An American businessman was standing at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.
"How long did it take 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?"
"I have enough to support my family's immediate needs," the Mexican said.
The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"
The fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, and 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 American scoffed. "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing. With the proceeds, you could buy a bigger boat. Eventually, you would have a fleet. You would open your own cannery. You would move to LA, then NYC to run your enterprise."
The fisherman asked, "But señor, how long will this all take?"
"15-20 years."
"But what then, señor?"
The American laughed. "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 American 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, and stroll to the village in the evenings to sip wine with your amigos."
We are often taught that happiness only comes from relentless hustle, constantly moving up the ladder, and the desire for more. But sometimes the goal of working 20 years is just to buy back the freedom you could have chosen today.
You have to define what "enough" means for you. Choose your own version of happiness, and don't let anyone tell you it is the wrong path.