American Joke

Two weeks before the Crash, an American investment banker whose Hummer had broken down found himself stranded in the middle of Mexican nowhere for a day. Out of contact with the office, he strolled dazed and aimless through the pathetically quiet, still undiscovered village on the coast. Finding himself at the village's single pier, he observed a small boat approach with just a single fisherman aboard and watched as the Mexican lowered sail and docked expertly. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American 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 American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?"

The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The American 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, Celestina, stroll into the village each evening where I drink wine and play guitar with my friends. I have a busy life."

The American scoffed, shaking his head. "Listen up, my friend. I am a Harvard MBA and this is your lucky day. Because I can help you bigtime. You've got to spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you can then buy several boats. Eventually you will have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you will sell directly to the processor. Eventually, you will open your own cannery. You will control the product, processing and distribution. You escape this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York where you will run your ever-expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "With my help, 15 to 20 years. Tops."

"But what then?" asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you will announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become filthy rich, you will make millions."

"Millions...? Then what?"

The American said, "Then you will retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you will sleep late, fish a little, play with your grandchildren, take a siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you will drink wine and play the guitar with your amigos."

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