Let’s look at the word “Believe” for a while.
Merriam-Webster defines it as:
1 : a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
2 : something believed; especially : a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
3 : conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence
So with the definition provided – let me ask the same question as the title of this post.
What do you believe in?
And here’s an even better question.
How sure are you that your beliefs are valid?
I bring up this question because I recently come across a video that caused me to question something I’d believed in for years.
If you’ve ever worked in Corporate America – then you know management is always looking for tools to raise the spirits of their employees.
Some of the tools I’ve been exposed to (And I’m sure many of you reading this have as well.) are Dale Carnegie Training, Tony Robbins – The Competitive Edge, “Get Motivated” Seminars, “Who Moved My Cheese?”, and the subject of this post – The FISH Philosophy.
If you know me – you know I embody the teachings of all the above. When a lot of my co-workers were rolling their eyes and mumbling to each other under their breath about how worthless they thought all of it was – I was the one taking feverish notes and loving every word I was hearing.
I have bad days just like everyone else – but as a rule I stay pretty positive regardless of what’s going on around me.
And even though I’ve always been a Glass Half-Full sorta guy – I truly believe that internalizing the trainings above has contributed to my overall attitude.
So that brings us to The Fish Philosophy. I was introduced to it almost 10 years ago. And for that entire time I’ve been not only living its teachings – but also telling others about it and how the employees of Pikes Place Fish Market in Seattle use it in their day.
Why? Because that’s what The Fish Philosophy Video told me. And since superiors that I trusted first presented it to me – it added yet another level of validity to it.
Just recently I was thinking about going through The FISH Philosophy again – so I figured I’d Google it and catch up on any information that has changed over the years. During my search – I come across the video “Pikes Place hates FISH philosophy?“. On the video – I heard “Bear” (One of the featured individuals on The FISH Philosophy Video) say,
“You know we don’t do that here.”
WOW! Talk about being blown away! I felt like someone had just told me water was dry and the world was flat!
All these years I’d been actively practicing principles that the people the principles were supposed to be based off of didn’t even use!
So if you believe with 100% certainty that something is real – regardless of whether or not it really is – can you MAKE it real? I think you absolutely CAN! I did with the concept that the employees of Pikes Place use FISH EVERY DAY to be the best they could be.
And keep in mind – I’m not talking about laws such as gravity. You can believe laws don’t exist all you want – but if you test ‘em you’re probably not going to like the results!
Some people have completely dismissed The FISH Philosophy because of this video – feeling that they were fooled into believing something that wasn’t true. And although I WAS floored when I saw the video – I know had I not seen it I’d still be implementing it’s teachings without hesitation. In the video – “Bear” himself stated, “Did he (The author of “FISH”) produce a final product that’s made tremendous differences for people all over the world? Yes.”
In speaking about the concept of having just 1% doubt and you’re out – I’ve always made the following point. If you don’t believe it’s true – tell your significant other that you’ve been 99% faithful to them or tell your boss that you haven’t embezzled from them 99% of the time – and see if 1% doubt affects you! But you don’t – and you shouldn’t – have to completely abandon something because just one or several parts aren’t EXACTLY as you feel they should be.
In one of my last posts – http://www.weswyatt.com/blog/motivation/eat-the-chicken-and-spit-out-the-bones/ – I spoke about finding the good in everything and everyone. And since The FISH Philosophy has worked for me before finding out it wasn’t exactly what I thought it was – I thought I’d read the other two books mentioned in the video In the video – “Catch! A Fishmonger’s Guide to Greatness” and ” When Fish Fly” (Pictured at the beginning of this post along with the original “FISH”) – and really take my learning to the next level!
Internalize this information and really think about what you BELIEVE to be true – and make the necessary adjustments!
I’ll be you’ll find that there’s A LOT you don’t know – and that because of it you have A LOT more room to grow!
June 1, 2010 at 6:23 AM
This is both the power of beliefs and the power of doubts. Your analogy on the 1% doubt is powerful, striking and oh so true. You really are strong though to be able to shove that doubt out of your mind so firmly because many people (guilty as charged) tend to find that its bits of doubt like that that can drive them batty. This is why went we’re working to mobilize our businesses and get results that until we build a big enough fire under our tail that we FULLY believe the results are inevitable, they will be overshadowed with doubt. This is why we must have the why, the passion, and the fire… we must have burned the boat.. and only able to look forward. Then when our head is focused and our eyes are clear, thats when results manifest! Awesome stuff Wes thanks for the thought provoking topic!
June 1, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Thank you for the incredible comment Kimberly!
I HAVE to be positive (B+) – it's my blood type!
Have a DYNAMITE day!
June 1, 2010 at 4:46 AM
Very cool article Wes! Yes, very true to always re-look at our beliefs, especially since they are all based on the past. And if you study Quantum Physics, it's all a field of possibility anyway until You, the observer decides what it is!!
Mahalo (thank you),
Kellie
June 1, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Ok…I'm curious. I've watched the video and read the blog post. I still don't know what the “fish philosophy” is. Can you elaborate a little bit on that?
June 1, 2010 at 12:05 PM
The FISH! Philosophy is made up of four basic practices:
Be There – be emotionally and physically present for those you are with
Play – Be childlike (wonder, creativity, fun) without being childish (goofing off, unprofessional)
Make Their Day – Look for small and meaningful ways to make a difference for others
Choose Your Attitude – You and you alone control this choice so, stop letting the circumstances call the shots.
