Story of 2 Fishermen – Life Lesson?

With all the things I’ve been getting involved with, I think back to an interesting story…I think it was good, reliable, relaxed friend Scott Katin. Well, before I start reflecting on it, let me do my best to re-write it here.

Story of 2 Fishermen

2 fishermen are sitting in on a quiet beach, each day they catch fish, some to eat, some to sell to make a living. They grow up together, living life and sharing stories and chatting.

Then one day, one of the fisherman says “I want to try to make something of myself….I want to become something! I’m going to do it, go out into the world and become a success!”

The remaining, content fisherman says “I wish you the best my friend, but I enjoy my life right here”

So the departing fisherman does just that, works hard, gets a corporate / office job. Climbs the “corporate ladder” and builds his wealth. Gets the corporate car, awesome promotion, retirement savings account.

Later, the corporate fisherman retires from the corporate world. He retires.

…..where do you think he retires to…????

He returns to the fishermen village. And he picks up a fishing pole and sits next to his old friend.

He turns to his old friend and says “hows everything? I missed it so much here. I worked so hard, made something of myself, made some money, look at me”

The long time friend replies, “welcome back, I’ve been enjoying life right here all along”.

What Are We Here To Do?

And that story should make all of us think. What are we here to do? Make money? Make business? No, while some of may enjoy that, we are here to enjoy our lives, share stories with our loved ones, and pass knowledge from generation to generation.

Then I sit back and think, am I living the right way? I’m here in China, on the other side of the world from my family, and my hometown friends. They are “fishing” back home, but then again, I know they are routing the best for me. And I want to bridge the divide of east and west. I love to share stories I have experienced in USA to eager, hungry Chinese listeners. Also, I am just starting to give some guest presentations to a local university, Shenzhen Tourism College Jinan University e-business students about USA and China ecommerce differences and similarities.

What Is Your Thought? Which Fisherman Are You?

So I am trying not to just make money, but also share and learn. As I realize that is what life is about. And if I can help others to think outside the box, and grow, then maybe this is why I can justify “leaving my hometown fisherman village”.

Can you justify why you left your hometown fisherman village? What will you tell them after you retire and return – what will you have accomplished. Just money, or more?

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Comments 43

  1. This made me ask myself why? This is my answer, I went out of my hometown to someday bring jobs and business to my hometown people. Life in Philippines is hard. No jobs. Families were shattered as mothers have to go abroad work as nannies and fathers have to work as low costs labor for richer western countries. I like this article.

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      @marie – thanks for sharing your feelings Marie. Yea, you just have to keep being strong minded and thick skinned right. But we cannot save everyone, just educate. But I’ve learned, if you try to “take ownership” of someone else’s destiny, usually you’ll get burned and blamed. Its better to advise rather then get too involved in the outcome of other’s lives.

      @jim (dad) haha, thanks for reading, love you too

      @nigel – glad you like it, maybe the fishermen are different people, but in the end, they enjoy and live the end of their lives the same, right? Guess its all our own life choices right. Scott is a friend of mine, not a professional story teller.

  3. nice story,mike! i have been thinking about this question, too. but i think maybe you can’t say the fishermen are the same just because they have the same ending. anyway, it is indeed a high price as you have to leave your loved ones.
    also, is Scott Katin the story-teller? i have to know before translating it, you see.

  4. make the life more colorful, more meaningful, more valuable, it’s my idea for why I have to leave my hometown.

    I had written similar post in my chinese blog, it’s kind of philosophy things, deep into the root and even the origine of a person.

    I think now my dream is to get the freedom first, not only the humanbody freedom, but also the financial freedom, maybe one day I’ll be a philosopher or a traveler, i want to konw everything I don’t konw why.

    Freedom!! not in china, haha

  5. DEAR MIKE,
    THAT IS ALMOST LIKE AN OLD PROVERB. THE RUSSIANS HAVE MANY OF THEM.
    THER IS A STORY OF A LAND OWNER IN RUSSIA WHO OFFERED LAND TO A MAN ON THE CONDITION THAT THE MAN COULD RUN COMPLETELY AROUND WHAT HE WOULD CONSIDER THE PROPERTY HE WANTED. THE MAN RAN FROM DAWN TO DUSK AND WHEN HE WAS ALMOST AS FAR AS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY HE FELL DEAD.
    SO THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS, HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED, ENOUGH TO BE BURIED IN?
    I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE MACABRE, BUT THERE IS SOME TRUTH IN IT.

    REGARDS,
    UNCLE BILL

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      hi Uncle Bill,
      thanks for that story….haha, yes, its true…..when we really break down what we’re here on earth to do, do material things matter so much? But I still like to think of it as a game….I’ll remember this story about the russian landlord….

