, having increased profits, you will open your own factory.”
- And then?
“Then you’ll leave this godforsaken village and move to a big city, and maybe one day you’ll be able to open a huge office and be the director there.”
- How long will all this take?
— About 15–20 years.
- And then what?
“And then,” the businessman laughed, “then the most pleasant thing will come.” You can sell your company for several million and become very rich.
- And then?
- Then you can stop working, you will move to a small village on the coast, you will sleep until lunch, do a little fishing, play with the children, take a siesta with your wife, walk around the village, drink wine in the evenings and play the guitar with your friends...
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru