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Fish!
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Fish! (2000) (edit title/settings)

A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results

by Stephen C. Lundin (Author), Harry Paul (Author), John Christensen (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Imagine a workplace where everyone chooses to bring energy, passion, and a positive attitude to the job every day. Imagine an environment in which people are truly connected to their work, to their colleagues, and to their customers. In this engrossing parable, a fictional manager is charged... read more

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Summary edit see section history

Mary Jane Ramirez takes a job at First Guarantee Financial to support herself and her two children after her husband dies unexpectedly. She makes a name for herself as a "can do" manager and is promoted to take over the third floor--an area most other employees of First Guarantee refer to as... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Mary Jane Ramirez takes a job at First Guarantee Financial to support herself and her two children after her husband dies unexpectedly. She makes a name for herself as a "can do" manager and is promoted to take over the third floor--an area most other employees of First Guarantee refer to as "the pit." Mary Jane spends several weeks identifying the problems facing the third floor and, motivated by a call from her immediate boss, determines that she must fix them. A chance lunch visit to the Pike Place Fish Market introduces her to Lonnie who shares their secret for making their workplace fun. At first, Mary Jane only implements the information that Lonnie passes on to her, but soon she realizes that she needs to get her employees involved for it to truly succeed. With everyone pulling together, the third floor becomes the place most in the company want to work.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Mary Jane Ramirez: Married to Dan Ramirez at the time they moved to Seattle. Worked as a supervisor for one of Seattle's largest financial institutions. Viewed as a great manager who got things done. Accepts a promotion to the third floor after her husband's death.
  • Lonnie: Worker at Pike Place Fish Market who takes the time to talk to Mary Jane Ramirez on her first visit there and offers to help her understand how they transformed the fish market into a fun place.
  • Brad Ramirez: Mary Jane Ramirez's school-aged son.
  • Stephanie: A long time third floor employee at First Guarantee Financial. Though reserved at work, on the field trip to the fish market, she agrees to catch a fish. Contributes to the Make Their Day Team.
  • Bill Walsh: Mary Jane's boss when she takes the promotion to the third floor at First Guarantee Financial.
  • Steve: One of Mary Jane Ramirez's third floor employees
  • Dan Ramirez: Husband of Mary Jane Ramirez. Worked for Microrule and loved the company. Died of a burst aneurysm within a short time of their moving to Seattle, Washington.
  • Randy: A single father who needs the benefits of his job on the third floor of First Guarantee Financial. He's one of the earliest people to support Mary Jane Ramirez's attempts to make their floor a fun place to work.
  • Stacy Ramirez: Mary Jane Ramirez's daughter, attends daycare while Mary Jane works.
  • Wolf: Worker at Pike Place Fish Market with unruly hair and eyes that track everything like prey, but treats people in a grandfatherly way. Former race car driver.
  • John: One of Mary Jane Ramirez's third floor employees; one of the earliest converts to her choose your attitude advice. Married with two children. He contributes to the Be Present team.
  • Bob: Five year employee on the third floor of First Guarantee Financial whom Mary Jane notices does not like to answer his phone.
  • Martha: A third floor employee at First Guarantee Financial that places the files of those she feels "hassle" her to get the work done under her out box "by mistake".
  • Betty: A First Guarantee Finanacial third floor employee who heads the Play team Mary Jane Ramirez created at her employees request.
  • Jacob: A fish monger new to the job who has his day made by John when it turns out John is the first person he helps.
  • Janet: A third floor employee of First Guarantee Financial who works on the Be Present team and shares a story.
  • Beth: A third floor employee of First Guarantee Finanacial who works on the Be Present team and shares a relevant story.
  • Margaret: The highly motivated team leader for the Choose Your Attitude team of the third floor First Guarantee Financial employees.
  • John Gardner: A motivation speaker that Mary Jane Ramirez had heard in the past whose sentiments dovetailed with some of what she was learning at the fish market.
Show all 19 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “We can choose the attitude we bring to our work.”
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • There is always a choice about the way you do your work, even if there is not a choice about the work itself.
    Highlighted by 142 Kindle customers
  • There is always a choice about the way you do your work, even if there is not a choice about the work itself.
    Highlighted by 127 Kindle customers
  • “We call that make their day. We look for as many ways as we can to create great memories. And we create great memories whenever we make someone’s day. The playful way we do our work allows us to find creative ways to engage our customers. That’s the key word: engage.
    Highlighted by 112 Kindle customers
  • The needs of the organization and our needs as workers are the same. Creativity, passion, flexibility, wholeheartedness…
    Highlighted by 80 Kindle customers
  • in building the world famous Pike Place Fish market. We can choose the attitude we bring to our work.”
    Highlighted by 78 Kindle customers
  • CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE—I think we have a good start on this one. The menu idea the staff came up with was terrific; the first real sign of progress. Without choose your attitude, all the rest is a waste of time. I need to continue exploring and expanding our awareness of this ingredient.
    Highlighted by 73 Kindle customers
  • “I don’t believe that companies are necessarily prisons, but sometimes we make prisons of them by the way we choose to work there. I have created a prison and the walls are my own lack of faith in myself.”
    Highlighted by 68 Kindle customers
  • Personal Accountability: The Path to a Rewarding Work Life.
    Highlighted by 51 Kindle customers

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Organizations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

It was a wet, cold, dark, dreary, dismal Monday in Seattle, inside and out.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Stephen C. Lundin (Author)
  2. Harry Paul (Author)
  3. John Christensen (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Hyperion
Country: USA
Publication Date: 2000
ISBN: 0786866020
Page Count: 112

Classification edit see section history

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

Movie Connections edit see section history

  • Fish! (video): John Christensen and his company ChartHouse produced a video on the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle that preceded this book.
  • Fish! Sticks: The fish guys show how they take their vision off the wall and apply it at the market every day.

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The One Minute Manager

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