¶ … FISH! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen. Specifically, it will critique and summarize the book, including a one-page summary of main points one would get from reading this book. "FISH" is a new way of looking at creating a positive workplace and improving results in every aspect of life. The story is uplifting and happy, with some important life lessons along the way. "FISH" follows the journey of Mary Jane Ramirez, a young widow with children to support who accepts a promotion to the dreaded third floor of her company, "First Guarantee Financial." Mary Jane is an excellent employee and manager, but she has her work cut out for her on the third floor, which has a reputation of being "unresponsive, slow, unpleasant" and much more. She discovers the employees on the third floor lack motivation, have some terrible work habits, and generally dislike their jobs and the company.

Struggling to create a better workplace on the third floor, Mary Jane one day stumbles on the famous fish market at Pike Place in downtown Seattle. What she discovers is a workplace full of fun, positive energy, and a genuine enjoyment of task and client. Mary Jane discovers there is always a choice in any activity, and she can empower her staff to choose their attitudes and choose their workday experience. She also discovers as she motivates her staff, they begin to perform better, and like the feeling, and so, they continue to improve and grow as...

Finally, Mary Jane finds success in the workplace, but she also ends up marrying Lonnie, the fishmonger who first taught her about using the motivational techniques of a fish market in her own office. She struggles at times, and loses touch with her own personal relationships in the process, but in the end, she turns around the third floor, and uses the fish market concepts to improve her personal life, too.
This is a cute, quick read that is motivational and enjoyable. Some of the ideas, such "Make Their Day" and "Be Present" are simply and seem perhaps a bit too simplistic, but these positive techniques can have miraculous results in the workplace, especially if managers are willing to take responsibility for their staff and their attitudes. While some of the ideas in the book are simple, and the book is written at a grade level that may make readers that are more advanced impatient, the ultimate meanings and tools in the book are useful for managers everywhere. Everyone wants to motivate his or her staff to do better, and no one wants to manage a "toxic waste dump." Mary Jane succeeds because she learns what motivates employees, and how to create fun in the workplace with teamwork, games, and even some "fish" slinging. Certainly, the message is simple and easy to understand, but if it works, then the delivery does not matter, only the results matter.

Some people may find the "happy ending" unnecessary to the core material of the book, but the entire book leads up to happy endings…