      Dswei,
      yes, similar to me…..travel, freedom…but we have to fight to get this freedom….

  6. While I enjoy the fact that your making me some sort of legend revisiting these road stories of ours and now this proverb. I can’t take credit in telling you a story like this one. At least I don’t remember doing so.

    None the less, I do feel the same way that the hometown fisherman feels. I am content with what I have and how I live here in Connecticut. I am a very fortunate man and things have gone my way thus far in life and I can only hope they continue that way…

    I read your blog at my desk at work and thought about it most of the day. While there is virtually nothing that this hometown fisherman has regretted doing, there has certainly been experiences and he’s regretted which he hasn’t done. He never got out of those familiar waters and chased that trophy catch till dawn. He never had to stay up all night worrying about how he will be able to feed himself, or his crew’s family for that matter. He never had to repair his boat or climb a mast in 30 foot seas in order to get home. He’s never sank his ship only to rebuild everything and then sink the ship again. ….while it may sound silly for someone to want to do these things. You Mike will never know what it means to NOT do these. For the experience and the ride is all that matters isn’t it? We’re all going to get to point B, but how will you get there and what makes the fisherman the most happy is what counts. While I can hope that things can side my way for the remainder of time and the fish don’t run out (they will) You by now should be able to prevail no matter what. You’ll be the unsinkable ship able to fish in the darkest seas.

    And we’re def. all rooting for you.

    Scott

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      hey Scott,
      yea, maybe i shoulda asked you before crediting you – but I can imagine you having a story like this. and in the past, you have always been the grounded friend who has made me more humble about how i look at life.
      we all choose how we live our life, and yea, just like my blog is title “happiness in pursuit” i am happy with the hustle,..and the struggle, not the end result. so while I am stressed beyond what i can handle…and explore, that exact pain is what i am chasing for. If i don’t have that extreme stress and pain, then i am paranoid that i am not doing something right…..
      I miss you and the boys back home…so many times I think back to the days – washington DC 8th grade trip, the berlin turnpike friday nights, dave mathews band…..
      one day i’ll be back to fish again.

      lets all grab some big fishes, and some brewskis too

  7. dear reader’s,
    i am very fond of this story and its has change my mind. i thought people are earning money because of their life survival. but i was wrong we are working and earning money. not only that at the same we are also gaining experience. thats the important things. we should always satisfy for things that we have in our hands.

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  10. the story was very common yet so powerful that many of us did not realize/know the real purpose of living…we struggle and make a lot of sacrifices to make money that we almost forgot to live life, we rushed days and not enjoy each day, we can have big house but can’t make it a home..we saved wealth for future but we’re not sure if we can make it tommorow…everything on this life is uncertain, try to live one day at a time and make the best of it..have more time with your family and thank GOD for each day!

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  12. well this is short. not the other “SHORT” stories w/c are long.. i like the story.. :))
    the message is.. “if u have a dream.. follow it. do it, no matter what it takes.” 😀

  13. it’s inspiring..life is what we make it..each of us has our own way of satisfying ourselves..some strive hard to get a good life while others just want a simple life…what’s important is we fulfill our aspirations before we depart from this world

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  16. Its really a very good and article…… hope u have some more and could like to share with us allll….. 
    it ws grt.

  18. Story of 2 Fishermen
    2 fishermen are sitting in on a quiet beach, each day they catch fish, some to eat, some to sell to make a living. They grow up together, living life and sharing stories and chatting.Then one day, one of the fisherman says “I want to try to make something of myself….I want to become something! I’m going to do it, go out into the world and become a success!”

    The remaining, content fisherman says “I wish you the best my friend, but I enjoy my life right here”So the departing fisherman does just that, works hard, gets a corporate / office job. Climbs the “corporate ladder” and builds his wealth. Gets the corporate car, awesome promotion, retirement savings account.Later, the corporate fisherman retires from the corporate world. He retires.…..where do you think he retires to…????He returns to the fishermen village. And he picks up a fishing pole and sits next to his old friend.He turns to his old friend and says “hows everything? I missed it so much here. I worked so hard, made something of myself, made some money, look at me”The long time friend replies, “welcome back, I’ve been enjoying life right here all along”.===============================And that story should make all of us think. What are we here to do? Make money? Make business? No, while some of may enjoy that, we are here to enjoy our lives, share stories with our loved ones, and pass knowledge from generation to generation.Then I sit back and think, am I living the right way? I’m here in China, on the other side of the world from my family, and my hometown friends. They are “fishing” back home, but then again, I know they are routing the best for me. And I want to bridge the divide of east and west. I love to share stories I have experienced in USA to eager, hungry Chinese listeners. Also, I am just starting to give some guest presentations to a local university, Shenzhen Tourism College Jinan University e-business students about USA and China ecommerce differences and similarities.So I am trying not to just make money, but also share and learn. As I realize that is what life is about. And if I can help others to think outside the box, and grow, then maybe this is why I can justify “leaving my hometown fisherman village”.Can you justify why you left your hometown fisherman village? What will you tell them after you retire and return – what will you have accomplished. Just money, or more?

