UNSCRIPTED: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship

by M.J. DeMarco

“Only a bit,” the Mexican replied. “Why don’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?” the American then asked. “I have enough to support my family’s immediate needs,” the Mexican said. “But,” the American then asked, “what do you do with the rest of your time?” The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, take evening strolls to the village, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.” The American scoffed, “I have a Harvard MBA, and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, you buy a bigger boat, and 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 could sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control everything. You would need to leave your small village and move to the big city to manage your expanding enterprise.” The Mexican fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?” To which the American replied, “Ten to fifteen years.” “But what then, señor?” The American laughed and said, “Well, that’s the best part. When the time is right, you would sell your company and become very rich; you would make millions.” “Millions, señor? Then what?” The American said slowly, “Then you would retire, move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, play with your kids, t...