This article is from the May 1999 The Mexico File
newsletter.
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Then What?
by Carla Rutz
Carla Rutz is a longtime
Mexicophile who wanted to share this poignant story with us.
The American businessman 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 yellowfin tuna. The
American complimented the Mexican on the quantity of his fish and asked how long
it took to catch them.
The Mexican replied, �Only
a little while.�
The American then asked why
he didn�t stay out longer and catch more fish.
The Mexican said that 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 a 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, se�or.�
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 and 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 Los Angeles and then eventually New York
City where you will run your expanding enterprise.�
The Mexican fisherman asked,
�But, se�or, how long will all of this take?�
To which the American
replied, �Fifteen to twenty years.�
�But what then, se�or?�
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, se�or?
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 a siesta with your wife, stroll
to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play guitar with
your friends.