Fishing and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

[Ken Jones]

Fishing and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A Dane, a Finn, a Norwegian and a Swede, all Chairmen of multinational Scandinavian companies, were having a morning stroll on Pier 7 in San Francisco. They were enjoying a break from the International Business Strategy Seminar being held in a nearby 5-star hotel. As they walked along, they noticed a pier fisherman who was relaxing on a bench. Two large fish were near his feet.
They mentioned to him where they were from and asked about the fish. He smiled broadly and spoke to each of them in their native tongue. They were amazed to meet a seemingly poor fisherman speaking such perfect foreign languages. They asked him what he was doing on the pier. He said he was waiting for customers who were coming to the pier in a couple of hours to buy his fish. He expected to make a $20 profit.
The Swede, a little surprised at this intelligent man wasting his time sitting on the pier, asked him why he did not go out and catch some more fish before the customers arrived. The fisherman queried him as to what he would do with more fish. The Finn said that he would get more money if he sold more fish. The fisherman appeared confused and asked what he would do with more money. The Dane explained that he could buy a small boat, go out to sea and catch more fish. The confusion of the fisherman appeared to grow. He asked what he would do with even more fish. The Norwegian quipped that he would get even more money and possibly be able to buy a good Norwegian trawler to catch more fish.
The fisherman was astounded—he asked them what he would do with even more fish. The Swede was now impatient. He told the fisherman that he could fish in international waters and catch more fish and make more money. In fact, he could become a rich man. The fisherman was taken aback. He asked them what he would do with all the money he got. The Finn was quick to tell him that he could form a multinational company, get others to do his work, and then relax on the pier, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. The fisherman looked at them incredulously. He asked them a simple question—“What am I doing here just now?” — Anon

 

[TheFrood]

Fishing and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A Dane, a Finn, a Norwegian and a Swede, all Chairmen of multinational Scandinavian companies, were having a morning stroll on Pier 7 in San Francisco. They were enjoying a break from the International Business Strategy Seminar being held in a nearby 5-star hotel. As they walked along, they noticed a pier fisherman who was relaxing on a bench. Two large fish were near his feet.
They mentioned to him where they were from and asked about the fish. He smiled broadly and spoke to each of them in their native tongue. They were amazed to meet a seemingly poor fisherman speaking such perfect foreign languages. They asked him what he was doing on the pier. He said he was waiting for customers who were coming to the pier in a couple of hours to buy his fish. He expected to make a $20 profit.
The Swede, a little surprised at this intelligent man wasting his time sitting on the pier, asked him why he did not go out and catch some more fish before the customers arrived. The fisherman queried him as to what he would do with more fish. The Finn said that he would get more money if he sold more fish. The fisherman appeared confused and asked what he would do with more money. The Dane explained that he could buy a small boat, go out to sea and catch more fish. The confusion of the fisherman appeared to grow. He asked what he would do with even more fish. The Norwegian quipped that he would get even more money and possibly be able to buy a good Norwegian trawler to catch more fish.
The fisherman was astounded—he asked them what he would do with even more fish. The Swede was now impatient. He told the fisherman that he could fish in international waters and catch more fish and make more money. In fact, he could become a rich man. The fisherman was taken aback. He asked them what he would do with all the money he got. The Finn was quick to tell him that he could form a multinational company, get others to do his work, and then relax on the pier, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine. The fisherman looked at them incredulously. He asked them a simple question—“What am I doing here just now?” — Anon

I like this parable. First time I ever heard it, it was a business tycoon that was taking an enforced vacation in Cabo because he'd just had a heart attack from the stress of his day to day life. Here, he encountered a fisherman who had come back in after 3 or 4 hours on the water. He asked the fisherman what he was going to do with all of the free time he had after selling his catch and the fisherman said that he was going to "Have a cervaza with his amigos in the pub, go home and spend some time with his children, and then go to bed and make love to his wife." The business man then went on the same spiel as the international business people above about growing from one boat into a fleet supplying an international market. The end result of which would be that after spending years building up the business and doing all that, then he would be able to knock off after 3 or 4 hours of work, have a beer in the pub with his friends, spend time with his family, and make love to his wife...

 

[Ken Jones]

There are several variations of the story. I wrote the above after a trip to Scandinavia followed by a fishing trip to Pier 7. The contrast in feeling between the fishing on Pier 7 and the people in business suits strolling the pier made it seem a natural.

 

[TheFrood]

It's a timeless lesson. I'm sure that if we look back far enough we will find some version of it being told basically forever... stone age flintknapper who only makes 3 axe-heads a day and the chieftan of his tribe explaining why he would be more successful making more and then getting others to make them while he supervises....