What’s your Mexican Fishing Village?

I’ve come to the realization that there will never be a point where life is really “figured out”. For the most part, we’re often scrambling to find out what we should do next, and how to make the most of our current situation.

Often I feel that if we would just slow down a minute and find out what really is important to us, we would be able to focus on achieving those dreams rather than spending time on what we’re told we should be trying to achieve.

We should question why we’re doing what we’re doing. Take the following story as an example:

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.”

What we’re told life should be like from those chasing riches and seeking fame is not the life we truly want.

We want happiness. Lasting happiness. Fame and money do not bring those things. The little things do.

If you notice what the Mexican in the story did for fulfillment compared to what the American wanted to work 15–20 years towards, you’ll notice the common element:

People.

• play with your kids
• take siestas with your wife
• stroll in the village (alone? probably not)
• play guitar with your amigos

It’s the relationships in our lives that allow us to serve others and give us meaning.

We become so caught up in work, school, homework, clubs, activities, sports, church, and chasing all the things we think we need to have and be.

All of these things are good things! But often they can detract for the real reason we should want to do them: to serve, lift, and help others through meaningful relationships.

Life is about helping others become more than they could on their own.

What’s your Mexican fishing village?