10 min
What a Mexican Fisherman Can Teach Us About Contentment Our Daily Rest
-
- Christianity
A short parable of a Mexican fisherman and American businessman has a few truths for us as we seek to cultivate an attitude of contentment in our lives. [su\_button url="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-daily-rest/id1209722194" target="blank" style="flat" background="#717c6b" size="6" radius="0"]Subscribe on iTunes[/su\_button] [su\_button url="/renewing-library-signup/" target="blank" style="flat" background="#717c6b" size="6" radius="0"]Subscribe by Email[/su\_button] **The short parable...** An American businessman was taking a much-needed vacation in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. The boat had several large, fresh fish in it. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish. “How long it took you to catch them?” The American asked. “Only a little while.” The Mexican replied. “Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The American then asked. “I have enough to support my family’s immediate needs.” The Mexican said. “But,” The American then asked, “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 a siesta 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, senor.” The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds you buy a bigger boat, and 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 consumers, eventually opening your own can factory. 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 NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.” The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?” To which the American replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then, senor?” The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO (Initial Public Offering) and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.” “Millions, senor? Then what?” The American said slowly, “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 with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos…” Most believe this was originally written by [Heinrich Boll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_B%C3%B6ll).
### **This Episode is Brought to You By**
_ **Audible** _ For listeners of the Our Daily Rest podcast, Audible is offering a FREE audiobook download along with a free 30-day trial of their service. They have a selection of more than 180,000 titles to choose from. To learn more and download your free audio book visit [audibletrial.com/ODR](http://www.audibletrial.com/ODR). _ **Red Oak Collective** _ This episode is also brought to you by the Red Oak Collective shop. A collection of goods designed to be encouragement for your soul. You can [learn more here.](https://theredoakcollective.com/) Be sure to use code **ODR5OFF** for $5 off your first order of $25 or more. [](https://theredoakcollective.com/)
### How to Listen to the Podcast
[Here's a short guide](http://ourdailyrest.net/podcast-faq/) on how to easily listen to the podcast each week or how to leave a review on iTunes (very much appreciated!).
A short parable of a Mexican fisherman and American businessman has a few truths for us as we seek to cultivate an attitude of contentment in our lives. [su\_button url="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/our-daily-rest/id1209722194" target="blank" style="flat" background="#717c6b" size="6" radius="0"]Subscribe on iTunes[/su\_button] [su\_button url="/renewing-library-signup/" target="blank" style="flat" background="#717c6b" size="6" radius="0"]Subscribe by Email[/su\_button] **The short parable...** An American businessman was taking a much-needed vacation in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. The boat had several large, fresh fish in it. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish. “How long it took you to catch them?” The American asked. “Only a little while.” The Mexican replied. “Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The American then asked. “I have enough to support my family’s immediate needs.” The Mexican said. “But,” The American then asked, “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 a siesta 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, senor.” The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds you buy a bigger boat, and 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 consumers, eventually opening your own can factory. 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 NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.” The Mexican fisherman asked, “But senor, how long will this all take?” To which the American replied, “15-20 years.” “But what then, senor?” The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO (Initial Public Offering) and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.” “Millions, senor? Then what?” The American said slowly, “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 with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos…” Most believe this was originally written by [Heinrich Boll](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_B%C3%B6ll).
### **This Episode is Brought to You By**
_ **Audible** _ For listeners of the Our Daily Rest podcast, Audible is offering a FREE audiobook download along with a free 30-day trial of their service. They have a selection of more than 180,000 titles to choose from. To learn more and download your free audio book visit [audibletrial.com/ODR](http://www.audibletrial.com/ODR). _ **Red Oak Collective** _ This episode is also brought to you by the Red Oak Collective shop. A collection of goods designed to be encouragement for your soul. You can [learn more here.](https://theredoakcollective.com/) Be sure to use code **ODR5OFF** for $5 off your first order of $25 or more. [](https://theredoakcollective.com/)
### How to Listen to the Podcast
[Here's a short guide](http://ourdailyrest.net/podcast-faq/) on how to easily listen to the podcast each week or how to leave a review on iTunes (very much appreciated!).
10 min