Fisherman vs Businessman story

I’m still working on how to get started on my million dollar making formula. Let’s just say I’m in the planning (ahem… procrastination) stage. Meanwhile, I read a great story some random blog that I can’t remember (I’ll insert link here if I find it again). I’ll summarise it anyway:

A businessman sees a fisherman at a small Mexican village coming in from sea with a small catch of fish.
The businessman asks, ‘Why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?’.
‘It’s enough to support my family. I sleep late, fish a little, take a siesta, play with my kids, catch up with friends… I have a full life’
The businessman gets agitated and brags about his Harvard MBA, ‘I can help you become more successful. Just spend more time fishing to get yourself enough for a bigger boat. Hire more people to catch fish for you. Start a business and eventually you could have an empire and expand the enterprise globally.’
The fisherman looks perplexed, ‘How long with that take?’
‘15, maybe 20 years’
‘And then what?’

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, yadi yadi yadi…

Classic! :D Moral of the story is, you may be where you want to be already. And also, don’t spend too long chasing dreams, climbing the wrong ladder, when you may already have all you need.

I guess this is also very similar to a blurb in Steve McKnight’s , ‘$1,000,000 in Property in One Year’ - And then what? Steve’s basically achieved his goals and no longer needs to worry about money. He gets into a bit of a hole with nothing left to do. He plays some golf, travels the world, hangs out with friends, … but then what? Sooner or later, you get bored and you need to do something with the limited time you have on Earth.

I asked a collegue what he would do if he didn’t have to work anymore. He replied, ‘dunno. I actually like coming to work and wouldn’t know what to do. Sit at home and read some mags maybe?’

Well, what would I do if I was insanely rich? I would do a Bill Gates and put my money and effort into a worthy cause. Apart from finding cures to illnesses and freeing the world from poverty, war, and famine, I’d like to also run for Prime Minister and change the inefficiently stupid political system we have in place - Simplify our taxes, make education and health free for those who can’t afford it, and actually listen to other people’s ideas rather than constantly bagging the other politicial parties. Yes, you would only go into politics if couldn’t get a proper job or you have too much spare time. :P

Unfortunately, it’s some pretty unstable and gloomy times for property investment in Melbourne. Steve’s advice for a downturn - consolidate your cash and get out of the market. Property investing is out of the equation for this year run at millionaire-ship.

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