Reflection time
"How often do you MAKE time to STOP and just think?"
On the business accelerator ezine I like to share ideas and stories with
you which not only will make a difference for you professionally – but also
personally.
So this week I’ve decided to share with you probably one of the most
powerful personal development stories I've ever heard.
The Mexican Boatman…
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 yellow-fin 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 why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The Mexican said 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 a siesta 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."
The American scoffed, "I’m 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 NYC 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?"
The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right
you would announce an IPO (Initial Purchase Offer) and sell your company
stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
"Millions. Then what?"
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 a siesta with your wife Maria, stroll to the village in the evenings
where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
How I used the idea…
When I first read this story the light bulb came on!
It’s so easy to get caught up in the pace of life, becoming so busy,
rushing around from one activity to the next, spinning multiple plates and
not making the time to stop, sit back and think.
This story made me examine my goals and really think about the goals I’d
set for myself and most importantly…why I wanted to achieve them.
Still today when I catch myself rushing from one place to the next and feel
I’m losing the balance in my life - a 30 second re focus, by reading this
story helps me to put everything into perspective, and re address the
scales of balance.
My suggestion…
Re read this story a few times. Take some 'quiet time' and examine your
goals – some you might have already achieved, some you might decide are not
worthy of your time and effort and those you decide to pursue will be the
ones which you know will really make the difference and allow you to
achieve precisely what you want out of life - both personally and
professionally.
On the business accelerator ezine I like to share ideas and stories with
you which not only will make a difference for you professionally – but also
personally.
So this week I’ve decided to share with you probably one of the most
powerful personal development stories I've ever heard.
The Mexican Boatman…
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 yellow-fin 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 why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The Mexican said 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 a siesta 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."
The American scoffed, "I’m 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 NYC 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?"
The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right
you would announce an IPO (Initial Purchase Offer) and sell your company
stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
"Millions. Then what?"
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 a siesta with your wife Maria, stroll to the village in the evenings
where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
How I used the idea…
When I first read this story the light bulb came on!
It’s so easy to get caught up in the pace of life, becoming so busy,
rushing around from one activity to the next, spinning multiple plates and
not making the time to stop, sit back and think.
This story made me examine my goals and really think about the goals I’d
set for myself and most importantly…why I wanted to achieve them.
Still today when I catch myself rushing from one place to the next and feel
I’m losing the balance in my life - a 30 second re focus, by reading this
story helps me to put everything into perspective, and re address the
scales of balance.
My suggestion…
Re read this story a few times. Take some 'quiet time' and examine your
goals – some you might have already achieved, some you might decide are not
worthy of your time and effort and those you decide to pursue will be the
ones which you know will really make the difference and allow you to
achieve precisely what you want out of life - both personally and
professionally.
posted by POL Northern England Update at
1:36 PM
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