An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican
village on doctor's orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone
call from the office on the first morning, he walked to the pier to
clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had just docked,
and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American
complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.
"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American asked. "Only
a little while," the Mexican replied in surprisingly good English.
"Why don't you stay longer and catch more fish?" the American
asked.
"I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends," the
Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.
"But... What do you do with the rest of your time?"
The Mexican looked up and smiled. "I sleep late, fish a little,
play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and
stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play
guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor."
The American laughed and stood tall. "Sir, I'm a Harvard M.B.A. and
can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the
proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several
boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet
of fishing boats."
He continued, "Instead of selling your catch to middleman, you
would sell it directly to the consumers; eventually opening your own
cannery. You would control the product, processing and
distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing
village, of course, and move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles,
and eventually New York City, where you could run your expanding
enterprise with proper management."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, senor, how long will all this
take?"
To which the American replied, "15-20 years. 25 tops."
"But what then, senor?"
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, senor? Then what?"
"Then you would retire and 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, and stroll to the village in the
evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your
amigos..."
-This anecdote was taken from my favorite book; "the Four Hour Work Week" Fables and Fortune Hunters -Page 231-232
Sometimes, you have to step back and anyalize not only WHAT you are doing - - but WHY you are doing it.
If you are beating your head against the wall trying to figure out the internet marketing thing, hop over to www.RealEstateRocketFuel.com and start doing things that work.
Make it a Great day,
Mike
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