Running the mile you're in

A fisherman, a Harvard MBA, a marathoner, and a Swede walk into a bar..

There’s a story in The 4-Hour Work Week about an American businessman who goes down to Mexico on vacation and while walking the beach one morning sees a fisherman returning from sea with a big catch.

He asks the fisherman how long it took to haul in the fish, and when he replies “Not long,” the businessman wonders why he doesn’t go back out in the afternoon for more.

The fisherman replies that he already has plenty of food for his family and stopping now gives him time to play with his kids, take a siesta with his wife, and play music with his friends.

The American businessman can’t believe the naïveté of the fisherman. He explains how full days could lead to a team and multiple boats and, eventually, a canned fish empire.

At the end of the businessman’s grand vision for expansion, the fisherman asks “And then?” and the businessman tells him that in 20 years he’ll have enough money to retire, move to a beach town, and spend his days fishing, drinking, and playing music with his friends…

It reminds me of the best marathon advice I’ve heard: Run the mile you’re in. Have I ever or do I plan to run multiple miles anytime soon? No, but everyone’s found themself thinking about the hills ahead rather than experiencing the pleasure and pain of putting one foot in front of the other.

We’re programmed to want more, to work toward sunny days while preparing for rainy ones. More is better, safer, smarter. But what about what we have right now?

There’s a Swedish proverb that translates to “the right amount is best” or “enough is as good as a feast.” Is it possible you’re already full?

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Hat tip to

Kevin Maguire

for turning me on to some of the resources mentioned in this post in his excellent letter on “Filling the purpose bucket.”