beware the advice of Harvard MBAs
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2003 6:40 pm> The American investment banker 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 yellow fin tuna.
>
> The American 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 American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?
> The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
>
> The American 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 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."
>
> 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
> Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding
> enterprise."
>
> The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?" To which
> the American replied, "15-20 years." "But what then?"
>
> 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 coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a
> little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the
> village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with
> your amigos."
> village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the
small
> boat were several large yellow fin tuna.
>
> The American 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 American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?
> The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.
>
> The American 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 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."
>
> 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
> Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding
> enterprise."
>
> The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?" To which
> the American replied, "15-20 years." "But what then?"
>
> 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 coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a
> little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the
> village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with
> your amigos."
