THE TOP 10 THINGS to DO WHEN YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES or LESS
–written by James Vuocolo **
----------------------------------------------------
This list is simply meant to be suggestive of things to do when you are waiting for a client, standing in line, waiting to be seen by the next available clerk, etc. See how many other things you can think to do in under five minutes!
1. Read your mail.
Carry an envelope or two in a store with you. When you have to wait in line, take it out to read.
2. Check your weekly appointment schedule.
A daily calendar and/or scheduler is a great companion in a line, waiting room, etc. Use the time to keep it current.
3. Write a note, or dictate a memo into a portable cassette recorder.
No time to write? Why not dictate a note for your assistant to write out and send later on? Even a few minutes in a line will provide the time needed to make an outline for a letter to compose later in the day.
4. See who is within a few feet of you to chat with.
It's amazing how effective networking can be when we're willing to smile and strike up a conversation with others waiting near to us. "It sure is a hot/cold day" can turn into a tremendous friendship and/or business adventure if we dare to share!
5. Outline your thoughts on paper.
Have a speech to give? A paper or report to write? Use these few minutes as a time to organize and be clear about your purpose and goals. It could pay big dividends later in the day!
6. Make a quick phone call.
A cellular phone is terrific in line - but a nearby pay phone will do. Take a few minutes to order something nice to be delivered to your spouse or significant other just because of the bond you share. Call the client you've been putting off getting back to, and make it clear that your time is quite limited at the moment ... he/she will still appreciate the fact you were thoughtful enough to call! If all else fails, use the time to phone your aging parent/ aunt/ uncle/ mentor, just to say "Thanks!"
7. Practice deep breathing/relaxation exercises.
You may seem a bit "strange" to a few others around - but you'll definitely feel better for it!
8. Read something close by that you would not otherwise take time to examine.
The magazine section at the supermarket check-out line, or the rack in the dentists' office is a good example. Now is the time to examine some publication you would probably never spend a nickel to buy for yourself. You'll either enjoy the experience or confirm the reasons you had for never buying it. Which is it for you? Inquiring minds want to know!
9. Clear away your clutter!
This is a terrific time to go through you pockets, calendar, attache case, purse, etc. and be rid of the old gum wrappers, envelopes, etc. that have been getting a free ride for much too long! Lighten up!
10. Floss your teeth.
You may want some privacy in a nearby rest room or hallway for this one – but why not? It's a good habit, and your dentist and teeth will thank you for it into old age!
Copyright 97, 98, 99, 00, 2001 www.CoachVille.com
This content may be forwarded in full, with copyright, contact, and creation information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit context. For other uses, permission in writing from CoachVille is required. Questions: email editor@topten.org
About the Author
This piece was originally submitted by James S. Vuocolo, D.Min., Professional Life-Coach, Ordained Minister & Behavioral Analyst, who can be reached at netcoach@Soulbusiness.com, or visited on the http://www.soulbusiness.com .
******************
I hope you enjoy this article.
Fran Watson
BANABU
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Who Are You?
Defining Moments
By Mark Susnow
Take a second and think about your life. Think about who you are, what you are doing and the people in your life. How satisfied are you? All of your past experiences, the people you have met and the choices you have made have contributed to who you are. Without any of these experiences you wouldn't be who you are today. Your beliefs about what is possible in your life are a reflection of these past experiences. Those moments from the past have also prepared you for the fast pace of the modern world. You have more choices than you realize. You also have more strengths than you realize. You can change how you think, what you do and who you hang out with.
Part of discovering who you are and what you are capable of requires you to reflect upon some of the key moments from your past. We all have experienced "defining moments." Those moments that define who you are and what you stand for. Those moments that help you create clarity about your life purpose and your life values. Sometimes those moments are in response to life's challenges. It's when you rise to the occasion. It's when you become the person you always wanted to be.
And at other times those moments are in the form of challenges. Challenges that force you to make a decision that ultimately determines your character and your destiny. To help you in this process of remembering and discovering I will share with you some defining moments that have contributed to my journey.
Expanding my sense of personal power was at the core.
