Business Book Review Lundin, Steven C., Harry

Business Book Review

Lundin, Steven C., Harry Paul, and John Christensen. (2000) Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results. New York: Hyperion.

The book Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results by Steven C. Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen, depicts happy goldfish frolicking across the white surface of its cover -- however, the toddler-pacifying goldfish cracker is not the primary remedy offered by this business self-empowerment text for a potentially toxic and energy-draining work environment. Rather than first delineating a series of principles, Fish tells the story of Mary Jane Ramirez, an exemplary 'can-do' supervisor who is always ready to cover for a colleague with a sick child. (17) She is promoted, however, to the dreaded Third Floor of First Operations. She receives better pay and more responsibilities but must cope with an often-unpleasant work environment. Mary Jane first accepts her position because her late husband Dan's medical expenses are so burdensome, not out of love or loyalty to her job. Because she is a widow, single mom Mary Jane's personal obligations become even more onerous as well as the demands of her new workplace.

Mary Jane's confession that it is "not a love for this work which brings any of us to this department. I'm not the only person with money problems," is common to many workers. This is not only true of her fictional department, but in companies all across America. (22) "Fire fighting" is a daily act of stifling conflict within her department, as phones ring off the hook. (24) The words "toxic energy dump" play over and over in Mary Jane's head as she wanders home from work. (28) Then, Mary Jane stumbles into a fish market (hence the book's title) and gains some words of wisdom and precepts from the fish market's employees, who maintain a sunny attitude even in the face of smelly sushi.

The book acknowledges a common truth about work -- quite often work is hard, and we work for money alone. The question posed by Fish is, if you aren't in an ideal job, and you can't quit, and you don't love what you do -- what do you do? If you can't change the work environment, change your working attitude, suggests the book! One example provided by the authors is of a grandmother who "didn't love dishwashing," but who "brought love to dishwashing, and her spirit was infectious," to others. (38) Thus the first step for every supervisor caught in a bind is to choose to change his or her attitude, to chose to have a positive attitude. "I choose faith," Mary Jane decides, and chooses to trust that whatever happens, she will succeed. (45) She resolves to bring her best self to work and to love the work she does, even if she would not chose such work first and foremost, had she all the options in the world, which most workers do not. (99)