Read the story given below and my thought processes gave me an alternative viewpoint. Though the story is good, I found value in the option elucidated by the MBA grad from Stanford.
Here I go…
Some of us have this notion of attaching happiness to being contented with small things in life - no big plans, no pressures and so happy always. Does the scope of happiness ends there? I beg to differ...
Consider the case of the same fisherman. Is he not under pressure when he sets out for fishing everyday - there could be no catch, an engine failure, a high tide, a tsunami, a cyclone, a cloud burst, a shark attack, et all. Yet he is happy and contented, because he has accepted them as part of the whole and so life goes on for him. Am sure a daily earner too will have his cup of woes, when his near and dear fall ill when he is exhausted... The same is the case of a businessman. He accepts the pressures as part of the game and goes on. Is he not experiencing happiness when he expands business and feeds more (both directly and indirectly)? Am sure that many of us are aware of big businessmen doing great philanthropic work, like Bill Gates contributing a huge sum for AIDS awareness. Some may question his approach to business - that of bullying the competitors. But the same applies to this fisherman too. He infringes on the right of the fish to live its life full till its natural death.
Yes the end result for both the daily earner and that of the businessman is same, but the path taken by both suits them perfectly. Daily earner is happy and contented with the small circle and the businessman with a large circle.
My views would stand only when this society has materialistic leanings. Feel we will remain materialistic, as practically it is highly impossible to go back to the ancient age when all were contented with the available natural resource.
Though given a chance many would prefer to live the life as that of this daily earner, some take the other route and act as a source or catalyst for direct or indirect happiness. Thus do not let the 'means' to define your happiness. If you keep it open, Happiness and Prosperity derives...
Shortest or Longest - either way you have day to day thrills. Savour it at every stage and be happy always...
- donkeySOUP
THE STORY: Happiness & Prosperity.....a full circle
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village.
An American tourist named Jon complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked Jon.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, love my wife. In the evenings I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."
The American interrupted, "I have an M.B.A. from Stanford and I can help you. You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.
With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New Jersey! From there you can direct your huge enterprise."
"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years."
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? That's when it gets really interesting. When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?"
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, love your wife, and spend your evenings drinking and playing the guitar with your friends!"
Here I go…
Some of us have this notion of attaching happiness to being contented with small things in life - no big plans, no pressures and so happy always. Does the scope of happiness ends there? I beg to differ...
Consider the case of the same fisherman. Is he not under pressure when he sets out for fishing everyday - there could be no catch, an engine failure, a high tide, a tsunami, a cyclone, a cloud burst, a shark attack, et all. Yet he is happy and contented, because he has accepted them as part of the whole and so life goes on for him. Am sure a daily earner too will have his cup of woes, when his near and dear fall ill when he is exhausted... The same is the case of a businessman. He accepts the pressures as part of the game and goes on. Is he not experiencing happiness when he expands business and feeds more (both directly and indirectly)? Am sure that many of us are aware of big businessmen doing great philanthropic work, like Bill Gates contributing a huge sum for AIDS awareness. Some may question his approach to business - that of bullying the competitors. But the same applies to this fisherman too. He infringes on the right of the fish to live its life full till its natural death.
Yes the end result for both the daily earner and that of the businessman is same, but the path taken by both suits them perfectly. Daily earner is happy and contented with the small circle and the businessman with a large circle.
My views would stand only when this society has materialistic leanings. Feel we will remain materialistic, as practically it is highly impossible to go back to the ancient age when all were contented with the available natural resource.
Though given a chance many would prefer to live the life as that of this daily earner, some take the other route and act as a source or catalyst for direct or indirect happiness. Thus do not let the 'means' to define your happiness. If you keep it open, Happiness and Prosperity derives...
Shortest or Longest - either way you have day to day thrills. Savour it at every stage and be happy always...
- donkeySOUP
THE STORY: Happiness & Prosperity.....a full circle
A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village.
An American tourist named Jon complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.
"Not very long," answered the Mexican.
"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked Jon.
The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.
"But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, love my wife. In the evenings I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."
The American interrupted, "I have an M.B.A. from Stanford and I can help you. You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat.
With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.
Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New Jersey! From there you can direct your huge enterprise."
"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.
"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years."
"And after that?"
"Afterwards? That's when it gets really interesting. When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"
"Millions? Really? And after that?"
"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, love your wife, and spend your evenings drinking and playing the guitar with your friends!"
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