The Fisherman

The story of the fisherman and the businessman is simple, almost too simple. A fisherman sits by the shore, satisfied with his small daily catch. A businessman, seeing untapped potential, suggests a plan: fish more, sell more, expand, invest, grow, and one day retire rich—so that he can finally sit by the shore and enjoy life. The fisherman, already doing just that, just smiles.

It’s a story that lingers.

At first glance, it’s easy to dismiss. "Of course, the fisherman is right," we think. "Money isn’t everything." But then, we go back to our own lives and do the exact opposite.

We work late for the promotion, not because we need it, but because that’s what we’re supposed to do. We upgrade our homes, our cars, our closets—never because what we have isn’t enough, but because more is better, right? We chase vacations not for rest, but for an experience that feels like an accomplishment. We tell ourselves that in five, ten, twenty years, we’ll slow down. We’ll enjoy life. We just need to get there first.

But where exactly is there?

Then there’s the other side—the extreme no one really talks about. We praise saving, investing, preparing for the future. But when does financial security turn into hoarding? Some people live their entire lives accumulating wealth they never use, saving for a future that never comes. They aren’t better off than the ones who spend every cent as soon as they make it. Both are still trapped—one chasing, one stockpiling. Both postponing life.

The businessman thinks the fisherman is small-minded, that he lacks vision. The fisherman thinks the businessman is foolish, running in circles. Who’s right?

Maybe there’s no right answer. Maybe the answer depends on what you value, on what you’re willing to trade.

All I know is, most of us spend our lives working toward something we already know we want: time, freedom, simplicity, connection. But instead of just having it, we complicate the path to getting there.

The fisherman already had his answer. Have you thought about yours?

"You are not rich until you have something money can’t buy." — Garth Brooks