Why the rat race can't be won

[The Gentleman Scamp]

The man who owns the Tennis Academy, Bangkok Land and my local gym is a miserable half Chinese man who pays his staff shite, including the dedicated farang who works there as a fitness instructor for a paltry 25k a month.

He has more money than he knows what to do with and the muscles on his face look like they haven't been used in years, it's almost impossible to imagine him smiling.

What is it with these people, doesn't he realize that if he paid a little more fairly, and perhaps took all his staff out for a beer and got to know them, he would experience the priceless value of real people.

I thought of this story today which I read once, I'm very happy I was able to Google it.

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

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

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs...I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you!

"You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat. With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers.

"Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you can negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?"

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta, and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends!"

Hunger for power must be an instinct that some are unable to resist and others are immune to.

[Butterfly]

nice little story Scampy, I like it

[barbaro]

Yes, good story, and good points.

[Loy Toy]

Great story mate and beware of the smiling assassin! I will telll you about that later.

Yes I used to think exactly like the yank but now am right in the mexican groove.

You only live once!

[The Fresh Prince]

Nice story, especially if you can be bothered to put on a Mexican accent when reading the Mexican parts.

[Cujo]

Hunger for power must be an instinct that some are unable to resist and others are immune to.

Yep. It takes all sorts.

[BKKBoet]

Where have I head something like this before?..Hmmm..sounds very much like the principle of 'sufficient economy'.

[nedwalk]

nice parrable and good to equate too, but right now its about a shit sandwhich for me, soon though..

[watterinja]

Nice story Scamp.

Interesting times against which to evaluate the Merkin MBA's worldview.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Blimey, I've actually started a successful thread!

[Butterfly]

probably the best one ever,

do you want to be my friends on facebook ?

[Norton]

Why the rat race can't be won

The cheese we seek is usually right next to us. We just don't notice in our life's quest to find it.

Good post Scampy.

[Chairman Mao]

Geez, heard this story about 10 times over the past few years, except substituted with a farang and a lazy Thai fisherman, usually as a means to highlight the difference between western and peasant Thai work ethics (make enough to be able to sit and drink lao khao for an afternoon, then sit and drink lao khao for the afternoon until you need to work again.)

[barbaro]

Nice story Scamp.

Interesting times against which to evaluate the Merkin MBA's worldview.

Yeah, definitely.

Many in the rat race have realized there aren't any dividends, in the current times.

[Attilla the Hen]

Heard it before, but, it took place in the South Pacific.
Very simplistic.
How can you relate it to your own personal life? Not many poor westerners live by the sea in a village where inter-personal relationships are strong. For most westerners, being poor is a grind.

Have you considered that your half-Chinese bloke just doesn't like people in general? I can sympathize with him.

Can't remember who said it, but, many rich people consider money as just a way of keeping score.

Only two ways out of the rat-race for most westerners.

1. Enjoy being a rat ie. do a job you love.

2. Get enough money together so that you don't have to work.

PS. Maybe Scampy is using this story to self justify his own life-style?

[baldrick]

hey - where is this village ?

I will send in my Trawler fleet - then the lazy cnut will not have any fish to catch - bwahahahaha

he can get drunk on cheap tequila every day and on odd days take his boat out full off numbnut tourists who will call him a fcukwit , his wife can become a cleaner in the highrise hotel I build to house the tourists , the daughters can shag for money , the sons can sell drugs and the unmarried sisters can work in the factory making nike sh1te.

that'll sort the fcuker out

[Texpat]

You don't have to participate in the rat race if you choose not to.

But I'm a terribly impatient fisherman.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

How can you relate it to your own personal life?

I don't think I can, why would I want to anyway?

It was not a metaphor based on my own life in any way, just a sad observation.

[Blake7]

aBut what will he do when he is too old to fish? What about school fees for his kids?

[The Gentleman Scamp]

aBut what will he do when he is too old to fish? What about school fees for his kids?

You're not one of these greedy business types I like to have a pop at every now and again, your a self made man who works his arse off to give his family a good life and you're under pressure to sustain it. To provide fish for your family - age shouldn't be an issue, because when you're too old to dip your rod, your son will have been dipping his for some time already.

[chassamui]

Can someone please tell me where i can learn to fish?

[dirtydog]

^At the sea?

[Blake7]

aBut what will he do when he is too old to fish? What about school fees for his kids?

You're not one of these greedy business types I like to have a pop at every now and again, your a self made man who works his arse off to give his family a good life and you're under pressure to sustain it. To provide fish for your family - age shouldn't be an issue, because when you're too old to dip your rod, your son will have been dipping his for some time already.

what about if he becomes ill and his son is still a kiddie. how will he survive if he has no savings?

[chassamui]

^At the sea?

Maybe a lake or a river would do?

[Texpat]

Easy on, Blake, you're introducing reality to a cozy, feel-good thread.

Just relax -- go with the flow -- you too can have the soothing feeling of nature's own baby-soft wool being pulled gently over your resting eyes.