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With regard to... Fish   "If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles. -Doug Larson- In this day and age it is exceedingly difficult to find a source of passions in a workplace which can be translated into the bottom line; increased productivity, higher quality and happier employees. Such a source came to my attention over the last few days. A recent Associated Press release in The Arizona Republic indicated that International firms such as McDonald’s Corp., Boeing Co., Sprint Corp., and Nordstrom Inc., had recently used this source. One of the leaders at this source stated: "We’re committed to having fun. If you’re not committed to that, you’re fired." The basic idea was that work and play don’t have to be separate worlds. Fun on the Job! A new concept and one worth some research. How else would we do such research except by surfing the web? Some basic information and a few Key Word entries led me to Seattle’s Pike Place Market, an historic, open air market located in the heart of Seattle, Washington. Finding the Pike Place Fish Co. and the Web Site www.pikeplacefish.com was then easy. This site provided quite a bit of history concerning how this workplace mixed work and play so successfully and how the workers became world renowned. John Yokoyama purchased this quite, unassuming little fish stand in 1965 and to put it simply, the place stunk! The fishmongers at the stand spent much of their day tossing salmon, monkfish and clam across the counter to each other, to be weighed and wrapped. In order to make their hard jobs and the aroma of their environment a little easier to take, their galoshes and bright orange rubber pants a little less confining, the workers began to entertain themselves and their customers. Their philosophy was very simple. These fishmongers determined to become "world famous" by being truly great with people. They would interact with people with a strong desire to make a difference for them. They wanted to give each person the experience of having been served and appreciated, whether they bought fish or not. This desire to become "world famous" centered on four simple concepts: [1] Play- We put more energy into what we enjoy, and finding ways to "play" can lead to greater productivity and creativity. Play is not about acting irresponsibly; it is about finding ways to have more fun accomplishing serious goals. [2] Choose Your Attitude - When you look for the worst you will find it everywhere. When you look for the best you will find opportunities you never imagined possible. You have the power to choose your attitude. If you find yourself with an attitude you don’t want, you can choose another. [3] Be There - The glue in our humanity is in being present for one another. Being there also is a great way to practice wholeheartedness and fight burnout, for it is those halfhearted tasks you perform while juggling other things that wear you out. [4] Make Their Day - When you "make someone's day" (or even moment) through a small kindness or unforgettable engagement, you can turn even routine encounters into special memories. Few things are as rewarding and infectious as lifting another person’s spirits, and the act of serving others quickly returns a feeling of satisfaction. In 1997, during a visit to Seattle, John Christensen, CEO of ChartHouse International Learning Corp. discovered Pike Place Fish Co. He saw the fishmongers full of energy and joking with a cheering, laughing crowd. They attacked children with crawfish, handed out samples of crab legs and showed off their fish tossing skills. In fact they were acting out their four simple concepts. When Christensen left, he started thinking. Could he create this environment at his own company and for businesses around the world? Over the next year the fishmongers and Christensen worked together creating a video of the fishmongers and their advice on how to create a good workplace attitude. Pike Place Fish is currently featured in two corporate training videos produced by Charthouse International Learning Center. These videos, "Fish" and "Fish Sticks", have been translated into five languages and are being distributed globally, and are the best selling training videos on the planet. Humble Pike Place Fish became "World Famous" Pike Place Fish, a dynamic, fast-paced place that’s fun for both customers and employees! The antics of the fish-flinging staff have become the highlight Pike Place Market, and have been featured in Spike Lee’s Levi commercial, on NBC’s "Frasier", MTV’s "Real World", and ABC’s "Good Morning America". Final Thought A visit to the Pike Place Fish Web site will provide three additional principles which made this unusual workplace different and something others could learn from. I will provide only one of them just to wet your appetite. Commit - The feeling of love comes from the act of loving and the feeling of friendship comes from being a friend. The satisfaction of participating in something larger than one’s self comes from the scary but rewarding act of being committed. Being willing to commit to a larger vision can be a source of amazing power and energy, allowing you to participate in creating the workplace of your dream. And that’s not just another fish story!

Jerry Sikes, RRP / CHA, is President of Professional Resort Operators, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona. He has 35 years in the Hospitality Industry / 25 years in Timesharing, and is the current Co-Chairman of ARDA Arizona as well as Chairman of the Arizona Timeshare Management Association. Jerry is a frequent guest speaker regionally and nationally on all aspects of Timeshare Management and a frequent contributor of articles for industry publications. Email: boyjerry@cox.net Phone 480-947-3300 Fax 480-947-6853 Web site: http://www.protimeshare.com

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