What’s that noise?
Documentary filmmaker John Christensen was shopping in Seattle when he heard cheering in the distance. Curious, he followed the sound and encountered a crowd surrounding a small fish market—World Famous Pike Place Fish, to be exact. Suddenly a fishmonger fired a slippery salmon to a coworker, who made a spectacular one-handed catch as the crowd applauded. He invited a delighted customer to catch a fish.
The positive energy was electric.
The fishmongers greeted strangers like old friends. Despite the noise and bustle, when a fishmonger focused on serving a customer, it was as if they were the only two people in the world. Everyone was smiling—and buying lots of fish. John noticed that selling fish looked cold and exhausting, yet these fishmongers attacked their work with energy and engagement. He wondered, “How do they do it?”
“I want what these guys have.”
John brought a camera crew back to the market and spent several days with the fishmongers. When he and his team analyzed the footage, they identified four simple practices the fishmongers brought to their work that anyone could use to be successful.
The Four Practices of The FISH! Philosophy
Be There
Be emotionally present for people. It’s a powerful message of respect that improves communication and strengthens relationships.
Play
Tap into your natural way of being creative, enthusiastic and having fun. Play is the spirit that drives the curious mind, as in “Let’s play with that idea!” You can bring this mindset to everything you do.
Make Their Day
Find simple ways to serve or delight people in a meaningful, memorable way. It’s about contributing to someone else’s life—not because you want something, but because that’s the person you want to be.
Choose Your Attitude
Take responsibility for how you respond to what life throws at you. Your choice affects others. Ask yourself: “Is my attitude helping my team or my customers? Is it helping me to be the person I want to be?”
Watch how The FISH! Philosophy makes a difference!
The Impact of The FISH! Philosophy
The FISH! Philosophy empowers employees to be more effective in any job. When a team lives the philosophy, they improve their culture and create better results. Organizations worldwide use the FISH! Philosophy to improve teamwork, customer service, employee engagement, retention, recognition and leadership.
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