What I mean by personal power is the ability to create the life you want by expanding what is possible. It's the ability to consciously determine your life path and to stay on purpose. It's making a commitment to your self and keeping it. Staying on purpose requires you to say "no" to the distractions and influences that are taking you off course. This involves discipline and though challenging for almost everyone is essential. I was a smoker while in college and in law school. I wanted to quit but wasn't ready to stop. As I was preparing for the bar exam I set up a personal challenge. I knew if I was successful with this challenge my sense of personal power would be expanded. I quit smoking the day before the bar exam. Although I failed the bar exam the first time and had to take it again, I have never smoked a cigarette since. This defining moment expanded my belief in what was possible in my life.
Developing a clear sense of boundaries was the next building block.
When I was a young lawyer and struggling, I had planned a trip to Greece and Israel with my girl friend. It was going to be my first vacation since I started practicing law. My biggest client who gave me a sense of financial security wanted me to change my plans so I could complete his project sooner. He let me know that if I didn't comply with his wishes he would get someone else. The time on my calendar was already blocked out and if I didn't take the vacation now who knew when I would have another chance. I went ahead with the trip and the client got another lawyer. This defining moment for me established at a young age the importance of personal boundaries. It also established for me the importance of living a life in balance which has always been one of my strengths.
Making the decision to take time for quiet reflection was the next step.
When I was 29 my life was falling apart. It was one of the darkest periods of my life. And because of what I was experiencing I was the most open and vulnerable. The next defining moment was when I decided to begin meditating. Regardless of how busy I was or what was going on in my life I always began my day with this practice. This practice has helped me integrate my many interests and responsibilities.
All of these moments as well as many others have contributed to who I am today. Of course there have been continual challenges since then and the ride has had its share of ups and downs. But what helps me get through these challenges are the decisions that I made in the "defining moments from the past." They have helped give me the inner strength and faith to navigate the challenging waters of life's journey.
I bet if you reflect back upon your life, you will discover your own defining moments. After you have revisited them, build upon them to help you discover your destiny.
Imagine making a decision today or tomorrow that can potentially define the direction your life takes in the future. What will this decision be? When will you make it? Let me know.
Thanks for being in the Letters on Life network. There are now over 1300 subscribers all over the world that are reading Letters on Life. Perhaps many more as most of you are forwarding it to friends in your circle. Thanks for your continuing support and referrals.
Journey On
Mark
About the author:
Mark Susnow has a unique background. Formerly a successful trial attorney for 30 years, as well as musician, he integrates what it takes to be truly prosperous in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation practice. As a personal coach, leadership consultant and inspirational speaker, Mark provides inspiration and motivation to many business leaders and professionals. He knows what it means to have a big vision and has demonstrated the courage and energy it takes to accomplish it. Consider contacting Mark and be sure to visit his website http://www.inspirepossibility.com
***************************************
What is Your Defining Moment?
Fran
By Mark Susnow
Take a second and think about your life. Think about who you are, what you are doing and the people in your life. How satisfied are you? All of your past experiences, the people you have met and the choices you have made have contributed to who you are. Without any of these experiences you wouldn't be who you are today. Your beliefs about what is possible in your life are a reflection of these past experiences. Those moments from the past have also prepared you for the fast pace of the modern world. You have more choices than you realize. You also have more strengths than you realize. You can change how you think, what you do and who you hang out with.
Part of discovering who you are and what you are capable of requires you to reflect upon some of the key moments from your past. We all have experienced "defining moments." Those moments that define who you are and what you stand for. Those moments that help you create clarity about your life purpose and your life values. Sometimes those moments are in response to life's challenges. It's when you rise to the occasion. It's when you become the person you always wanted to be.
And at other times those moments are in the form of challenges. Challenges that force you to make a decision that ultimately determines your character and your destiny. To help you in this process of remembering and discovering I will share with you some defining moments that have contributed to my journey.
Expanding my sense of personal power was at the core.
What I mean by personal power is the ability to create the life you want by expanding what is possible. It's the ability to consciously determine your life path and to stay on purpose. It's making a commitment to your self and keeping it. Staying on purpose requires you to say "no" to the distractions and influences that are taking you off course. This involves discipline and though challenging for almost everyone is essential. I was a smoker while in college and in law school. I wanted to quit but wasn't ready to stop. As I was preparing for the bar exam I set up a personal challenge. I knew if I was successful with this challenge my sense of personal power would be expanded. I quit smoking the day before the bar exam. Although I failed the bar exam the first time and had to take it again, I have never smoked a cigarette since. This defining moment expanded my belief in what was possible in my life.
Developing a clear sense of boundaries was the next building block.
