Small vs. Big

Somewhere off the Coast of Mexico


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 yellowfin 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 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 scoffed, "I am 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 New York City, 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?" Asked the Mexican.


The American laughed and said, "That's the best part.  When the time is right you would announce an IPO 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 siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos." 

~Author Unknown

When we were young we were taught to get more, to grow into something or someone big. As we grew into adults we are conditioned for more. Bigger. Being more popular is thought to be better than being less popular. Having more stuff is better than having less stuff. Having a bigger company is better than having a smaller company. Having a bigger house with more square square footage is better than having a smaller house with less square footage. Having more clients is better than having less customers etc.

As much as we are inundated with more / big we weren't taught about how beneficial less / small is. We equate more /  big with success and view less / small as unsuccessful. Less / small is covert. Less / small creates opportunity with often greater benefits than more / big. However our culture is deaf to its benefits.

Many believe that less is trying to be more and that small is a failed attempt at being big. Consider being small by design and focusing on less on purpose can provide GREATER opportunity, security, contentment, fulfillment, balance and serenity.

Just a thought.

Best,
~Craig

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