The Parable of the Mexican Fisherman
& 25 Questions for You During Tough Economic Times

By Brian Vaszily, Founder of IntenseExperiences.com

If you are feeling the stress of these tough economic times, it pays to remember the parable of The Mexican Fisherman … and to slow down and take the time to answer the 25 questions that follow the parable.

Please "pay it forward" by passing the link to this page on to everyone you know who could benefit from this parable of The Mexican Fisherman and these questions.

As the founder of IntenseExperiences.com and the free IntenseExperiences.com newsletter, I receive many kind words from readers expressing gratitude for how the articles, videos, Emotional Barriers audio training program and more change their lives.

More and more still, though -- despite what media may be saying about the economy slowly improving -- I am also hearing from people on how difficult these times are for them. The worst part of this economy is not what it is doing to our finances and the like, but far deeper, what it is doing to our spirits.

That is why now is such an important time to read uplifting books and articles like those you will find here at IntenseExperiences.com (versus the "bad news" news ... see Really Good News That Will Change Your Life), and that is why right now it is more important than ever to slow down, step back and recognize what you do have, who you really are, and what really matters most.

I believe this parable of the Mexican Fisherman and the questions for you that follow will demonstrate what I mean:

The Mexican Fisherman and the Investment Banker

An investment banker 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 banker 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 banker then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The banker then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

What Matters Most?

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life."

The investor scoffed, "I am an Ivy League MBA and 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, and eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. "

The investor continued, "And instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would then sell directly to the processor, eventually opening 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 Los Angeles and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise."

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

To which the banker replied, "Perhaps 15 to 20 years."

"But what then?" asked the Mexican.

The banker 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. Okay, then what?" wondered the Mexican.

To which the investment banker replied, "Then you would retire. You could move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

And 25 Questions for You

1. What matters most in your life?

2. What do you spend excess time and energy on that really doesn’t matter so much?

3. What do you really need in your life?

4. What do you merely want in your life?

5. Are the time, energy and money you are putting out for these wants, and any consequential frustration you experience, worth it?

6. Why do you work? What are you working toward, or for?

7. Who loves you?

8. Who loves you so much that, no matter what you did and no matter what has happened to you, they would try to be there for you?

9. Who do you love?

10. Who do you love so much that, no matter what they did and no matter what happened to them, you would try to be there for them?

11. Does living a simpler life appeal to you?

12. Does it appeal to you enough to try to live it? What would you have to give up?

13. Will you give it up? If not, why not?

14. What could you say or do to make the friends in your life and the strangers you encounter happier, and the world a happier place?

15. Will you say or do it?

16. Recall some of your fondest memories? What was the key ingredient -- stuff that costs money, or people?

17. What do you regret not having done in your life?

18. What is stopping you from doing it, and will you let it stop you?

19. What are your biggest goals and dreams?

20. What is honestly stopping you from pursuing them, and will you let it stop you?

21. You may have made mistakes, we all do. But are you a good person or a bad person?

22. Are you doing the best you can?

23. What are you thankful for?

24. Why are you here, on this earth, and what do you intend to do with the rest of the precious time you are here?

25. Who do you know who might benefit from the parable of The Mexican Fisherman and these questions, and is it worth it to pass it on to them in case they do benefit?

Please pass the web address of this page on to them, and encourage them to sign up for the free IntenseExperiences.com newsletter (and sign up too if you are not already) to regain and retain focus on what really matters.

And please be sure to do whatever is in your power today to have a really good day.

Regardless of external circumstances, with all you are and all you have, it is there to be had ... as the parable of the Mexican Fisherman demonstrates.