Hi friend,
Today I want to share with you a quick story.
It’s called the: The Fisherman and the Businessman1
The first time I read this story… I thought I knew what success really meant.
Then I read it a 2nd time… then 3rd… and every time I do, I step away with a new profound sense of what it means to be truly successful—or not.
If you want to get a fresh perspective on life, business, and finding purpose… then read on!
The Fisherman and the Businessman
A wealthy investment banker goes on vacation to a tropical fishing village.
As he walked along the docks one afternoon, he came upon a small, run-down fishing boat with several large fish on its deck.
"How long did it take you to catch those fish?" he asked.
The fisherman looked up from his work and smiled at his new visitor.
"Only a little while."
The investment banker was caught off guard by this response.
He liked the fisherman and wanted to help.
"Why don't you fish for longer so you can catch more fish?"
The fisherman shrugged and explained to his new friend that he had all he needed.
"Each day, I sleep late, fish a little, and spend time with my children and beautiful wife. In the evening, I go into town, drink wine, play the guitar, and sing and laugh with my friends."
The investment banker was puzzled.
He wanted to help his new friend, who he recognized was clearly confused.
The investment banker had helped many businesses and had an MBA and other fancy credentials to his name.
So he laid out a plan for the fisherman...
"First, you spend more time fishing, so you can catch and sell more fish. You use the proceeds to buy a bigger boat, which allows you to catch and sell even more fish."
The fisherman listened intently, his face calm.
But the investment banker was just getting started...
"Then you buy a fleet of boats. You hire a team. Vertically integrate. As CEO of a large, growing enterprise, you could move to the big city. You would take your company public and make millions!"
The fisherman looked confused, but smiled.
"And then what?" he asked.
The investment banker was shocked.
"Well, then you could retire to a quiet town! You could sleep late, fish a little, and spend time with your children and beautiful wife. In the evening, you could go into town, drink wine, play the guitar, and sing and laugh with your friends."
Not realizing the irony, the investment banker stood silent, waiting for the fisherman to express excitement with the plan.
The fisherman smiled broadly, thanked his new friend for the advice, and wandered off slowly into the warm afternoon sun.
Do you think the investment banker was in the wrong here?
or…
Perhaps the fisherman should’ve heeded his business advice so he can build generational wealth?
This is what I think the 3 key takeaways are:
Know what you desire and pursue it directly. 🏹
Everyone views success differently. 👀
Success isn’t about the destination it’s about who you become.🏃♀️
1) Know what you desire and pursue it directly 🏹
Now… this doesn’t mean that you should quit your job and retire on some island.
I’ve met plenty of expats who, despite moving abroad and earning tons of money, are still caught in the rat race.
It means… don’t waste time chasing after what society values—only to find out you already had what truly matters.
AND
if you don’t possess that “thing” yet that you desire.
You should make a conscious decision to work for it.2
2) Everyone views success differently 👀
Some people truly love money.
Money is their god, lover, and confidante.
and that’s fine.
What’s not fine is when you try to impose your “ideal” life onto other people.
Ever been to a family party and that one aunt always asks the question…
“ So what’s your plan?”
followed by an awkward “why”
and you just know she’s judging you.
There are a million ways to be successful and you don’t have to explain to anyone what your reasons are!
3) Success isn’t the destination, it’s about who you become. 🏃♀️
Think back on the final result that the businessman shared with the fisherman.
You could sleep late, fish a little, and spend time with your children and beautiful wife. In the evening, you could go into town, drink wine, play the guitar, and sing and laugh with your friends.
Part of this “dream life” is the freedom to do whatever he wants.
The other part that isn’t answered is…
Does building a business make him a better father, husband, and friend?
Another example:
When we commit to a workout program we’re initially enticed by the six pack abs, and amazing physique as future goals.
But the real reward is the healthy, fit, and confident person we become.
So instead of asking yourself… what is it that I want [physically]?
Ask yourself, who is it that I want to become?
Directly from Sahil Bloom’s thread
Most people are too afraid to admit their deepest desires… and often times avoid the very thing that they want through distractions. When you make a conscious decision you’re aligning your intentions with your actions.
Reminds me of this set of questions from Clearer Thinking I did a few days back: https://programs.clearerthinking.org/lcq.html They're nothing too life-changing for folks like us who are constantly self-assessing and self-reflecting, but maybe someone else reading this will find the tool useful to help them figure out what they desire.