(Photo by vijo on Flickr)
In a quiet Mexican fishing village, an American who was on vacation saw a local fisherman unloading his catch. He decided to approach him.
The American asked the fisherman, “why are you finishing your day so early?”
The Mexican replied “Oh Senor, I have caught enough to feed my family and a little extra to sell for today. It is now time to go for lunch with my family and have a siesta. In the afternoon, I can play with my kids. In the evening, I will go to the cantina, drink a little tequila and play the guitar.”
The business professor was horrified at the fisherman’s lack of motivation to succeed. He answered, “If you stay out at sea until late afternoon, you will easily catch twice as much fish. You can sell the extra, save up the money and in six months, maybe nine, you will be able to buy a bigger and better boat, and hire some crew. Then you’ll be able to buy a second fishing boat and hire another crew.”
He continued, “In another year or two, you will have the capital to buy a second fishing boat and hire another crew. If you follow this business plan, in six or seven years, you will be the proud owner of a large fishing fleet.”
“Just imagine that! Then you can move your head office to Mexico city, or even to L.A. After only three or four years in LA, you float your company on the stockmarket giving yourself, as CEO, aqa generous salary package with substantial share options. In a few more years – listen to this! – you initiate a company share buy-back scheme, which will make you a multi-millionaire! Guaranteed!”
The American got very excited at the prospect himself. He said, “I definitely know these things. I’m a well known professor at the US Business School.”
The Mexican fisherman listened intently at what the animated American had to say. When the professor had finished, the Mexican asked him, “But, Senor Professor, what can a person do after getting millions of dollars?”
Now, the American professor hadn’t thought that far. He was taken aback by the question.
So he quickly figured out an answer “Amigo! With all that dough, you can retire. Yeah! Retire for life! You can buy a little villa with a picturesque fishing village like this one, and purchase a small boat for going fishing in the morning, You can have lunch with your wife every day, and a siesta in the afternoon, with nothing to worry you. In the afternoon, you can spend quality time with your kids, and after dinner in the evening, play guitar with your friends in the cantina, drinking tequila. Yeah, with all the money, my friend, you can retire and take it easy.”
Puzzled with the American’s suggestion, the Mexican fisherman replied, “but, Senor Professor, I do that already!”
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Ajahn Brahm told the above story in last Friday’s talk on “Dealing with Uncertainties in Life”. You can also read this story in Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?
Contentment or Cash? Your Thoughts Please?
I’m deliberately keeping my post shorter than usual, for today. I’m also down with a case of bad flu and am now throwing the door open for your inputs. So here are some questions for you.
In the story, the Mexican fisherman may be poor but he is contented. But what if he has a desire to afford a better life for his kids? Realistically, most of us so have dreams of a more abundant life. We would like to be able to afford beyond the basic necessities. We desire the flexibility of working as and when we want to, without struggle and worry and to have excess time to pursue our various interests. Is it possible to rewrite the story so that the Mexican fisherman (or you for that matter) can have it all – money, loving relationships, health, and joy – without any major sacrifices?
How would you strike a balance in your waking hours for today, whilst working towards your dreams? Stacey over at CreateaBalance is having a Life Balance Group Writing Project. I’d like to take the opportunity to submit this post as an entry, in examining what life balance means to us.
Share your thoughts, please.
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Hi Evelyn,
I’ve had a growing realization that my mission requires neither contentment nor cash, and without sacrifice, it provides me with a viable means to keep the balance, as my purpose and my passion continue to unify my destiny.
Love and light,
Christopher
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Evelyn – you don’t do a half bad post for someone who has got a bad case of flu!
That story is so profound (and funny). And it’s such an interesting question!
I think many of us want to grow in ways that are new for us, and if we stay in our comfort zone and just go to the local pub every night, we would end up feeling dissatisfied and wither away (and drink more beer to hide our feelings). So as long as the development of ventures was following our inner guidance, I’d go for growth.
On the other hand, there’s an obvious truth to the story – we don’t want to acquire things that just take us further from what we really want than where we are now. That’s why it’s important to know why we want more money or stuff or whatever – if we do, we can experience growth and prosperity in a way that is satisfying, I think.
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Evelyn, this is a very profound question – especially as related in this story. The question is – “why?”. I think we have to answer this question for ourselves – why are we doing what we’re doing. Why do we want to change (or not). In answering these questions, from the heart, not just superficially – we’ll come to the conclusions that matter in our life. I don’t choices like this are ever cut and dried. What works for me, may not work for you. That’s ok.
So, did the fisherman get it right? It all a matter of perspective…and what’s important in life…and how you balance these things that are important to you.
I don’t think I answered the question Evelyn!
