Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
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 story line 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 |
Customer Reviews
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Not Bad!, Apr 10, 2023
I did not want to like this book - it is popular and faddish. In spite of myself, I read it and really enjoyed the story. It is cheap, and with another book, shipping was free, so can't complain about that. The story is fun, but it is up to you to apply the lessons to your own life. That is as it should be. Don't look for a miracle, but stay open minded and you will learn something. Even if it is just one helpful thing, it's worth this quick read.
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Worth the read, Apr 6, 2023
I read this book after viewing the DVD on the same subject. I think this is a very practical book for organizations or business who have a young team that is still trying to figure its self out. Granted this is rocket science methodology, but it's a truth.
I think if you are going to use this system it is worth viewing the DVD. It gives a good back ground for all those of us that have not made it up to the great northwest (the book is based off the famous pike fish market in Seattle)
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because it really does not get very deep in its theories. But like I said if you are dealing with a young team or a team in disarray is probably a good thing.
1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
 Inspirational!, Mar 4, 2023
But then again, what else would a philosophy built around Abe Vigoda's popular Barney Miller be? I'm eagerly awaiting the follow up based on the teachings of Reverend Jim from Taxi.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
FISH!, Feb 1, 2023
If you have never heard of the FISH! philosophy, I recommend that you start with this one first. It explains the history behind how the FISH! philosophy first got started. Mary Jane Ramirez who was a recent widow with two young children stumbled into the Pike Place Fish market to find out that the fish market held the secret to her sucess as a new manager. Mary Jane was just promoted to manage a difficult department nicknamed the toxic energy dump. She observed the high energy team building and positive attitudes that she saw at the fish market on her lunch breaks. As she got to know the fishmongers and heard their stories, she knew that she could apply the same principles to the business world. One day she brought her department to the fish market and soon transformed the toxic energy dump around!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
 Go ahead make my day .... , Jan 19, 2023
I read this book awhile back and I actually liked it enough to give it a decent rating. The book itself is closer to a 3.5 but you know there are no half star ratings allowed. I am normally not a big fan of parable type stories, but I liked this one because it encouraged managers to become ACTIVELY involved. This is the biggest problem that I have seen in corporate work enviironments - managers are seldom involved. They tend to delegate. They typically don't jump in and help. Regarding the "choose your attitude" approach, I think (from a managerial perspective) it is best to control it. As a manager, one should strive to mainatain as close to a postive attitude as possible. If they fall short of that, it is their responsibility to control it when things get bad. I am not the biggest fan of "playing" on the job. I have worked in a few organizations where a play day was instituted. I felt like this was re-living kindergarten, but most of my non managerial employees really seemed to enjoy it. Worth taking out of the library if you are a manager who is looking to motivate your team. Hey, when all else fails.. go fish!
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Based on 173 reviews.