All of this is summed up in a question we have people ask themselves daily, “Who are you being while you're doing what you're doing?”
The choice is yours…what do you want?
Check out more info at http://www.fishphilosophy.com
or send me a note at jay.l@charthouse.com and we'll connect.
Take care!
Jay
June 1, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Fantastic Description!
Enjoy Nick!
June 1, 2010 at 11:32 AM
I would submit that 'believing' and 'willingness' are the key to the success of The FISH! Philosophy.
I teach the philosophy around the country and around the world and it will turn the lights on for people, but not if they do not believe it can or aren't willing to give it any effort.
We HAVE to believe if we want to change or enhance our lives. This goes for individuals and for organizations.
As a note regarding your article – Bear no longer works at the market. The others asked him to leave due to his poor attitude. I work with the company that created the philosophy from footage at Pike Place Fish and we have a good relationship with the guys at the market.
Was FISH! a philosophy they were practicing? Yes, but they didn't call it that, they were just serving people and each other. We can all do that, right?
Jay Larson
The Prophet of Possibilities
ChartHouse Learning
jay.l@chathouse.com
June 1, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Jay –
I ADORE, BELIEVE in, and am WILLING to embrace The FISH Philosophy!
There's a saying I've used for years –
“For those that SEE it – no explanation is needed. For those that don't – no explanation is possible.”
All beliefs – including The FISH Philosophy – fall into this.
As I mentioned in the Blog Post – I'll be reading those other 2 books to FURTHER and/or STRENGTHEN my attitude. NOT to abandon FISH!
Thank you for your comment and have a DYNAMITE day!
June 1, 2010 at 5:39 PM
Type your reply..Jay –
I ADORE, BELIEVE in, and am WILLING to embrace The FISH Philosophy!
There's a saying I've used for years –
“For those that SEE it – no explanation is needed. For those that don't – no explanation is possible.”
All beliefs – including The FISH Philosophy – fall into this.
As I mentioned in the Blog Post – I'll be reading those other 2 books to FURTHER and/or STRENGTHEN my attitude. NOT to abandon FISH!
Thank you for your comment and have a DYNAMITE day!
June 1, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Wes,
Very interesting topic. I agree that the main idea is to enjoy life and have fun no matter what. What is real or not is very subjective. Like Kellie says, quantum physics puts a whole new spin on how to perceive what is real or not. Everything starts as pure energy and is “thought” into being.
Thanks for the fun look at a fish market,
Val
June 1, 2010 at 4:34 PM
Often we get hung up on who said it instead of what the message says. Over the years I've come to realize that most important positive messages in life have been said by many people in many different times and places.
This doesn't weaken the import of the message – in fact it may indicate that the message is of greater significance. So, yes, let's focus on important positive messages and recognize where we got it from, but also recognize that it is the message that is important.
Thanks for a timely reminder,
Al
June 1, 2010 at 5:04 PM
While I'd never heard of the FISH! Philosophy, having read what it's all about, I can't help but wonder why in the world Pike's Place wouldn't be thrilled to be the example of such an awesome concept AND why they're not practicing it?! Very strange.
As for the lesson here, I couldn't agree more that we can create anything we BELIEVE we can. Unshakable belief, passion and persistence are the keys to success, fulfillment, freedom and joy! I too am a glass half full type, and I really feel like glass half empty types are just choosing pain and suffering. Doesn't make sense. Thanks so much for sharing this, Wes!
June 1, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Thanks for the comment Beth!
I've since discovered that the gentleman in the video – no longer works for Pikes Place – and that they DO embrace a positive philosophy. Regardless of what they call it – it's very FISH-like!
To be honest – they could tell me the whole program was a bunch of bologna and I'd argue! I've been practicing it for years and it works for me!
Have a DYNAMITE day!
June 2, 2010 at 8:33 AM
Hey Wes… I love the analogy of the 1% !
Thank you for sharing this piece with us. I had never heard of the “Fish” philosophy before… but in reading both your post, as well as Jay Larson's response to Nick, I have a much better understanding .
I would have to say that Pike's is really missing out on a golden opportunity to create not only a better work environment, but to engage the imagination and beliefs of countless numbers of viewers like yourself.
Many have said it before and probably more eloquently… but there is a maxim that I hold to be true… “whatever the mind can conceive and BELIEVE, man can achieve.” I have no doubts whatsoever about that!
For me… while we do have to observe the natural laws, it's about NOT getting caught up with the negativity that we're constantly exposed to… maintaining complete and utter positivity and having FAITH.
June 2, 2010 at 12:33 PM
Hey Wes… I love the analogy of the 1% !
Thank you for sharing this piece with us. I had never heard of the “Fish” philosophy before… but in reading both your post, as well as Jay Larson's response to Nick, I have a much better understanding .
I would have to say that Pike's is really missing out on a golden opportunity to create not only a better work environment, but to engage the imagination and beliefs of countless numbers of viewers like yourself.
Many have said it before and probably more eloquently… but there is a maxim that I hold to be true… “whatever the mind can conceive and BELIEVE, man can achieve.” I have no doubts whatsoever about that!
For me… while we do have to observe the natural laws, it's about NOT getting caught up with the negativity that we're constantly exposed to… maintaining complete and utter positivity and having FAITH.