So…I think enjoying your life is key. No need to aspire to something you don’t desire. All the money in the world will not buy happiness…
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Yeah! I’m happy to know I get to include this story in the final eBook that gets created based on this Life Balance Group Writing Project.
I think it is realistic since my goal is to have abundance (to have enough) but my goal is NOT to be obnoxiously rich at all costs. For me, striking a balance means working hard to provide for my family while keeping in mind that I work to live and not live to work. I also agree with Lance “No need to aspire to something you don’t desire”.
Feel better.
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I hope you feel better soon, Evelyn. I love the photo. Most people, looking back on their lives, say that the things in their lives that were most important were love, family and friends. This man puts those right after survival, and that seems right. I’ve read that Mexicans are among the happiest people on earth, and perhaps this is why — they don’t put ambition and possessions before the most important things.
If I could live that way, would I? Yes and no. I’d want some contact with the world beyond my village (i.e., a computer), but throughout my life I’ve passed up money in favor of free time, time to spend with family, friends and with nature.
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I liked this “fable.” I would rather enjoy the fisherman’s life.
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Evelyn, this is one of my favourite stories. To answer, “How would you strike a balance in your waking hours for today, whilst working towards your dreams? “, by being happy and satisfied with who and how I am today and moving forward towards my dreams. It’s all about enjoying the journey.
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Evelyn, I hope you’ll feel better soon! I’d like to have both contentment and cash please, thank you.
I figured if I view both of them as equally important, I will naturally find a balance to keep both sides happy.
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I never understand the point of this story because the fisherman seems rich to me. Just by spending a little time on his fishing hobby, he makes enough money to pay all his bills without having a job.
It would be clearer if it said his family was homeless, starving, had no health insurance, etc. But as it is, he seems rich to me. I wonder how much he sells his fish for.
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I’ve never wanted more than to support my family and be comfortable in doing so. I don’t have this need to purchase everything anymore…I just want what I deserve, I want no more, I want no less.
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I think this story also highlights the fact that a lot of our needs are instilled from outside of ourselves. This fisherman had enough sense of self to say: “I know what I want and I already have it”, but how many others, who at first were as perfectly happy as the fisherman, would have responded: “You’re right, I want all of those riches you speak of.”
It’s similar to being at home watching television, seeing an advertisement for something you didn’t even know existed, and all of a sudden you really want one of those. That’s why we have to make sure that when we want something it’s something we truly want, and not something that “society” has led us to believe that we should want.
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Forgot to add my url to the comment above, sorry
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Like the professor, we are very quick to judge others by our own standards of “success”. Success means very different things to different people.
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A fantastic story….thank you fro sharing this!
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I too was once that businessman, wanting to climb the ladder of Corporate America and make money hand over fist. As I neared the top of the ladder and ready to climb onto my final plateau that ladder was not leaning against the right plateau. I was climbing the wrong ladder the whole time. Bigger, better and more are definitely not synonymous with happiness and contentment.
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Here’s the original story by Heinrich Böll, the German writer:
Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral
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I love this story, it speaks straight to my heart. The fisherman has his priorities in the right place. Life should be a balance of work, play, family and fun. It is natural to chase and want more, but lets not forget to enjoy and cherish what is in the here and now!
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This story is also posted on metal plaques in Jimmy Johns restaurants.
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I have heard this story before. I always thought it was so profound.
I think all of us are unique individuals with our own desires for ourselves, our kids and life in general. I believe that this story is not about choosing to be the fisherman or the professor but about understanding what we want out of our lives and stopping at the appropriate place. It is about not being led blindly by greed but being led by our own dreams and hearts. I see myself as perhaps a fisherman with a bigger boat …that is where I would stop since that is probably the point after which I can no more “justify the present for the sake of the future”.
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This post reminds readers that human beings exert a great deal of energy in life going around in circles only to arrive back where they started. I recall a great children’s book by Maurice Sendak called, “Higglety-Pigglety Pop or There must be more to life. It is a bout a dog who has everything but is somehow convinced she will find something better, different, by venturing out into the wide wideworld. She leaves what she loves only to take a meaningful journey and arrive back where she started with a new level of awareness. I reccommend it.
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Maybe in Mexico, where you can live that way, in peace and relaxation with your family this story applies. The US is a dog-eat-dog world, and only the ambitious are “successful”. Doing a little fishing for your family and selling a little to make a living in the US? HAHA! What a joke!
I wish I could work that little and afford to pay the taxes on the land I own, and pay the taxes on my income, and the taxes on social security, and provide health care for my children and family. Should life be simpler? I think it should be – and I would love to be able to live a simpler life like that. But I can’t, because I’m an American.