When I was a young lawyer and struggling, I had planned a trip to Greece and Israel with my girl friend. It was going to be my first vacation since I started practicing law. My biggest client who gave me a sense of financial security wanted me to change my plans so I could complete his project sooner. He let me know that if I didn't comply with his wishes he would get someone else. The time on my calendar was already blocked out and if I didn't take the vacation now who knew when I would have another chance. I went ahead with the trip and the client got another lawyer. This defining moment for me established at a young age the importance of personal boundaries. It also established for me the importance of living a life in balance which has always been one of my strengths.
Making the decision to take time for quiet reflection was the next step.
When I was 29 my life was falling apart. It was one of the darkest periods of my life. And because of what I was experiencing I was the most open and vulnerable. The next defining moment was when I decided to begin meditating. Regardless of how busy I was or what was going on in my life I always began my day with this practice. This practice has helped me integrate my many interests and responsibilities.
All of these moments as well as many others have contributed to who I am today. Of course there have been continual challenges since then and the ride has had its share of ups and downs. But what helps me get through these challenges are the decisions that I made in the "defining moments from the past." They have helped give me the inner strength and faith to navigate the challenging waters of life's journey.
I bet if you reflect back upon your life, you will discover your own defining moments. After you have revisited them, build upon them to help you discover your destiny.
Imagine making a decision today or tomorrow that can potentially define the direction your life takes in the future. What will this decision be? When will you make it? Let me know.
Thanks for being in the Letters on Life network. There are now over 1300 subscribers all over the world that are reading Letters on Life. Perhaps many more as most of you are forwarding it to friends in your circle. Thanks for your continuing support and referrals.
Journey On
Mark
About the author:
Mark Susnow has a unique background. Formerly a successful trial attorney for 30 years, as well as musician, he integrates what it takes to be truly prosperous in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation practice. As a personal coach, leadership consultant and inspirational speaker, Mark provides inspiration and motivation to many business leaders and professionals. He knows what it means to have a big vision and has demonstrated the courage and energy it takes to accomplish it. Consider contacting Mark and be sure to visit his website http://www.inspirepossibility.com
***************************************
What is Your Defining Moment?
Fran
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Power of Positive Thinking
"If you think positive, all the problems in the world will not make you a failure.
If you think negative, all the help in the world will not make you a success."
-Warren Deaton
It would be awesome, wouldn't it, if we could test our level of 'positivity' and our level of 'negativity' just like we can test batteries...
How would you test today? "B" Positive???
Fran Watson
What do you think your test results would show?
If you think negative, all the help in the world will not make you a success."
-Warren Deaton
It would be awesome, wouldn't it, if we could test our level of 'positivity' and our level of 'negativity' just like we can test batteries...
How would you test today? "B" Positive???
Fran Watson
What do you think your test results would show?
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
New's from Mike Kemski
Hi Fran,
I just got an absolutely amazing email from a very
special student in the BANABU Ultimate Life in 6
Weeks Tele-Class.
In fact it was so powerful, simple, clear, and
effective I had to stop everything I was doing and
send this email right away.
We just got done with Principle 2, The Law of Duality
and this wonderful lady Michelle C. was doing what
happens when you install the 11 principles into your
mind, she was silently creating powerful change in her
life where it matters most, inside herself.
See, one of the key points with the duality principle
is that when you have challenges and problems in your
life they are actually what give you the strength to
grow and succeed.
Michelle put it in such a simple and powerful way that
I had to share it with you.
She said you can't have a 'WOW' until you have an 'OW'!
And I am adding to that if you don't have either you
just have a WO.
In other words if you have no adversity in your life
(OW's) you wont be able to even recognize the success
(WOW,s).
And if you do nothing (WO) then you will never have
adversity or challenges but you will also never have
the success or achievement that you want.
Who ever new that 'WOW' could be such a powerful word?
It became a life changing word for Michelle and for
me now!
This is how the BANABU way of life is always. You
have these great distinctions by installing the 11
Principles in your mind and then they become more and
more powerful when you share them with others.
In that process you suddenly start to have this miraculous
life with all kinds of great people, things, and successes
coming into your life.
So one little three letter word just became a powerful
lesson in success.
Thanks Michelle, for passing the torch and sharing what
you learned with me so we can all benefit from it.
I got the duality audio up and ready to go!
You and the entire BANABU community are truly amazing
people and I am grateful to be surrounded by such a
great energy.
