FISH!+(No...Not+Joe)

=FISH! Philosophy & Awards=

FISH! Philosophy??? FISH! Awards???
At first glance, it is a funny name, for an odd concept. And what do FISH have to do with school? Originally modeled by fishmongers who decided to choose their attitude and become world famous, the FISH! principles give us a common language that inspires new conversations about what’s possible. New attitudes develop. Performance improves. People notice. Trust increases. FISH! gets into the hearts and minds of everyone in class, empowering them to be alive and engaged. Take a close look at the FISH! Philosophy, and it no longer seems so strange. The four principles: Choose Your Attitude, Be There, Play, and Make Their Day, are simple guidelines that anyone can use to improve the atmosphere around them.

Choose Your Attitude
Most of us believe our attitudes are caused directly by outside influences like unpleasant experiences or negative people. But while external pressures may trigger our feelings, we are the ones wearing those feelings like a suit of clothes. We can either go along with those external events, few of which we have any control over, or we can take charge of our own response.

“Choosing your attitude” is not always putting on a happy face or feeling pressure to adopt the outlook that’s “officially” acceptable. Sometimes angry or sad are what’s called for. That’s why choosing your attitude is about being aware of what your attitude is, and that it does affect you and others. Once you are aware of the impact, you may view your attitude differently, even if the situation or person that upset you hasn’t changed. Then you can ask yourself, “Does my attitude help me or others? Is it helping me be the way I want to be?”

“Choose your attitude” asks only that you make your own choice and not try to pass it off on something or someone else. Once you accept that you are the only one who is choosing your attitude at this moment, you can decide whether to keep it or shape it into an attitude that’s more satisfying. You control your attitude, not the other way around.

As Bear the Fishmonger says, “You gotta choose where you’re gonna be as soon as you get out of bed. I consciously make that choice every day.”

Be There
To “be there” for another person has a powerful effect. Think about how good it feels when someone gives you her or his undivided attention, focusing on your needs and feelings. Now think about how it feels when someone with whom you are “interacting” barely looks at you.

Listening is a big part of being there, but it’s more than that. It’s difficult to hear what another person is saying if our minds are stuck on what we want to hear. Being truly present means suspending judgment while you’re listening.

What’s more, “being there” can be a challenge. All kinds of distractions are vying for your attention. But, there are many costs when you aren’t fully present: You’re likely to miss important moments if you’re not “there”. You may be physically present, but you’re emotionally absent.

When you aren’t present, you simply //bring yourself back to now//. There’s nothing magical or mystical about it. All it takes is awareness, commitment, and practice.

Play
Everyone can benefit from a little lightening up during the day. People who find ways to incorporate play into their daily lives approach their work, responsibilities, and challenges with energy and enthusiasm. In fact, some of the best innovations in the world are a result of playing with ideas. And some of the most serious environments can also benefit from a sense of playfulness.

What is playing? Hide and seek? Tag? Well, in some cases, maybe! But overall, “play” speaks to that kid we all still have deep inside of us. That person who never hesitated to ask “why” or “how come.” That person who looked at the world creatively and openly. And who never hesitated to see the humor in it all.

Make Their Day
“Make their day” can be a big production—giving a present, taking someone out to dinner—but it doesn’t have to be. It might be as simple as holding open a door for someone, asking about a person’s family, saying thank you. It might mean telling a friend, from your heart, how much you appreciate all they do for you. It moves past just being civil or pleasant as it’s taking that extra step you didn’t have to take. And that makes all the difference.

At a deeper level, “make their day” means taking a genuine interest in the unique gifts of others. Spontaneous or planned, when make the effort to brighten someone’s day—not because you want a reward, but because that’s the person you want to be—you receive an internal gift that makes life even more meaningful as well. No matter what, making someone’s day is a win-win. Every single time. 

To learn more, read the book, [|FISH! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results] by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen. Better yet... visit the World Famous [|Pike Place Fish Market] in Seattle, Washington! 

**Oh, and one afterthought...a notable quote:**  **Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States**
 * "Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, 'Oh my God....I could be eating a slow learner."**

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