Bangkok Post, October 8, 1998

Gone fishing

One day a fisherman was lying on a 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, an investment banker came jogging down the beach, trying to relieve some of the stress of her workday, when she noticed the fisherman.

"You aren't going to catch many fish that way," she told him. "You should be working rather than lying on the beach."

The fisherman looked up, smiled, and asked: "And what will my reward be?"

"Well, you can get bigger nets and catch more fish," the banker replied.

"And then what will my reward be?" asked the fisherman, still smiling.

The investment banker 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.

The investment banker was growing irritated. "You can buy a bigger boat, and hire some people to work for you." she said.

"And then what will my reward be?" repeated the fisherman.

The investment banker 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."

Again the fisherman asked, "And then what will my reward be?"

The investment banker started shouting. "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?"