Fish!: A remarkable way to boost morale and improve results, over 6 million copies sold

Well what can I say? Amazon asked me to review this book just as it asks me to review every product I buy (and I'm a good customer) so I thought this time I'd waste a little of my time so as to waste a little of yours reader. I could review the Kindle I'm about to get but you've all got them by now, I could review the latest Elbow LP that arrived yesterday but I have only heard it once so far and these things grow on you. I did buy a copy of Tom Jones' "Leave your hat on" this week as well - I could review that too but, well, you've all seen "The Full Monty" - if not do buy a copy as it's a laugh. Bought petrol at BP today - it burns well but no pleasure in using it; underpants from M&S and they function well with support in all the right places; food from Waitrose when I burnt some of that BP fuel and doubtless that will cause a little residue temporarily on those M&S underpants. The FISH book is very short and very easy to read and goes on about "being there" for your customers - very good stuff and should be given to shop staff particularly. It would be totally wasted on a ceratin French energy supplier or a car insurance company based in Wales neither of which seem to have customer service departments, although they do say they care at 8p per minute on an unanswered 0871 number. Wouldn't you? I think they are just sales prevention units in disguise. Yes get these people to read FISH - in the unlikely event you can find a member of their staff who can read. Meanwhile Amazon is excellent.

I have read this book several times in the few months since I bought it. Each time I learn something new and get an extra boost to face the challenges of running a business in a hectic world. I have found it so inspirational that I have now bought a copy for all of my management team and after giving them a chance to read it held a session to discuss what has been learnt. The results have been amazing and if someone looks like they are having an "off" day just remind them they can "Choose Your Attitude". I have now invested in the DVD to share with 100+ staff, they love the story and whilst a fish market and a hotel are very different, the message still works. Since sharing the book with my team our customer satisfaction scores have rocketed, so much so regular guests ask me what has changed and I am proud to share the secret. The fact that the book can be read in less than two hours is great to just give you an extra lift. I highly recommend this book to anyone trying find a way to get high performing teams to perform even better or someone trying to build a team.

This book is written as a fable set in a business where a new manager is striving to improve her departments customer service. She discovers Pike Place and the famed Fish market and through conversations and guidance turns around the working atmosphere and has great results. By itself this is a good little read which doesn't take long to get through and resonated well with me. However, for me it wouldn't be quite as impactful unless you had also seen the excellent Fish! DVD. Without it you can't quite visualise the way that the business is presented and the impact that they have had on both the employees and customers. If you have enjoyed books by Spencer Johnson, Ken Blanchard and others in the same vein then you will enjoy this one.

Excellent condition and a very quick service

Good

I can still vividly remember seeing the Film version of this book, even though it was ten years ago and it made an instant and lasting impression. Since then I have read the book and watched the film countless times, and each time it helps to put everything back in perspective - not just in a business sense, but also in general life. Unlike many other business management books, the four principles of Be Present, Make Their Day, Play and Choose Your Attitude are wonderfully simple to remember - and more importantly, are even more simple to implement within your business. AND do they make a difference? YES. We used FISH! as a vehicle to communicate our culture to everyone in our company, when we re-branded the business in 2005. Since then, we have drawn on the philosophy and the messages time and time again. To top it all, every person who joins our company is given a copy of book to help explain "why we do things the way we do." Also, we are a UK company - I know lots of people feel that these principles can only work in the USA. Well, I disagree. It has helped to make our company different, stand out from the competition, enable the staff to enjoy their work more and help us thrive in an economic climate that has sent many other companies out of business.

'Cute' fable about choosing the right attitude to work. Very light read, you will finish it in 1 or 2 hours.

Actually bought this book from Amazon 16 years ago and it's just popped up for a review. The strength of the book is that I can tell you that even now the principles still hold true, if you work in any kind of management of people this book is essential, once you've read it ask your team to read it, it will change everything! Even better if you can get hold of a copy of the accompanying film to watch together. When you've forgotten how to do it right and go back to your old ways repeat the process!

Recommended to team leaders or any boss who want to inspire and motivate their teams. It's fantastic the lesson you could learn!

Nice book, concepts are very lucidly explained in an implementable way. Choose your attitude, a powerful statement which can be implemented in daily routines

Concise. Practical. Vivid. Applicable. Easy and methodical approach to every life facet. Worth a read and most importantly a try!

Fish! was an inspiring book that reveals key elements to maintaing a fun and energetic workplace. Through her conversations with a fishmonger (Lonnie), the main character (Mary Jane) learns the four components included in formation of a productive yet enjoyable environment. This is something that everyone is seeking within a job... and why shouldn't they? Most people work 5 days a week for almost all weeks of the year, which accounts for the better part of their lives. So why should they dread coming to work and begin the "weekend countdown" every Monday? The third floor or "toxic energy dump" (as it is referred to in the text) represents more of a condition/state of being rather than a specific location in the book. There are many businesses throughout the world with a "toxic energy dump", but this book presents a solution. Fishmonger Lonnie describes four lessons to Mary Jane that aid her efforts to improve the third floor: Play, Choose Your Attitude, Be Present, and Make Their Day. When Mary Jane first visits the Pike Place Fish Market, she discovers the excitement and fun that workers share with customers. They have taken a job that is smelly, unpleasant, etc. and turned it into an enjoyable environment for everyone. Though people achieve success at work through productivity, it is important to have fun. Life is too short to stress about work. The second item, choose your attitude, is the one that most people tend to overlook. Those who attend work with a poor mentality do nothing, but spread that mentality amongst the office employees. This lesson provides insight about the control workers have over their own place of work, which is often underestimated. The third topic of discussion shows Mary Jane the importance of being present, paying full attention to clients. There is a difference between hearing and listening to a customer. Through attentive and engaging behavior, better relationships are formed while both parties (customers and employees) benefit from the interaction. The last component to the Fish philosophy is to "make their day", referring to the clients. In most cases, people enjoy the little courtesies that help brighten their day. In the case of Pike Place, workers who improve the well being of others often feel a sense of accomplishment or pride in their job. These are all important elements that can/should be applied to any business. As a student nearing graduation, this book has helped me to better understand personal goals and needs within a work environment. Fish! not only points out common flaws in most offices, but provides people with the tools to recreate a more enjoyable career lifestyle. I would highly recommend this book to people who find themselves in a "toxic energy dump" or anyone else with a more fulfilling profession. This book explores a different mentality and approach that can be applied to any facet of life, both on a personal and professional level. To all those with a poor/unhappy mentality about work, I recommend going FISHING!

Fish! is a great transformation recipe for the workplace. It’s really simple to make your workday a good one if you choose your attitude, choose to be present and keep having fun. It’s a must read for every business leader, from middle management to executives.