  20. i really like this story..so inspiring 2 filipino fisherman …i hope that u post more inspiring stories 2 us..keep up a good wrk..

  21. i like this story and moral .But i can say one thing a person who is hungry for money you fulfill that person with money only nothing else the person need for the life its true that when the person satisfy with money and said its enough after that the person think now i go back to my home town ans spent the whole time with my old friends..

    1. True Sehgal –
      I think of the movie “Braveheart” and how he comes back to his hometown after his long travels and education…sharing his stories and experiences with friends back home.

      That is what life is all about…learning and sharing – so maybe this poem should be modified that instead of just going away, working hard, and earning money – he makes experience and knowledge that he can bring back to his hometown and teach his family and friends there.

      Over time…the moral of life is to live and share…..thanks for your awesome comment

  24. Story of 2 Fishermen2 fishermen are sitting in on a quiet beach, each day they catch fish, some to eat, some to sell to make a living. They grow up together, living life and sharing stories and chatting.
    Then one day, one of the fisherman says “I want to try to make something of myself….I want to become something! I’m going to do it, go out into the world and become a success!”The remaining, content fisherman says “I wish you the best my friend, but I enjoy my life right here”
    So the departing fisherman does just that, works hard, gets a corporate / office job. Climbs the “corporate ladder” and builds his wealth. Gets the corporate car, awesome promotion, retirement savings account.
    Later, the corporate fisherman retires from the corporate world. He retires.
    …..where do you think he retires to…????
    He returns to the fishermen village. And he picks up a fishing pole and sits next to his old friend.
    He turns to his old friend and says “hows everything? I missed it so much here. I worked so hard, made something of myself, made some money, look at me”
    The long time friend replies, “welcome back, I’ve been enjoying life right here all along”.
    ===============================
    And that story should make all of us think. What are we here to do? Make money? Make business? No, while some of may enjoy that, we are here to enjoy our lives, share stories with our loved ones, and pass knowledge from generation to generation.
    Then I sit back and think, am I living the right way? I’m here in China, on the other side of the world from my family, and my hometown friends. They are “fishing” back home, but then again, I know they are routing the best for me. And I want to bridge the divide of east and west. I love to share stories I have experienced in USA to eager, hungry Chinese listeners. Also, I am just starting to give some guest presentations to a local university, Shenzhen Tourism College Jinan University e-business students about USA and China ecommerce differences and similarities.
    So I am trying not to just make money, but also share and learn. As I realize that is what life is about. And if I can help others to think outside the box, and grow, then maybe this is why I can justify “leaving my hometown fisherman village”.
    Can you justify why you left your hometown fisherman village? What will you tell them after you retire and return – what will you have accomplished. Just money, or more?
    Incoming search terms:
    stories with moral lessonsstory with moral lessonshort story with moral lessonstories with moral lessonmoral lessonslong stories with moral lessonsshort stories with moral lessonlong story with moral lessonstory with moral lessonsshort stories with moral lessonlegend stories with m

  26. ohh..what a nice story is this? this story is related to what I have experienced right now…anyway that is true that life is too short, so while we are still giving a chance to exist in this world ,,,we must enjoy any single day, hours, minutes and seconds in our life, so don’t waste it!!! because if we do, we are the only one who blame ourselves at last….always remember this,, “ANG PAGSISISI AY LAGING NASA HULI”….so while it is early yet, enjoy the life what you have!!!

  27. i just love this story Mike… It is oh so true… We are born with God given talents and loves, Mike…. and I am so glad you are using yours in a very positive way. Jesus said “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” This is written in God’s guide book of life the Holy Bible,

    in the book of John, chapter 15 verse 13. Your Irma Nina Michelini Weinzierl
    Pictures of Uncle Jack’s 70th birthday party and your Vermont cousins.

  28. This story has such a great message! People have their own preferences. Some find their contentment and happiness in simple life, spending their time the way they want. They find their happiness in little things. Whereas others find their happiness in money, fame, and professional success. None of them is wrong, as both have every right to spend their lives the way they want to.

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