Mike and Jeff
http://www.banabu.com
P.S. If you haven't got your copy of the 11 Principle
E-Book yet do it today! Don't wait (WO) until you're
ready. Get it now so you can use your (OW) to create
a WOW!
www.banabu.com
P.P.S. One more thing for you. Another awesome person
living life the BANABU way, Emilie U. sent me this to
share with you. It is a simple way to brighten your
(and everyone around you) day!
A SMILE
A smile cost nothing, but gives so much. It enriches
those who receive it without making poorer those who
give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it
sometimes lasts forever.
None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without
it and none so poor but that he can be made rich by it.
A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will
in business and is the countersign of friendship. It
brings rest to the weary cheer to the discouraged,
sunshine to the sad, and is natures bath antidote for
trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen,
for it is something that is of no value to anyone until
it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you
a smile.
Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much
as he who has no more to give.
*************************
You too can change your life with the BANABU principles
Fran Watson
I just got an absolutely amazing email from a very
special student in the BANABU Ultimate Life in 6
Weeks Tele-Class.
In fact it was so powerful, simple, clear, and
effective I had to stop everything I was doing and
send this email right away.
We just got done with Principle 2, The Law of Duality
and this wonderful lady Michelle C. was doing what
happens when you install the 11 principles into your
mind, she was silently creating powerful change in her
life where it matters most, inside herself.
See, one of the key points with the duality principle
is that when you have challenges and problems in your
life they are actually what give you the strength to
grow and succeed.
Michelle put it in such a simple and powerful way that
I had to share it with you.
She said you can't have a 'WOW' until you have an 'OW'!
And I am adding to that if you don't have either you
just have a WO.
In other words if you have no adversity in your life
(OW's) you wont be able to even recognize the success
(WOW,s).
And if you do nothing (WO) then you will never have
adversity or challenges but you will also never have
the success or achievement that you want.
Who ever new that 'WOW' could be such a powerful word?
It became a life changing word for Michelle and for
me now!
This is how the BANABU way of life is always. You
have these great distinctions by installing the 11
Principles in your mind and then they become more and
more powerful when you share them with others.
In that process you suddenly start to have this miraculous
life with all kinds of great people, things, and successes
coming into your life.
So one little three letter word just became a powerful
lesson in success.
Thanks Michelle, for passing the torch and sharing what
you learned with me so we can all benefit from it.
I got the duality audio up and ready to go!
You and the entire BANABU community are truly amazing
people and I am grateful to be surrounded by such a
great energy.
Mike and Jeff
http://www.banabu.com
P.S. If you haven't got your copy of the 11 Principle
E-Book yet do it today! Don't wait (WO) until you're
ready. Get it now so you can use your (OW) to create
a WOW!
www.banabu.com
P.P.S. One more thing for you. Another awesome person
living life the BANABU way, Emilie U. sent me this to
share with you. It is a simple way to brighten your
(and everyone around you) day!
A SMILE
A smile cost nothing, but gives so much. It enriches
those who receive it without making poorer those who
give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it
sometimes lasts forever.
None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without
it and none so poor but that he can be made rich by it.
A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will
in business and is the countersign of friendship. It
brings rest to the weary cheer to the discouraged,
sunshine to the sad, and is natures bath antidote for
trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed or stolen,
for it is something that is of no value to anyone until
it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you
a smile.
Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much
as he who has no more to give.
*************************
You too can change your life with the BANABU principles
Fran Watson
Friday, April 16, 2010
Dream Boogie - SARK
This is huge! SARK just announced you can download a free recording of her Dream Boogie class!
Big news! Best-selling author and artist SARK (aka Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) has just announced that she is inviting anyone to download the recording of the first class of Dream Boogie with SARK for free, just so you can experience "Dream Boogie" first-hand and see what it's all about, without any cost or obligation. Registration is open through Wednesday April 21, but if you sign up by SARK's birthday (Monday April 19), you get a bonus jump-start workbook called "SARK's Purple Dream Crayon: A Playbook for Naming Your Dream"
SARK has been teaching workshops all around the world for over 25 years, but Dream Boogie is actually her very first live teleclass series. It’s a dream productivity program that is packed with inspiration and innovation to help you move from dreaming to DOing.
In addition to the free call on Wednesday, you can enjoy some fun, free "Dream Boogie" samples, including interview audio snippets, plus colorful SARK videos, workbook downloads, and other funky little goodies for your dream.
Fran
P.S. Visit Planet SARK for more info
Monday, March 22, 2010
THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON HERE!
THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON HERE! from Rebecca Fine - SOGR
The situation looked grim for Johnny Yokoyama.
The seafood market where he had once been an employee but was now
the owner was more than $300,000 in debt and sinking deeper fast.
In fact, employee morale was at an all-time low, and the business
was almost as dead as the fish no one was buying.
Now fast-forward to today and imagine yourself in Seattle's
lively landmark, the Pike Place Market, overlooking Puget Sound
and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains beyond. As you walk closer
to the crowd gathered near the open-air center of this sprawling
bazaar you can't help wondering what all that laughter and
shrieking are about ...
... until you see a hefty two-foot long salmon
flying over the gathering and into the waiting
arms of the young man behind the counter --
and the crowd goes wild!
Someone asks another rubber-aproned fellow for two pounds of
halibut. "TWO POUNDS OF HALIBUT!" the order-taker calls out. "TWO
POUNDS OF HALIBUT!" comes the reply, in unison, from EVERYONE
else on the fish market crew.
Tourists are snapping photos like crazy, even handing their
giggling toddlers up to pose with fish bigger than they are. And
every so often, someone leans in for a closer look at that giant
monkfish -- the one there on the lower shelf, that
prehistoric-looking fish with a mouth as big as a dinner plate.
But that someone doesn't linger long because
one little tug on the string that's tied to
the fish's tail and hidden under the ice
makes that fish MOVE-- and makes the
curiosity-seeker straighten up fast!
This is certainly like no fish market you've ever seen before.
Then you notice that in addition to all the silliness and
good-natured clowning, something else is happening here.
People aren't just laughing, they're buying fish.
A LOT of fish!
Now, in his life-changing 1910 rediscovered classic, The Science
of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles has laid out for us the basic
principles by which the Pike Place Fish Market crew has turned
what appeared to be failure into a stunning "World Famous"
success.
No, they didn't have the book to guide them; they just happened
onto some of these principles in an instinctive way. Their backs
were against the wall and they clearly saw that SOMETHING had to
change.
Amazingly, they didn't focus on the obvious question: How can we
sell more fish?
Instead, they imagined a thriving market filled with happy
customers and happy employees. And then they realized that if
visitors were to enjoy the experience, first THEY had to change
their own thinking and their own behavior.
Sound familiar?
Oh, you see those two dozen executive-looking types over there,
giggling like little kids? The ones wearing the matching jackets
emblazoned with their famous corporate logo? They're here as part
of a seminar on how to revitalize their customer service teams.
Turns out the fish flingers have stumbled upon some "secrets"
that big corporations spend millions looking for. In fact, there
are now several seminars, a couple of training videos, and even a
best-selling book endorsed by some of the world's top business
speakers and authors -- all aimed at spreading this "fish
philosophy" to other businesses.
So what exactly happened to turn a dark, dingy,
dying seafood store into the star attraction of
a famous city's famous landmark?
Well, listen up to the four main principles as outlined by
Charthouse Learning Corporation's CEO John Christensen. Not too
long ago Mr. Christensen wandered into the Pike Place Fish Market
craziness just as I did (although I don't know if they hooked him
with that monkfish gag the way they "caught" me!). ;-D
Mr. Christensen is the man who immediately realized that there
was something special going on here that needed to be "world
famous." Here's what it boils down to:
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. In the livable workplace, it
is about finding ways to have more fun accomplishing serious
goals."
Now Mr. Wattles doesn't say anything about "play" at all -- and
it's a little difficult to imagine it being taken seriously back
at the turn of the last century when the "efficiency movement"
was the darling of the industrial world. But today we can easily
see that a light-hearted sense of "play" can be a major component
of achieving consistent "efficient action."
(Wally DOES advise "full enjoyment." Close enough!) ;-D
2. "Be There: The glue in our humanity is in being fully 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."
"Put your whole mind into present action," Mr. Wattles says. And
when one of the fish market guys stops goofing and turns to help
a customer, that customer becomes the only other person in the
place.
Don't you wish EVERYONE you deal with in the course of a normal
day had that kind of focus?
(Don't they wish YOU did, too?)
3. "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."
Mr. Wattles says, "You must learn to see the underlying truth in
all things," and we know that our prevailing attitudes make this
either possible or impossible. If your attitude is negative,
you're expressing faith that what you do NOT want is on its way
to you. But as Mr. Christensen notes, if the attitude you have at
the moment isn't serving you -- or anyone else -- you can always
choose again!