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I think satisfaction is a better term that contentment.
You are satisfied with life, but you can still improve the world and your situation
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I guess there must be a middle way, something between the content poor and the always-hungry-for-more businessman.
Looking around me, many of my own friends are doing exactly that: they work, but not too much. (Of course we need to define what “not too much” is, but for me it’s 40-hour workweeks and work-free evenings and weekends, with an annual vacation of 2-4 weeks).
They do spend time with their families. They are free of debt, have a good emergency fund, and enough to help their kids with higher education and for a comfortable retirement.
To many, that’s a terrible life because you’re not your own boss. To me, that’s a great balance – especially if you reasonably like what you do at work.
Feel better soon!
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This story is on the wall of every Jimmy Johns.
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Hi Evelyn. I hope you feel better soon. I agree that this man is already rich. It sounds like his life is perfectly balanced just the way he wants it.
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@Christopher, good for you
@Robin, it was not easy to concentrate really. My post took twice the time to write, in between sniffles.
Initially, I thought how wonderful to live like the fisherman. Then, as I reflected over it while writing the post, I thought no. I could not possibly live this way. So I’d agree with you on “growth and prosperity in a way that is satisfying”.
@Lance, true. We need to really understand for ourselves what is it that we ultimately want, with all that money. For me, it is the freedom and flexibility to pursue what I want. It is time. Still, what is enough money (or time) for me may not be enough for you. It is really up to the individual to decide how much is enough. Like you said, at the end of the day, “money cannot buy happiness”. So let’s not get enslaved by our jobs even whilst we pursue our dreams.
@Stacey, oh yes…it will be nice to include the story in your ebook because it is one that provokes thought. Although it is not as straightforward, it can help generate discussions. I like what you said about “work to live and not live to work”. Great!!
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@Dot, thanks! I am feeling somewhat better as compared to yesterday. Hopefully I can pull through once again without taking any medications.
I know what you mean. If anything, I am intending for more financial wealth because I would like to have more time and flexibility. But I doubt that I can be like the Mexican fisherman. Like you, I’d want a laptop and an internet connection. I’m not sure if I can do without my blogging life. Look…I couldn’t keep away even when I was sick yesterday…LOL!!
@WriterDad, hmmm….and have all the time in the world to write? I think you’d be happy too like the fisherman!
@Avani, you are one very cool headed lady! Yes…it’s about enjoying the journey and not getting overly attached emotionally to the outcome!
@Irene, thanks for the well wishes. For myself, I’d think that contentment is more important than cash. But contentment also comes with a lot of things that only cash can buy. Like my laptop for instance, which allows me to blog and express myself creatively!! So I’d say that yes…in an indirect manner, I’d think that I’d strive for a balance as well.
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@Hunter, you made me laugh with your comment!! I’m also now wondering how much is the fisherman selling his fish for! Or it may be that life in the fishing village does not really require all that much pesos.
@Matthew, good for you to have arrived at a comfortable place.
@Marelisa, you’ve made an excellent point! I’d think that I’m the fisherman and someone is to approach me with such a business plan, I may just fall for it if I do not have a clear set of values and beliefs. We should really decide for ourselves what we want, rather than what society leads us to believe what our needs are.
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@Bonnie, the professor probably meant well but like you said, we all define “success” differently!
@M, you are welcome
@Dave, you’ve certainly got an important message to share from your personal experience. I’m glad that you realize what you should really value. Thanks for sharing!!
@Sven, I never knew. Hey..thanks for letting me know that the original writer was a German!
@Annie, I’m glad that you like the story. The “here and now” is definitely a key message. Let us not live in the future but forget about living for today!
@THstudent and Roman, thanks for letting me know this. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? More people can benefit from reflecting over the story while eating their sandwiches!
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@Maya, for you, it may be a bigger boat. For another, it may be two boats. And yet for some others, it may be being a CEO. You are right about each of us really understanding what we want and stopping at the appropriate place. Like what Avani said above too, it’s also about enjoying the journey whilst we get there.
@Liara, you’ve made a most accurate observation about many of us. We need to go through what we do not really want before we know what is it that we want. Let’s hope that we do not stray too long away and far out!
I’ve not heard of this children’s story. I may just borrow it from the library for my kids!
@John, I think regardless if you are an American or Mexican, the story is about reminding us to live joyfully in the Now. The Mexicans probably do not have the big plasma TVs, laptops, and other necessities. But they are happy with the little they have. They are grateful for the abundance that they already enjoy. The question is that can we, with what we have?
@Jarrod, I see what you mean by the difference in the words “satisfaction” and “contentment”. Thanks for sharing it!
