Reviewed by Will Phillips

This is a good, little book. Good in that it reviews four basic and powerful concepts about taking responsibility for your life. The American philosopher William James first articulated some of these ideas at the turn of the century. Few read his works and even fewer took his ideas into their daily life.

This book explains how a small business practices these ideas. The business is the Pike Place Fish Market on the Seattle waterfront. What is cool about the book is that the people who work in the fish market are very down to earth, real folks who have made a serious practice of taking responsibility for their lives.

Almost all organizations have some degree of morale or attitude problems. Many employees are waiting for management to fix it. Even worse, many managers believe they should fix it and could if they only had more resources to spend fixing it. FISH! Points out that both views are unlikely to make real progress. Only by taking responsibility and choosing your own attitude do you begin to really shift morale. The book also points out how a tough, hard business "selling fish 14 hours a day" can be fun, if you make it so.

Literally dozens of other organizations have used the Pike Place Fish Market as an inspiration to make their work fun—Southwest Airlines, Milwaukee Public Schools, Blue Shield, Sprint PCS, University of Florida, Nordstrom, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital are just a few.

The book’s focus on staying present or conscious while at work is the foundation of all team work and all customer service. It is a spiritual, meditative process that a half dozen fish mongers have brought into their daily work.

This is a little book of 115 pages, easily read in one sitting. If it inspires you, share it with your management team. If your really serious, call us and we'll help you make it happen.