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."
What a wonderful way to embody Mr. Wattles' advice always to
"give more in use value than you take in cash value!"
The fish guys add value to every transaction in many ways: By
letting the customer know that s/he is important (whether s/he
buys anything or not!), by providing a light moment of
entertainment (simply by being themselves and not taking
themselves too seriously), and in countless other ways, large and
small.
See, making money selling fish isn't just about selling fish.
It's the same with ANY business. And if you think you aren't "in
business" just because you work for someone else or some big
company, look at it this way: You ARE in business -- a one-person
business with you as CEO, employee, and even as the product or
service!
(Maybe your "business" is taking care of
your home and family. Same principles
STILL apply!)
You can learn a lot from a bunch of fishy guys in Seattle, and in
a moment I'll send you off to do just that. But first, let's wrap
this up with a brief excerpt from the book, Fish!, a modern
"business parable" that teaches the valuable lessons at the heart
of the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market's stunning turnaround:
"Let me tell you about my grandmother. She always brought love
and a smile to her work. All of us grandkids wanted to help in
the kitchen because Grandma was so much fun. In the process a
great deal of kitchen wisdom was dispensed. Us kids were given
something truly precious, a caring adult.
"I realize now that my grandmother
didn't love dishwashing. She BROUGHT
love to dishwashing, and her spirit
was infectious.
"Likewise, my buddies and I realized that each day when we come
to the fish market we bring an attitude. We can bring a moody
attitude and have a depressing day. We can bring a grouchy
attitude and irritate our coworkers and customers. Or we can
bring a sunny, playful, cheerful attitude and have a great day.
We can choose the kind of day we will have.
"We spent a lot of time talking about this choice, and we
realized that as long as we are going to be at work, we might as
well have the best day we can have. Make sense to you?"
Makes sense to me! And if you agree, my friend, take a closer
look. See, what the Pike Place Fish gang intuitively discovered
is that ...
... if their situation was to change,
first THEY had to change.
And so they did. They decided to turn their dreary and
unprofitable work into fun. Fun for themselves and for everyone
who steps into their world, whether they buy fish or not.
Ask Johnny Yokoyama what he's most proud of these days and he'll
tell you: "My employees and I made Pike Place Fish 'World
Famous!'"
Then ask him what "World Famous" means to him, and you get the
real scoop: "It means that we never stop creating possibilities
-- every day gives us the opportunity to grow, to learn something
new, to get better than we were yesterday. We are gonna make your
day!"
Why not make it YOUR objective to become "World Famous?" To find
ways to bring the same "sunny, playful, cheerful attitude" to
YOUR job or business or to ANY- and EVERYTHING you do -- and to
begin to revel in the delight of seeing the very same kind of
RESULTS, including the ones you can take to the bank?
If the fish guys can do it, so can YOU!
Here's where you can meet the Pike Place guys and gals, see and
hear the fun, check out their philosophy, and pick up some great
seafood recipes, too!
--> http://www.pikeplacefish.com
Have FUN, my friend -- and remember to watch out for those
low-flying fish!
Certain Way Productions Inc., 5190 Neil Road, Suite 430,
Reno, NV 89502, USA. Phone: 775-333-5949 Fax: 314-480-9229
CUSTOMER SERVICE: at-your-service@scienceofgettingrich.net
Get more information about SOGR - Science of Getting Rich Click Here for a Free Book
Enjoy
Fran Watson
The situation looked grim for Johnny Yokoyama.
The seafood market where he had once been an employee but was now
the owner was more than $300,000 in debt and sinking deeper fast.
In fact, employee morale was at an all-time low, and the business
was almost as dead as the fish no one was buying.
Now fast-forward to today and imagine yourself in Seattle's
lively landmark, the Pike Place Market, overlooking Puget Sound
and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains beyond. As you walk closer
to the crowd gathered near the open-air center of this sprawling
bazaar you can't help wondering what all that laughter and
shrieking are about ...
... until you see a hefty two-foot long salmon
flying over the gathering and into the waiting
arms of the young man behind the counter --
and the crowd goes wild!
Someone asks another rubber-aproned fellow for two pounds of
halibut. "TWO POUNDS OF HALIBUT!" the order-taker calls out. "TWO
POUNDS OF HALIBUT!" comes the reply, in unison, from EVERYONE
else on the fish market crew.
