Date: Tue, 4 May 1999 11:48:20 -0400
Subject: JOKE: .com IPO, anyone?


> > The American investment banker was at the pier of a small
> > coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one
> > fisherman docked.  Inside the small boat were several large
> > yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on
> > the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch
> > them.
> >
> > The Mexican replied, only a little while.
> >
> > The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and
> > catch more fish?
> >
> > The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's
> > immediate needs.
> >
> > The American then asked, "but what do you do with the rest
> > of your time?"
> >
> > The Mexican 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 amigos, I have a full and busy life."
> >
> > The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard 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 Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all
> > take?"
> > To which the American replied, "15-20 years."
> >
> > "But what then?"
> >
> > The American laughed and said that's the best part.  "When
> > the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your
> > company stock to the public and become very rich, you would
> > make millions."
> >
> > "Millions..  Then what?"
> >
> > The American 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 amigos."