LEISURE LETTER 5: THE FISHERMAN AND THE BANKER

A banker was taking a much needed vacation in a foreign coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. The boat had several large, fresh fish in it. 

The banker was impressed by the quality of the fish and asked the fisherman how long it took to catch them.

The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.”

The banker then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish?

The fisherman replied he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The banker then asked “But what do you do with the rest of your time?

The fisherman replied, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor."

The banker scoffed, “You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat, and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats until eventually you would have a whole fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to the middleman you could sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You could control the product, processing and distribution.”

Then he added, “Of course, you would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to city where you would run your growing business.”

The fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?”

To which the banker replied, “15-20 years.”

“But what then?” asked the Fisherman.

The banker laughed and said "Then you could sell your company become very rich. You could make millions.”

“Millions, señor? Then what?”

To which the banker replied, "Then you could retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your children, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play you guitar with your amigos."