Work to retire and enjoy life
Sunday, 5 July 2009
A Harvard MBA graduate was at a pier in a small coastal village in China when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large fishes. The Harvard MBA graduate complimented the Chinese fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The Chinese fisherman replied, “Only a few hours”
The Harvard MBA graduate then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish.
The Chinese fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The Harvard MBA graduate then asked the Chinese how he spent the rest of his time.
The Chinese fisherman said, “I sleep, fish a little, play with my children, enjoy life with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip tea and play Chinese chess and flute with my friends.”
The Harvard MBA graduate 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. You would control the product, processing and distribution. ”
“You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Beijing or Shanghai where you will run your expanding business.”
The Chinese fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the Harvard MBA graduate replied, “10-15 years.”
“But what then?” asked the Chinese fisherman?
The Harvard MBA graduate 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. You’ll become very rich, you would make multi millions!”
“Multi Millions!?” replied the Chinese fisherman, “Then what?”
The Harvard MBA graduate said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small fishing village where you would fish a little, play with your kids, enjoy life with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip tea and play your chess with your friends.”
Then the Chinese fisherman says: “That’s funny! Isn’t that what I am already doing right now?”
