A Dane, a Finn, a Norwegian and a Swede, all Chairmen of multinational Scandinavian companies, were having a morning stroll on the beach at Kovalam, near Trivandrum, Kerala, India. They were enjoying a free morning from the Business Strategy seminar being held in the 5-star luxury hotel.
As they walked along they came across a fisherman lazing on the warm sand between two large fishes. He smiled broadly and greeted them in perfect English.
Surprised to meet a seemingly poor fisherman speaking good English, they stopped to chat with him. They asked him what he was doing on the beach. He said he was waiting for customers to come to the beach in a couple of hours to buy his fishes, for which he would get $5 profit.
The Swede, a little surprised at this intelligent man wasting his time lying on the beach, asked him why he did not go out and catch 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 quite 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 while he relaxed on the beach, enjoying the sun and the sand.
The fisherman looked at them incredulously. He asked them a simple question – “What am I doing here just now?”