Paul’s perspective – The Billionaire fisherman: A fable turned ‘real life’

January 11, 2017

Many years ago, I was told the thought provoking story of a Mexican fisherman meeting a New York banker.  It was a fable that I will always remember and last week, on holiday in Thailand, I met a Thai gentleman who has lived the fable for real! It reminded me of what life is about and it is well worth recounting.

The story goes that there was once a Mexican fisherman who enjoyed life to the full and spent his days fishing.  He fished for long enough in the day to catch fish he needed to in order to pay for his daily expenses and the rest of his time either fishing with his son (for pleasure) or playing guitar in the evening, around the campfire, whilst his family watched on.  One day, whilst fishing from the shore, he met a smartly dressed young man.  Wearing and pale blue short-sleeve shirt and properly pressed chino shorts, the man was a banker from New York.  Whilst sharing stories of fishing, the New York banker started making suggestions as to how the Mexican fisherman could grow his business.  The Mexican fisherman was intrigued.

‘Firstly’, advised the banker, ‘you should fish longer hours.  Sell more fish at the market and start turning profit that will allow you to employ another fisherman to grow volume.’ It was compelling.  ‘That sounds interesting’ replied the Mexican fisherman, ‘but then what?’.

‘Well’, continued the banker, ‘then you can generate a profit that will allow you to invest in a boat that will allow you fish offshore that will enable you to catch more fish.  There is surely better yield out in the Ocean?’.  ‘Indeed’ replied the fisherman, ‘but then what?’

‘Well then’ said the banker, ‘you would reinvest this additional profit in a second boat and a bigger team of staff’.  The fisherman was intrigued and the story went on.  The New York banker talked the fisherman through an entire business plan that moved through a bigger fleet, an ‘in-house’ cannery, International expansion and, eventually, a flotation on the New York Stock Exchange.  ‘That sounds amazing’ says the fisherman.  ‘But then what?’

‘Well then’ says the New York banker, ‘you will have about $25 million dollars by my reckoning and then you can take the time to fish in the day with your son and play your guitar around the campfire to your family at night.’ The fisherman looked perplexed.  ‘But that’s what I do now!!’ he says.

And that is where the truly engaging conversation with the gentleman I met above in Thailand was so very pertinent. I had met this guy (and I wasn’t wearing chinos) in 30 degree heat, at dusk, and by the bank of a river in Bangkok. I was fishing with my son (a pastime I have just taken up) and we struck up a conversation about life. He told me his story as he was standing by the riverbank, an old fishing rod at hand, but so content by what he was doing in life.  After talking best bait and the best ways to rig my line, he tells me that he used to own 18 golf resorts across the United States.  Thai born, but lived in the US for eighteen years.  He now realises how simple life’s pleasures can be.

So, I am not suggesting we all give up and start fishing.  I shan’t be doing that.  However, it is worth remembering what simple pleasures can be about in life and chasing material dreams should not be the only focus we all have.  Here’s to a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful (!) 2017!

By Paul Herman, Founder & CEO of Bluebox Corporate Finance

 

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