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@Vered, good for you and to be surrounded by such friends as well. Many of my friends appear to have it all too. I’m also inclined to believe that they reasonably like their jobs.
But I’m truly wondering if I’m only seeing things on the surface. Is their work really what they want to do? Or is it because it pays them well to afford an average-to-high lifestyle?
Thanks for the well wishes! I’m feeling better today, although I know my flu is not quite over yet…sigh! Need to recover before the weekend comes!
@Roman, please see my response to your comment above.
@Davina, thanks for get well wish! There is no doubt that the Mexican fisherman is already rich. The thing is: do we see ourselves as already rich?
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Dear Evelyn,
It reminds me of the stories of young people leaving their peaceful and happy family homes for the city to get more money and happiness. But they get lured into vices and land up troubled, killed or arrested.
Its about matter of contentment. The fisherman is having it good, healthy wholesome health. Work, enough food and money, time with his family and ultimately happiness without the need to add stress which he cant handle. So ultimately when my life is in turmoil, I go back to the basics.
Sure in a country like Singapore, I can go on working and traveling during the holidays, but I am still not a happy one innately and tend to strive for it extrinsically. It probably goes back to my family of origin issues and see whether I have the courage to change what I can and accept what I cannot. Which will give me the wisdom to know the difference. I can learnt from the fisherman to keep it simple and life can be as happy as one wants. Which usually leads to good health and longevity too.
Man
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Hi Evelyn,
I do marvel at the west. We pick many things from them. Well the current concept of work life balance. I know of some sucessful rich acquaintainces who give lots of time to their families. They do stick to the things they know well and are unwilling to come out of the comfort zone, which will zap their time away after work eg constituency work
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I’ve always loved this story and like Marelisa, I think what the fisherman has is a sense of who he is and what he needs. This answer is different for all of us and it can change at different times in our life. Before I had Bunny I was super driven. Even leaving a successful corporate career wasn’t a sign I had lost my drive, it just changed. I realized money didn’t make me happy, but travel did. So I became an ESL teacher who could work half the year and then take off for the other half and come back and get another job. So, even though to other people I looked less driven, I was actually just driven to gain more expereiences.
Now, I’m in another circumstance. I’m a mom who’s more interested in being with her child and fulfilling my creative aspirations, following my unique spiritual journey and yes, still traveling. I want an emotionally and creatively rich life. Does this take money? Yes, some. But it’s very attainable because I can see what isn’t part of that equation and we don’t waste money on it. We have a car that’s 10 years old but goes perfectly well. We have just decided that a 7 minute drive to the beach is fine for now. No need to upgrade to a house that is 7 minutes walk to the beach. I don’t have a massive plasma tv or satellite connection, or a host of other modern “must-haves” and none of these things matter to me at all.
I am happy and I have my secret to success and happiness, and that’s what I think this story is all about.
Kelly
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Hi Evelyn – What a wonderful story. It just goes to show how life can go full circle and we end up where we started, spending most of our life chasing the elusive dream, not realizing we already had it. Go figure!
P.S. I hope you’re feeling better!
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Did the fisherman give up what we want money to buy?
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Great post! I like the story. The fisherman lives in the Now, and found happiness in contentment of what works for him..
Get well soon!
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Man, I hope I’m right to assume that you are a Singaporean.
In my personal findings, your story is a typical one, especially of many Singaporeans. We are driven to achieve the 5 Cs (cash, condo, credit card, car and country club membership), remember? Our parents and/or our immediate environment had us believe that we should be working in conventional jobs like accountants, bankers and lawyers. These are the jobs that pay. It’s a good thing that our government is now finally realizing that it has not done a good job in encouraging creativity and innovation. Still, if you have been born years ago, then it is likely that you are in a job that you may not truly be enjoying.
Well, it is not too late to go back to your core, what you truly love doing. I’m not sure what your family commitments are. You may not have the opportunity to turn it into work that pays you enough to fund your basic needs for a start. But at least, you get a chance to indulge your inner child. You may find that just by being in that space an hour or two a day is enough to make you a much happier person.
Whether it is constituency work or volunteer work, I find it a wonderful idea to contribute back to society. I wish I can do more, I do have plans to do more in fact. It is only by giving, that I truly can appreciate what loving kindness is. Sure, spending time with myself and family is key but if I can make the effort to help society additionally, I’d have impacted the lives of others in a positive way. Living is no longer for my own selfish needs but to serve the needs of the community at large, and as One.
