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This story has stuck with me for years 👇
“A successful businessman on vacation was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked...
“A successful businessman on vacation was at the pier of a small coastal village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked...
Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna.
The businessman complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The businessman complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman proudly replied,
“Every morning, I go out in my boat for 30 minutes to fish. I’m the best fisherman in the village”.
“Every morning, I go out in my boat for 30 minutes to fish. I’m the best fisherman in the village”.
The businessman, perplexed, then asks the fisherman,
“If you’re the best, why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish? What do you do the rest of the day?”
“If you’re the best, why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish? What do you do the rest of the day?”
The fisherman replied,
“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, spend quality time with my wife, and every evening we stroll into the village to drink wine and play guitar with our friends. I have a full and happy life.”
“I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, spend quality time with my wife, and every evening we stroll into the village to drink wine and play guitar with our friends. I have a full and happy life.”
The businessman scoffed, “I'm a successful CEO & have a talent for spotting business opportunities. I can help you be more successful. You should spend more time fishing & 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 with many fishermen. Instead of selling your catch to just your friends, you can scale to sell fish to thousands. You could leave this small coastal fishing village and move to the big city, where you can grow your empire.”
The fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the businessman replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” Asked the fisherman.
To which the businessman replied, “15 – 20 years.”
“But what then?” Asked the fisherman.
The businessman 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?”
“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 businessman said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, spend time with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your friends.”
3 lessons I've taken from this throughout my career:
1. Work to live > Live to work
Don't wait to "fish a little, play with your kids, spend time with your wife, sip wine and play your guitar with your friends.”
1. Work to live > Live to work
Don't wait to "fish a little, play with your kids, spend time with your wife, sip wine and play your guitar with your friends.”
2. Work smarter, not harder
Identify the 20% of activities that are going to drive 80% of the results. With that mindset, you might be able to work for 30min a day like the fisherman.
Identify the 20% of activities that are going to drive 80% of the results. With that mindset, you might be able to work for 30min a day like the fisherman.
3. Avoid the trap of always chasing 'more'
A slice of the pie tastes better than force-feeding the full pie. Just like your business does not need to appeal to everyone.
A slice of the pie tastes better than force-feeding the full pie. Just like your business does not need to appeal to everyone.
Thanks for reading!
I'm committed to showing up daily to help you become a better copywriter.
All I ask is that you show some love with likes, comments, and questions on this post :)
I'm committed to showing up daily to help you become a better copywriter.
All I ask is that you show some love with likes, comments, and questions on this post :)
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