The manager stands on the pier of a small remote fishing village, gazing out at the sea. They watch as a small boat approaches the shore. Upon the boat’s landing, the manager is impressed by the large quantity of tuna loaded on board. They bless the fisherman and inquire,
“How long did it take to catch these?”
The fisherman replies,
“Not long at all. Just a few hours.”
The manager looks slightly puzzled.
“Why don’t you stay out at sea longer? You could catch even more fish!”
The fisherman explains that he caught enough fish to feed his family for several days. The manager asks,
“So, what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman elaborates,
“Well, I always make sure to get enough sleep. Then in the morning, I go out fishing for a while. When I come back home, I play with my kids for a bit, take a nap with my wife after lunch, and then stroll around the village. In the evenings, I enjoy some wine with friends and play the guitar together.”
The manager offers advice,
“I have a PhD from Harvard University. I help people with their businesses while earning a lot of money. I can help guide you to success. In the future, you should spend more time fishing. With the extra money, you can buy a bigger boat. A bigger boat will bring in even more fish and profits, and you can use that to buy a fleet of boats. Instead of selling fish to merchants, sell them to a canning factory first and later start your own canned fish production plant and distribution network.
You could even leave this small village and set up your company’s headquarters in a big city. From there, you can manage other branches of a thriving company.”
The fisherman listens attentively but silently.
“How long would all of this take?” he asks.
The manager pauses for a moment.
“Well… probably 15 to 20 years.”
The fisherman inquires further,
“And then what?”
The manager laughs,
“That’s the best part. When the time is right, you’ll take your company public, sell all your shares on the stock exchange, and make a fortune. You’ll earn millions!”
The fisherman shakes his head in disbelief and wide-eyed, asks,
“Millions? And then what?”
The manager smiles,
“Well, after that, you can retire! Move back to the small fishing village, get enough sleep every day, go fishing for a while, play with your kids, take a nap with your wife after lunch, stroll around the village. Every evening, enjoy wine with friends, play the guitar, and have fun!”