There was an American businessman sitting on the dock of a small fishing village by the sea in Mexico, watching a Mexican fisherman row a small boat to shore, with several large yellowfin tuna on board. The American businessman complimented the Mexican fisherman on catching such high-quality fish and asked how long it took him to catch so many. The Mexican fisherman replied that it took only a little while. The American then asked why he didn’t stay out longer to catch more fish. The Mexican fisherman seemed unconcerned and said: these fish are enough for my family’s needs!

The American asked: So what do you do with the rest of your day?

The Mexican fisherman explained: Me? I wake up naturally every day, go out to catch a few fish, come back and play with my children; then I take a nap with my wife, and in the evening, I stroll into the village to have a drink and play guitar with my friends. My life is full and busy!

The American, not convinced, offered a suggestion: I am a Harvard MBA, and I can help you! You should spend more time each day fishing, and then you could buy a bigger boat. Naturally, you’d catch more fish and buy more boats, then you could have a fleet of fishing boats.

At that point, you wouldn’t have to sell the fish to the fishmonger but could sell directly to the processing factories. Then you could open your own canning factory. This way, you could control the entire production, processing, and marketing. Then you could leave this small fishing village, move to Mexico City, then to Los Angeles, and finally to New York to run your ever-expanding business.

The Mexican fisherman asked: How long would that take?

The American replied: Fifteen to twenty years.

The Mexican fisherman asked: What then?

The American laughed and said: Then you can be your own king at home! When the time is right, you can announce an IPO and sell your company's shares to the public; then you’ll be prosperous! You could earn millions and millions!

And then?

The American said: By that time, you can retire! You can move back to a small fishing village by the sea. Wake up whenever you want, go out to catch a few fish, play with your children, take a nap with your wife, and in the evening, walk into the village for a drink and play guitar with your friends.

The Mexican fisherman puzzledly said: But isn’t that what I’m already doing?

What exactly do people pursue in life?

Thoughts:

What do people truly pursue in life? This is a question without a standard answer; a thousand people may have a thousand different answers. But we should know that success has many definitions. Some people spend their lives chasing fame and wealth, and they might be very happy (maybe), others live in a lavish lifestyle and are happy too (of course); and many more pass through ordinary lives filled with fulfilling daily work and life—could this not also be a form of happiness?

Perhaps, there is only one true success: living life in the way you love!