The document discusses the "Fish!" philosophy for building staff morale and addressing workplace issues. The Fish! philosophy is based on four cornerstones - choose your attitude, play, make their day, and be present. It encourages employees to have fun at work, focus on positively impacting others, and being fully engaged in their jobs. Adopting this philosophy can help prevent burnout and keep employees excited about their work. Suggested activities for implementing Fish! include giving out fish trinkets, reserving parking spots for those who help others, and taking time to praise colleagues.

1. Go Fish!
Using the “Fish” Philosophy to
Build Staff Morale and Address
Today’s Most Pressing Work Issues.

2. Catch the Energy
• People are afraid of the
future, of the unknown. If
a man faces up to it, and
takes the dare of the
future, he can have some
control over his destiny.
That’s an exciting idea to
me, better than waiting
with everybody else to see
what’s going to happen.
---John Glenn

3. Love What You Do
• “Fish!” is based on Pike
Place Fish Market in
Seattle, WA..
• Over 75% of adult wake
time is spent doing work-
related activities
• People ought to enjoy
work and be energized by
it.
• “Fish!” motivates
employees.
• People like to work in an
environment that is fun,
energizing, and where
they can make a
difference.
• The “Fish!” philosophy
benefits every employee
because it prevents
burnout and keeps him/her
excited about what he/she
does.

4. FISH!
• “Fish!” is a parable , an
invented story about
finding the deep source of
energy, creativity, and
passion that exists inside
each of us by learning to
love what we do, even if
at the moment we may not
be doing exactly what we
love.

5. Four Cornerstones of “Fish!”
• Choose Your Attitude
• Play
• Make Their Day
• Be Present/Be There

6. Choose Your Attitude
• There is always a choice about the way you do your work,
even if there is not a choice about the work itself.
• Call a meeting and speak from the heart.
• Find a message that communicates the notion of choosing
your attitude in a way that everyone will understand and
personalize.
• Provide motivation.
• Persist with faith.
• By accepting that you choose your attitude, you
demonstrate a level of personal accountability and
proactivity.
• Bring your best self to work and love the work you do.

7. Play
• Have fun while you work.
• Happy people treat others
well.
• Fun leads to creativity.
• Having a good time is
healthy.
• Work becomes a reward
and not just a way to
rewards.
• Have a good time in a
respectful manner.

8. Make Their Day
• Engage people and welcome them to join in.
• Be inclusive.
• Focus your attention on ways to make another
person’s day positive.
• Create goodwill and energy.
• Take your mind away from your own problems
and make a positive difference for others.

9. Be There/Be Present
• Be fully engaged in your
work.
• Take time to “smell the
roses”.
• Make the most of each
day.
• Let life have dignity and
meaning for you.
• Support your colleagues
with a kind word, gesture,
deed, or shoulder to lean
on.

10. Our Workplace
• As you enter this place of work, please choose to make
today a great day.
• Your colleagues, customers, team members, and you
yourself will be thankful.
• Find ways to play. We can be serious about ourselves.
• Stay focused in order to be present when your team
members most need you.
• And should you feel your energy lapsing, try this sure fire
remedy: Find someone who needs a helping hand, a word
of support, or a good ear,---and make their day.

11. Suggested Activities
• Give “fish” trinkets (i.e.
key chains, pencils, cups,
toys).
• Paint a “fish tank” parking
spot reserved for the staff
member who was
“present” for others.
• Have off site activities (i.e
bowling, theater, happy
hour, team sports).
• Start each staff meeting
with sharing and
networking (also bring
food!).
• Set up bulletin boards to
praise each other.
• Use morning
announcements.
• Have secret pals.
• Do random acts of
kindness for one another.
• Remind each other when
they’re slipping that they
need to “go fishing”.
• Take time each day for
yourself.

12. “Fish!” Resources
1. Books: Fish!; Fish! Tales; and Fish! Sticks
All three titles by Stephen C. Lundin, John
Christensen, and Harry Paul
2. Web Address; www.fishphilosophy.com
3. Phone: 1-800-328-3789 (ChartHouse Learning)
4. Fish Trinkets: Oriental Trading Company
www.orientaltrading.com or 1-800-228-2269

13. Conclusion
• Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed it is the only thing that
ever has.