Product Description

Imagine a workplace where everyone chooses to bring energy, passion and a positive attitude to the job every day. In this engrossing parable, a fictional manager has the responsibility of turning a chronically unenthusiastic and unhelpful department into an effective team. Seattle’s Pike Place Fish is a world famous market that is wildly successful thanks to its fun, bustling, joyful atmosphere and great customer service. By applying ingeniously simple lessons learned from the Pike Place, our manager discovers how to energise and transform her workplace.



Addressing today's most pressing work issues with an engaging metaphor and an appealing message, Fish! offers wisdom that is easy to grasp, instantly applicable, and profound.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1826 in Books
• Published on: 2002-09-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Here's another management parable that draws its lesson from an unlikely source--this time it's the fun-loving fishmongers at Seattle's Pike Place Market. In Fish! the heroine, Mary Jane Ramirez, recently widowed and mother of two, is asked to engineer a turnaround of her company's troubled operations department, a group that authors Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul and John Christensen describe as a "toxic energy dump". Most reasonable heads would cut their losses and move on. Why bother with this bunch of losers? But the authors don't make it so easy for Mary Jane. Instead, she's left to sort out this mess with the help of head fishmonger Lonnie. Based on a bestselling corporate education video, Fish! aims to help employees find their way to a fun and happy workplace. While some may find the storyline and prescriptions--such as "Choose Your Attitude", "Make Their Day" and "Be Present"--downright corny, others will find a good dose of worthwhile motivational management techniques. If you loved Who Moved My Cheese? then you'll find much to like here. And don't worry about Mary Jane and kids. Fish! has a happy ending for everyone. --Harry C Edwards

Review
'This is one fish story that doesn't exaggerate. It shows you how changing your attitude lets you enjoy your work and your life. Hook into it, it's quite a catch!' -- Spencer Johnson, author of Who Moved My Cheese? 'I recommend their book to anyone, on any level, who wants to make a difference at work.' -- Hyrum Smith, co-chairman Franklin Covey Co. 'The story of the world famous Pike Place Fish market is fantastic. But this book is not just about selling fish; it's a love story that can happen in your organisation too.' -- Ken Blanchard, from the Foreword

This business book is very much in the style of the best-selling Who Moved My Cheese in that it uses a deceptively simple and accessible story to get its points across. That book was about encouraging employees to accept change; this explores the best ways to boost morale and thereby results. Its core message - 'We can choose the attitude we bring to our work' - extends beyond simple business principles to embrace ideas that will be helpful in dealings not only with staff and colleagues but in all relationships. At the heart of the book is the idea that loving what we do will make us do it better, a notion explored through the parable of the Pike Place fish market (hence the book's title). Many people have probably experienced the 'toxic energy dump' workplace described here but it can be difficult to change a culture where negativity has long prevailed, and whose staff are resistant to change and probably don't even see the need for it. This book may act as a helpful wake-up-call for managers to help their staff recognize the problems of their working life, and find a way through them to make them feel more fulfilled personally and to make a greater contribution to their company. Although set in Seattle and a thoroughly American tale, the problems and principles discussed will be relevant to organizations throughout the world. (Kirkus UK)

Review
'This is one fish story that doesn't exaggerate. It shows you how changing your attitude lets you enjoy your work and your life. Hook into it, it's quite a catch!' (Spencer Johnson, author of Who Moved My Cheese? )

'I recommend their book to anyone, on any level, who wants to make a difference at work.' (Hyrum Smith, co-chairman Franklin Covey Co. )

'The story of the world famous Pike Place Fish market is fantastic. But this book is not just about selling fish; it's a love story that can happen in your organisation too.' (Ken Blanchard, from the Foreword )

Customer Reviews

Nice idea but overpriced
The concept for this book is reasonably good, but can be boiled down:

1) Choose your attitude - you can either be happy or miserable at the office. The work stays the same whether you're cheery or not.

2) Play. Have a bit of a play at the office.

3) Make their day. Do something every day which will be the best part of someone else's day.

4) Be present. Don't be thinking about your holiday or last night's TV when you could be fully focussed on work. Interact with people.

Beyond that, it's a 45min read about how one woman implemented this into her company and even that isn't hugely rewarding as the book stops at the point she implements these techniques.

The Choice is Yours
In a simple easy to read story "Fish" is about igniting passion into your work environment that can spill over into all aspects of your life. The "Fish Philosophy" is based on a few simple ideas that can transform your daily grind of a nine to five workday into an enriching, easy and yes, even a fun time at the office.

I work at a large financial firm and currently am heading a team that is focused on creating a new work procedure that has never been applied in our office previously. The creative start up process can be challenging but the team we have assembled for the work is up to the challenge and eager to be a part of something that will have an impact on the firm overall. I am so glad I read "Fish" in that I can share with my team the insights I've learned so that our work together can be productive, successful and yes here it is again...fun.

If you found "Fish" to be inspiring and enlightening, I highly recommend reading any of Ariel and Shya Kane's books called "Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment", "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation" or "How To Create a Magical Relationship." All of the Kane's books impart insights and ways into living a life that is meaningful, satisfying and joyful.

Working in a place where you smile often...how cool is that? Can you imagine living a life where you smile often? It's definitely possible.

Fish - the video and now book
For those that have seen the video the book will not add anything. However for managers to re-visit some of their core beliefs about why they manage and what they want to achieve this book is a good refresher.
Simple easy one night read - and then pass it on.