A young businessman had just started his own firm. He rented a beautiful office and had it furnished with antiques.
However, no business was coming in. Sitting there, worrying, he saw a man come into the outer office. Wanting to look busy, he picked up the phone and pretended he was negotiating a big deal.
He spoke loudly about big figures and huge commitments. Finally, he put down the phone and asked the visitor, “Can I help you?”
The man said, “I’ve come to install the phone.”
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A businessman was standing at the end of the pier in a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.
Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The businessman complimented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied that it only took a little while. The businessman then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish. The fisherman said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The businessman then asked: “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman said: “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my friends. I have a full and busy life.”
The businessman scoffed. “I am a Wharton MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked: “But how long will this all take?”
To which the businessman replied: “Fifteen or twenty years.”
“But what then?”
The businessman laughed and said: “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions”.
“Millions? Then what?”
The businessman said: “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your friends.”
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The phone bill was exceptionally high.
The man called a family meeting to discuss.
Dad: “This is unacceptable. I don’t use a home phone; I use my work phone.”
Mum: “Me too. I hardly use the home phone. I use my company’s phone.”
Son: “I use my office mobile; I never use the home phone.”
All of them were shocked and together looked at the maid who was patiently listening to them.
Maid: “What? So we all use our work phones. What’s the Big deal???”
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Since I was the first to arrive at our high-tech company one morning, I answered the telephone.
When the caller asked for field engineering, I explained that it was before normal business hours, but that I would help if I could.
“What’s your job there?” the caller asked me.
“I’m the president,” I replied.
There was a pause. Then he said, “I’ll call back later. I need to talk to someone who knows something.”
our friends.”
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Vicky was attending a business conference out of town.
During a short break between sessions, she decided to check in with her family and placed a collect call home.
Back at the house, her six-year-old son picked up the ringing phone. A calm operator’s voice came through the line:
“We have Vicky on the line. Will you accept the charges?”
The boy froze. His eyes widened.
In his young mind, the words took on an entirely different meaning. He dropped the phone, heart pounding, and tore through the house in a panic.
“Dad!” he screamed. “They’ve got Mum—and they want money!”
