One Mexican Fisherman - One American Businessman - 3 Life Lessons

If you're unfamiliar with the Mexican fisherman/American businessman story, it is a tale that speaks to the modern age in a simple yet profound way. It's also loving, humorous, and culturally rich.

In today's world, it's never been more fitting, important, and pertinent. It shines a light on two ways of moving through the world and holds up a beautiful reflection to what's possible upon a little reflection. 

Before I share what I've come to appreciate about this little story, I would first like to share the story itself so you can read it without any bias or influence from me. Then I'll share my top three lessons after. 

So… I'll see you on the other side! 

The Mexican fisherman/American businessman story 

An American businessman 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 him to catch them.

"Only a little while." The Mexican replied. 

The American businessman then asked, "well, why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" 

"I have enough fish to support my family, that's all I need." The Mexican fisherman simply responded.

The American was confused. "What do you do with the rest of your time?" He asked.

The Mexican fisherman didn't have to think - "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." 

The American businessman was quiet for a while, still confused, not by the life he was living, but by the life he could be living.

"I am a Harvard MBA and can help you." He started. "Seeing the way you fish, I think you should spend more time fishing so you can afford a bigger boat. With a bigger boat, you'll be able to catch more fish. With the money that more fish bring you'll be able to buy several boats, hire more people and make more profit. Eventually, you would have a whole fleet of fishing boats. 

Instead of selling your catch to a buyer, you can become a wholesaler, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution and reap all the financial benefits. 

You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course, as it's too small. Somewhere like Mexico City, LA, or New York would be a much better fit. These places will help you grow your expanding enterprise."

After he'd finished, the Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this take?"

To which the American businessman replied, "about 15–20 years."

"And what then?" Asked the Mexican.

That's when the American laughed, chuffed with the opportunity to dazzle the curious fisherman. "That's the best part. When the time comes you can sell your company and become a very, very rich man. You would make millions!"

"Millions - then what?"

The American was slightly taken aback, "Then you could retire, of course. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, Maria, stroll to the village in the evenings, sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

"But sir," the Mexican fisherman said. "Why would I spend 15–20 years of my life chasing a life I already have?" 

"To be content doesn't mean that you don't desire more, it means you're thankful for what you have and patient for what's to come" - Tony Gaskins 

The top 3 lessons I learned: 

Now, to the three lessons I learned from this enchanting tale. 

1. Less is more 

In a world where new shiny things are the objects of desire, it's easy to get carried away.

However, when the freedom of time becomes the desired currency and physical and mental health are valued above all else, the need to overextend myself is simply not an option.

I've noticed this in my writing. I often get the itch to do more. Sometimes, the voice inside my head even tells me that I must do more. I even feel guilty or lazy when I take a break because this voice is strong. 

This can lead me to write in the evenings because I feel like I need to and/or on weekends. I prioritise this voice instead of spending time with my lover. I can also publish things just to feel productive. It's the quantity over quality mindset, instead of focusing on the other way around. 

Recently, I completed a 6 day hike in the mountains. I was completely immersed in nature, waking with the sun and sleeping under the stars. During those six days, I felt how my body was more relaxed and my mind more still. 

My only task was walking. 

When I'm seeking more, more, more, the opposite is true: my body is tense and my mind is busy. 

The Mexican fisherman, along with the rhythm of the mountains, remind me that less is often more. 

2. Slow down 

In a world that's only getting faster, slowing down can be a challenge, at least for me anyway. More, more, more often means quicker, quicker, quicker. But who am I running for?

As a full-time online writer, I often feel this urgency to produce more content, share more information, write more blogs, reach more people, and make more money. I can sometimes feel like I'm on the hamster wheel spinning round and round and round. 

Don't get me wrong, I love what I do, I love the creation process, I love the feeling of expansion and growth, and I love finding new audiences to share my work with, but I can get quickly carried away in the current of production to the point where I become unbalanced. 

Recently, this has led to a sense that there's just not enough time, or that time is moving too fast to keep up. This has then caused me to feel stressed and anxious unnecessarily. 

The Mexican fisherman reminds me that there is another way.

3. I have everything I need 

This has been a journey of trusting the universe (and myself) that everything I need is taken care of, that all my bases are covered, and that I'm safe. 

I feel this deeply in the mountains. I also feel it in meditation and breathwork too.

But when I'm scrambling to do more and feel like time is slipping through my fingertips, I suddenly fall into a scarcity mindset, I worry about money and see all the things that are lacking in my life. 

In those moments, I have to take a deep breath, look around, and consciously see all the things that are good in my life. This brings me back into a state of gratitude and gratitude shows me that I absolutely have everything that I need, it's just that I forget to notice sometimes. 

Closing thoughts 

This is a story of two people from two very different cultures. Neither one is right or wrong but as I lived most of my life through the American businessman lens, I can see the value in what the Mexican fisherman shares. 

I can see the value in how simple yet rich his life is, how beautiful his relationships are, and how much time he has to see friends, play his guitar, and sip wine. 

If I was asked what was really important in life, this is all it would come down to in end: the freedom of time, friendship, and family. 

All the rest is just make-believe in the end. 

This beautiful little story reminds me that life is inherently simple. And beautiful. But we forget that and in so doing, we make it inordinately more complicated than it's necessary to.