An Indian businessman was at a small coastal village down south, when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boats were several fish. The businessman complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman replied only a little while.
The businessman then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish? The fisherman 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 fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Priya, stroll into the village each evening where I sip tea and play with my kids; I have a full and busy life, sir,”
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 City, where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked, “But sir, how long will this all take?” To which the businessman replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then, sir?” 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.” “Informal question sir? 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 tea and spend time with your family members and friends.”
The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, “Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?”
Simple life well lived will give you happiness, reinforcing the value of life and reaffirming the pursuit of happiness.
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