Big Catch Of Success

 The Old Fisherman 

Big Catch Of Success 

By Frank Sagasta  

An American businessman was looking at taking a trip away from his busy life for ten days.  The American businessman found himself overwhelmed.  He was overwhelmed on which Mexican costal city to visit.  He soon found himself leaning toward the beautiful amenities of Los Cabos. 

The American businessman was all checked in and was ready to enjoy the amenities of his newly surrounding environment.  He had some of the greatest food he’s ever tasted.  He also enjoyed the skydiving and  deep-sea diving experiences.  He was truly feeling the impact of being away from his fast pace life in the city.  But there was one thing missing.

This American businessman was sitting at the pier on the first weekend of his vacation.  It was one thing that brought back a childhood memory, and that was fishing off the pier.  As he casted out his line from the dock, he seen a small little boat far in the distance.  As the boat approached he noticed one man coming closer.  

The businessman watched his line and the boat getting closer, the man could see that inside the boat was a little old Mexican man with were several large fish.  The businessman was a little shocked, but wasn’t hesitant to ask the old man about the fish.

American businessman: “A old man, what kind of fish do you have there?”

Old Mexican fishermen: Didn’t respond. 

American businessman, repeated: “A old man, what kind of fish do you have there?”

Old Mexican fishermen: “Yellow fin tuna!” 

American businessman: “How long did it take you?” 

Old Mexican fishermen: “How long have you been on pier?”

The American businessman didn’t want to make things difficult.  So, he complemented the old Mexican fisherman on his extraordinary catches.  He complimented the old fisherman on the quantity and quality of his catches.  In fact, he couldn’t hold back, but to ask once more how he caught so many and how long the old man was out there fishing.  

American businessman: “How long did it take you?”

Old Mexican fishermen replied: “Only a little while” 

The American then asked why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more fish? The old fisherman said, he had enough to support his families immediate needs.  The American businessman didn’t quite understand the importance of that definition.  The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time old man?”  The old Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish, a little, spend time with my children, take a short siesta, and spend the rest of my evening with my wife.”  The Mexican continued, once in a while my wife and I will stroll into the village to get tacos and sip wine.’ We may even enjoy the sounds of the guitars playing from my amigos.” 

The American businessman laughed.  He told the old man that he had graduated from a prestigious university in America and that he also worked for a fortune 500 company for fifteen years.  He continue to tell the old man that he could help him.  

The American Businessman said, “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.  And  instead of selling your catches to a middleman, you could sell directly to big company’s.  You would control the product, processing, distribution, and personnel.  You would need to leave this small city and move to a very big city like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.  Where you can expand your enterprise and live like a normal millionaire.”

The old Mexican fisherman asked, “But how long will this take my friend?”  To which the American businessman replied, “10-20 years.”  The old man replied, “But what then?”  The American businessman laughed and said, “That is the best part Sir.  When the time is right, you would announce your new business as an investment to the public and people would buy stocks in your business.  You would be a millionaire.”  The old fisherman replied, “Millions?”, and “Then what?”  The American businessman responded, “Then you could retire old man!! Move to a small costal city or village and fish, sleep, or take naps.  You could fish a little while and take your lovely wife on a picnic or inti town to dance and sip wine.”

The American businessman said, “Doesn’t this sound great old man?”  The old Mexican fishermen replied, “Sometimes the greatest catches of success are seen in plan view youngsters.”  One of your American presidents, I believe his name was Abraham Lincoln once said, “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life you that count.  It’s the life in your years.”  

“Every action we take, everything we do, is either a victory or defeat in the struggle to become what we want to be.” ~ Anne Byrhhe 

The old man continued to educate the young businessman with a verse he memorized from the book of Philippians (4:11-13) that says, “Not that I speak and  respect of want: before I have learned, and whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me.”  The American businessman was taken back because all throughout college, he had never heard those words of wisdom.  And it was this interaction of conversation that became the greatest memory of experience on his vacation. 

The End,

**I have borrowed this short story from different sources which have been circulating in many forms.  I am sorry, because as I told my wife.  I do not remember which book it came from but I’ve read it more than once.  So, the original author is unknown.  

I leave you all with this one question though, have you been overlooking the real successes this last year? And if so, what successes will you compound upon this next year? 

By Coach Frank Sagasta 

Arizona Professional Skills Instructor and Leadership Specialists