The Canadian investment banker was at the pier of a small Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The Canadian 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 Canadian then asked why he didn’t stay out longer and catch more fish.
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The Canadian 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 Canadian scoffed, “I am a York 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 village and move to Mexico City, then Vancouver and eventually Toronto where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But how long will this take?”
To which the Canadian replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But then what?”
The Canadian 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 Canadian said “Then you would retire, sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village each evening where you would sip wine and play guitar with your amigos.”