What if money wasn’t in the picture at all?

I’m going to leave you with a story I read on Millionaire Mommy Next Door, called The Mexican Fisherman.

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American 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 American then asked him why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish. The Mexican replied that he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American 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 siestas 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, senor.”

The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard 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 fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.”

The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”

To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.”

“But what then?” asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich; you would make millions!”

“Millions – then what, senor?”

The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”

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  • Anonymous

    I’ve been thinking about this for awhile. If I didn’t have to worry about money then I would pursue my artistic passions.

    There are writers, artists, designers who make great money out there, enjoy their lives without starving and don’t have day jobs they hate. I’ve noticed the ones that make good money and aren’t poor are the ones that usually aren’t afraid of marketing and promoting their art and themselves. So that’s my goal now.

  • http://twitter.com/#!/carlycreature Carly

    I’d buy several houses in several places (Canberra, Mauii, Byron Bay) and then I’d pay off my parent’s mortagage and buy them a house here in Australia where I imagine I’d continue spending most of my time. Then I’d get serious about self-funding the documentaries I want to make and donate big time.

  • http://afford-anything.com Paula Pant

    If I had a bunch of money … I think I’d move to NYC or SF and join some investor’s circles! Haha. I like being at the cutting edge of thought, innovation and technology, and I’d love to bankroll some great startups. I’d probably be a venture capitalist, a real estate mogul or an entrepreneur … which is “sort of” what I am now but to a much smaller degree!!

  • Grumpyrumblings

    I don’t really think this kind of thinking applies for me.  If I had millions my life would change– I’d buy a house in the SF bay area and do a lot of charity stuff that I would flit around about like a dilettante.  I don’t do that now precisely because what optimizes my happiness when I don’t have millions includes having a fulfilling job in my field which I could not have in the SF bay area.  Money *does* enter into the equation.  I can’t get closer to happiness than I am now without a lot more money because I don’t want to make trade-offs that I wouldn’t have to make if I had that money.

  • Kate

    Love that story, it’s fabulous.

  • http://forhumanrights.wordpress.com/ Kris

    I would volunteer full-time anywhere around the world, wherever I could be of use, because I wouldn’t have to worry about covering my expenses. I would also donate a heck of a lot more than I do now. I do both of these things whenever I am able but I would go full-time if money were no object.
    I don’t care much for acquiring things, but I might rent a few small apartments as “home bases” in various parts of the world to help with this, and let others stay for free when I wasn’t there.

  • http://20andengaged.com Briana Myricks

    If money weren’t an option, I’d travel my butt off. I’d help people who needed help with their families and their relationships. I’d do a lot more learning about different cultures and different people. I’d have children! I need to work towards this but it’s definitely hard.

  • SoCal Gal

    1. A 5 bedrooms, 3 baths house in a safe neighborhood.
    2. A new car.  I’m thinking either a Honda Accord, Mini Cooper or hybrid

    That should be enough for me.

  • Wickedfairy

    As for me after I paid off all of my debts…I would go on the vacations/see what I want to see (call it my travel bucket list), buy some land and build my dream small house of about 900 sq. ft., give some to friends and family, and then make a lot of donations. 

  • Valarie

    This is such a great post… You really hit it on the nail… The story you gave is really great and basically puts it all in a nutshell.. I really enjoy your blogs.. You are by far my favorite minimalist blogger… Keep up the great work.. I look forward to your posts… =)

  • http://www.saywhathalifax.com Kim B.

    FB – you are so right and gave me a lot of food for thought. If money wasn’t an issue, what WOULD I do with myself? I think I need to do a little soul searching (as I suspect most of us would if we wanted to spend our time at least somewhat productively).