what will my reward be?
one day a fisherman was lying on a beautiful beach, with his fishing pole propped up in the sand and his solitary line cast out into the sparkling blue surf. he was enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun and the prospect of catching a fish.
about that time, a businessman came walking down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of his workday. he noticed the fisherman sitting on the beach and decided to find out why this fisherman was fishing instead of working harder to make a living for himself and his family. “you aren’t going to catch many fish that way,” said the businessman to the fisherman. “you should be working rather than lying on the beach!”
the fisherman looked up at the businessman, smiled and replied, “and what will my reward be?” “well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish!” was the businessman’s answer. “and then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman, still smiling. the businessman replied, “you will make money and you’ll be able to buy a boat, which will then result in larger catches of fish!” “and then what will my reward be?” asked the fisherman again. the businessman was beginning to get a little irritated with the fisherman’s questions. “you can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you!” he said.
“and then what will my reward be?” repeated the fisherman. the businessman was getting angry. “don’t you understand? you can build up a fleet of fishing boats, sail all over the world, and let all your employees catch fish for you!” once again the fisherman asked, “and then what will my reward be?” the businessman was red with rage and shouted at the fisherman, “don’t you understand that you can become so rich that you will never have to work for your living again! you can spend all the rest of your days sitting on this beach, looking at the sunset. you won’t have a care in the world!”
the fisherman, still smiling, looked up and said, “and what do you think i’m doing right now?”
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Very nice story! I’m saving this one for inspiration, thanks!
Greetings from the netherlands
It is the story of progress in every culture. Love it.
Thank you for this story. It is so true: We try and try to become more and more successful so we can buy bigger houses, fancier cars, expensive jewelry. But at the end of the day, are we as happy as this fisherman is?
Yep! Just what I keep asking people. I cannot understand why people get so attached to having things.
Cute story, but there is such thing as taking a good idea too far. I want to catch enough fish to pay my medical bills/health insurance; to be able to take a day off fishing if I am sick; to be able to afford to go travel and try other beaches.
very strange, a friend of mine told me the same story today.
@mastar2323 – well then, that makes it two friends.
Great story, thanks for sharing… So many people are just like the business man. I wonder how the story continues, what was the businessman’s reply? Did he think about it, or did he just storm off irritated at the “lazy bum”?
Love this, thanks for posting it!
This is a great story, and so true when it comes to business people.
Too many of them think that chasing the riches will make their lives worth living while all they’re doing is wasting the only life they have.
A brilliant post.
I saw a different variation of this story in a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop in the South Side of Chicago of all places, and it helped motivate me to quit a job I was no longer happy with. That was a year ago and I’m so much happier now, even though I had an allegedly ‘important’ job. I wrote about it here with a copy of the version I saw. http://littlehousesouthernprairie.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/the-myth-of-more/
More being best IS a myth. Thanks for spreading the word of this parable. It is powerful!
I’ve seen that story a few times and it’s lovely and makes a good point, but the thing that bugs me is it ignores the future financial security for the fisherman.
Right now he’s doing exactly what he needs to live now and enjoying his life, which is wonderful. But he’s not putting anything aside for the days in his future where he cannot work.
I’m not saying he should be working all the hours of the day to get an empire and not spending any time to enjoy the sunsets, but this is a very simplistic view and won’t work outside of a parable. There’s got to be some balance of enjoying now and planning for later.
Love this story! Told it to my family over breakfast this morning and everyone thought it was great. We often lose sight of what’s important in life, and what gives our existence meaning.