The businessman 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 businessman 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 businessman then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The businessman 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 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, señor."

The businessman scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and I 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 and eventually open 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 would run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But señor, how long will this all take?" To which the businessman replied, "15-20 years." "But what then, señor?" 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, señor? 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, 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."

The fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, "Isn't that what I'm doing right now?"

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There is a lesson in this story. I am very conscious of the futility of chasing the means instead of the ends that mean something to me. But the world makes it very difficult for us to focus on the things that matter to us. They will make you run helter-skelter, willy-nilly in all sorts of directions. If you don't, they will disqualify you so you must. You must catch more fish, different varieties of fish, talk about the fish you caught (or more likely didn't), so on and so forth. You cannot simply focus on catching the fish you want to. To be able to do that, you will be forced to do a lot of other things. If you don't do the other things, they may not allow you to do what you want either. Even though your heart's not in it and you'd rather do what you'd rather do. You will question your philosophy too because it seems so different from everyone around you. Are you missing something? Should I run helter-skelter, willy-nilly, out of breath? Instead of at my own quiet rhythm which is essential to catch my type of fish…?

On this new year's eve, I want to reassure myself that it's okay to be the simple fisherman who knows what he wants and does not get swayed by what the world says he wants. It's okay to walk my own path... even if it does not lead to a lot, a lot of most likely what I don’t care for anyway. It’s okay to stay true to who I am and what I believe in. Those who love me will love me for it anyway…

Dear reader, I wish you a very Happy 2026! I am happy to have you on this little trip with me :)