There was once a fisherman who lived on an island with his family. Every day, he would catch enough fish to feed him and his family. Then, he would enjoy the rest of the day with his wife and children, playing guitar, singing and dancing throughout the night.
One day, a well-versed businessman notices the fisherman on his island and visits him. The businessman has a Master of Business Administration and says he could help the fisherman become more successful, suggesting he spend more time fishing. The fisherman could catch as many fish as possible, save money, buy a larger vessel and then catch more fish. Eventually, the fisherman will be able to buy a whole fleet of boats, have his own company and maybe even start his own production and distribution ancillary business. It would not be long before his business is 10 times larger than it is now, with networks and clients at every port.
Upon hearing the businessman’s suggestion, the fisherman replies, “And after that?”
The businessman laughs and says, “After that, you can live like a king in your own house, maybe invest in the stock exchange and be rich!”
“And after that?” the fisherman asks.
“After that, you can finally retire, live by a nice fishing village, catch a few fish in the morning and then return home to play with your children and wife, playing guitar, singing and dancing throughout the night,” the businessman says.
“But isn’t that what I am doing now?” says the fisherman.
This parable is not one with an anti-work or anti-ambition message. It is not advocating laziness or close-mindedness, and it is by no means a story to cite when you don’t feel like putting more effort into something. What this parable does, however, is paint a beautifully simple picture of the true work-life balance. The fisherman realized what the businessman could not: Even if the fisherman went through all of that effort to expand his business, his ultimate “reward” would be something he already had.
In a culture that has begun to discourage (and even look down upon) work-life balance as a serious consideration in one’s professional life, this parable speaks a forgotten truth. With the advent of smartphones, communicative technology is found in front pockets, kitchen counters and nightstands at all hours of the day. What results is that the line between work and home life becomes blurred. What used to be two definitive circles of life are now merging.
Thanks to these devices being so close to the heart, the “nine-to-five” now continues to hover over the shoulders of workers, looming in the shadows after hours.
With articles online titled, “Instead of Work-Life Balance, Try to Achieve Work-Life Integration,” we are encouraged to seamlessly combine the two sectors of our lives. And all that for what? To relax and spend more time with our families? Remember the fisherman.
One thing I think the parable left out was the massive time sacrifice required for the businessman’s plan. After all the years the fisherman would have wasted on the businessman’s plan, his kids would be fully grown, and his desire to spend more time with his family? Ruined.
Money will always be there, but you can’t buy back time with your family and loved ones. The fisherman knew this and this was why he declined the businessman’s offer.
Work-life balance is something that should be prioritized, not discouraged. It all boils down to the personal ranking of two values: time and money. One will always be available, the other, well, not so much.
Andrew Hall is a UF economics junior. His column usually appears on Fridays.