Love, light and truth,
Evelyn
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@Kelly, good for you! It’s really about understanding what your needs are, being level-headed and knowing what else you want to strive for. I definitely like the fact that you are driven to gain experiences. I believe it is what draws me to you – the love of experiencing all there is! No wonder we are such great online pals
@Barbara, I definitely agree that we seem to go about life in a roundabout way to realize and cherish what we already have on hand. Oh yes…I am finally feeling better! It usually takes me a while to recover as I try to nurse myself without taking any medications.
@Harmony, he may have. There is no mention of watching TV, going on the web, or eating in a restaurant.
@BC Doan, thank you for liking the story and the get-well wish. You’ve certainly gained the right message from it
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The question contentment OR cash assumes that we have to make a choice … which is totally out of alignment with the principles of Abundance. We can have contentment AND cash. We can work four hours a day and have a six-figure income. However, if we think that we can only have one or the other, we will inevitably be right.
I say – BOTH.
Blessings,
Andrea
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Andrea, thanks for your input.
If you read my concluding paragraphs in totality, I’m not necessarily leading to an answer that is black or white, one or the other, cash or contentment. I threw it open to the floor “Is it possible to rewrite the story so that the Mexican fisherman (or you for that matter) can have it all – money, loving relationships, health, and joy – without any major sacrifices?”
So what I am really hoping to do is to ask readers to consider if it is possible to have it all. The aim is to stimulate a discussion.
But definitely, what you’ve pointed out is interesting. My question now back to you is if you have to work 16 hours a day for an 8-figure salary, would you do it?
Love, light and truth,
Evelyn
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Evelyn – I’d answer your question above about an 8-figure salary with “probably not”. I might do it for a short period, but not for the long haul.
I like money as much as the next person, but it cannot buy back time with your kids and family. There are certain things you can miss out on that you can never get back.
There is a cost to everything in life. Some costs are just too high. Unfortunately, some people do not realize this until it is too late.
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“My question now back to you is if you have to work 16 hours a day for an 8-figure salary, would you do it?”
I’m not Andrea, but my answer is yes, of course! Do it for one year, then quit and go fishing forever!
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Its all fun and games until the american business man corners the fishing market and drives the poor man out of business. Great article though about life’s priorities.
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Hi Evelyn – I love that story every time I hear it. In answer to your question – I think that the trouble is, many folk aim to make heaps of money without really thinking about what they need it for.
If we first decide how we would really like to live life, then work out what we need to do to get it, we’d probably be much happier.
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@Jeff, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I share the same too. My priorities are definitely my family and no matter how many hours I would like to pour into my business, I always ensure that I set aside time for them.
I guess I was trying to raise the point that everyone’s reference point is different. The fisherman seemingly was contented but had no money. In Hunter’s words, he considered the fisherman “rich”. On the other hand, “rich” or “abundance” to some of us is only at the point where we work four hours a day with a six-figure income. Or to the minority, “rich” or “abundance” is only measured in monetary terms; so working like a dog for a eight-figure income is no big deal.
@Hunter, it is a great idea to slog it out for only a year! I’m tempted to think I would do the same too. But what I’m wondering is that with the passing of one year, would I be resolute and call it quits or would I say let’s throw in another year of making more….and then another year….and another year….and another year?
@Cath, you’ve made a good point further to my thoughts in my response to Hunter. What are we really working for? How much is enough? Is it 4-figures, 5-figures or 6-figures? How many hours are we willing to put in to achieve these figures?
And while we are working towards these goals, is it possible Not to believe that we have to work hard and get financially rich first before we can feel Happy? This was the point that Ajahn Brahm was trying to make.
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Steve, interesting that you said that about the American. I’m glad that you enjoyed the article
Best Regards,
Evelyn
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Contentment please! I am a big believer in simple living. Don’t get me wrong…I like a little cash in my wallet, but who needs all the stress of owning the bank???
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Hello Caroline, hmmm….interesting that you are satisfied with contentment and do not feel the need to have more cash. But isn’t it a matter of perspective? Does more cash necessarily have to mean more stress? My opinion is that it need not be, if cash management skills, coupled with a positive mindset, are adopted.
Love and light,
Evelyn
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Evelyn – first allow me to say what a delightful story!
Secondly, there is no doubt in my mind that the Mexican should continue doing what he is doing. The American and others may seem him as “poor” but in fact he is very wealthy – he has more of something that most of us ache for, and aside from contentment that thing is “time”.
He has managed to find his way through life beautifully and he is happy. What makes him look “bad” or “poor” is the reference point we apply to him.
But say he applied his reference point to us and measured our happiness versus his.
Ahh then who is the really “poor” one?
Speaking of this a little, my last post revolves around the true happiness that seems to be so lacking in our Western civilized society, which has more wealth than many of us realize and too often too little happiness.
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