Tourists are snapping photos like crazy, even handing their
giggling toddlers up to pose with fish bigger than they are. And
every so often, someone leans in for a closer look at that giant
monkfish -- the one there on the lower shelf, that
prehistoric-looking fish with a mouth as big as a dinner plate.
But that someone doesn't linger long because
one little tug on the string that's tied to
the fish's tail and hidden under the ice
makes that fish MOVE-- and makes the
curiosity-seeker straighten up fast!
This is certainly like no fish market you've ever seen before.
Then you notice that in addition to all the silliness and
good-natured clowning, something else is happening here.
People aren't just laughing, they're buying fish.
A LOT of fish!
Now, in his life-changing 1910 rediscovered classic, The Science
of Getting Rich, Wallace Wattles has laid out for us the basic
principles by which the Pike Place Fish Market crew has turned
what appeared to be failure into a stunning "World Famous"
success.
No, they didn't have the book to guide them; they just happened
onto some of these principles in an instinctive way. Their backs
were against the wall and they clearly saw that SOMETHING had to
change.
Amazingly, they didn't focus on the obvious question: How can we
sell more fish?
Instead, they imagined a thriving market filled with happy
customers and happy employees. And then they realized that if
visitors were to enjoy the experience, first THEY had to change
their own thinking and their own behavior.
Sound familiar?
Oh, you see those two dozen executive-looking types over there,
giggling like little kids? The ones wearing the matching jackets
emblazoned with their famous corporate logo? They're here as part
of a seminar on how to revitalize their customer service teams.
Turns out the fish flingers have stumbled upon some "secrets"
that big corporations spend millions looking for. In fact, there
are now several seminars, a couple of training videos, and even a
best-selling book endorsed by some of the world's top business
speakers and authors -- all aimed at spreading this "fish
philosophy" to other businesses.
So what exactly happened to turn a dark, dingy,
dying seafood store into the star attraction of
a famous city's famous landmark?
Well, listen up to the four main principles as outlined by
Charthouse Learning Corporation's CEO John Christensen. Not too
long ago Mr. Christensen wandered into the Pike Place Fish Market
craziness just as I did (although I don't know if they hooked him
with that monkfish gag the way they "caught" me!). ;-D
Mr. Christensen is the man who immediately realized that there
was something special going on here that needed to be "world
famous." Here's what it boils down to:
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. In the livable workplace, it
is about finding ways to have more fun accomplishing serious
goals."
Now Mr. Wattles doesn't say anything about "play" at all -- and
it's a little difficult to imagine it being taken seriously back
at the turn of the last century when the "efficiency movement"
was the darling of the industrial world. But today we can easily
see that a light-hearted sense of "play" can be a major component
of achieving consistent "efficient action."
(Wally DOES advise "full enjoyment." Close enough!) ;-D
2. "Be There: The glue in our humanity is in being fully 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."
"Put your whole mind into present action," Mr. Wattles says. And
when one of the fish market guys stops goofing and turns to help
a customer, that customer becomes the only other person in the
place.
Don't you wish EVERYONE you deal with in the course of a normal
day had that kind of focus?
(Don't they wish YOU did, too?)
3. "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."
Mr. Wattles says, "You must learn to see the underlying truth in
all things," and we know that our prevailing attitudes make this
either possible or impossible. If your attitude is negative,
you're expressing faith that what you do NOT want is on its way
to you. But as Mr. Christensen notes, if the attitude you have at
the moment isn't serving you -- or anyone else -- you can always
choose again!
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."
What a wonderful way to embody Mr. Wattles' advice always to
"give more in use value than you take in cash value!"
The fish guys add value to every transaction in many ways: By
letting the customer know that s/he is important (whether s/he
buys anything or not!), by providing a light moment of
entertainment (simply by being themselves and not taking
themselves too seriously), and in countless other ways, large and
small.
See, making money selling fish isn't just about selling fish.
It's the same with ANY business. And if you think you aren't "in
business" just because you work for someone else or some big
company, look at it this way: You ARE in business -- a one-person
business with you as CEO, employee, and even as the product or
service!
(Maybe your "business" is taking care of
your home and family. Same principles
STILL apply!)
You can learn a lot from a bunch of fishy guys in Seattle, and in
a moment I'll send you off to do just that. But first, let's wrap
this up with a brief excerpt from the book, Fish!, a modern
"business parable" that teaches the valuable lessons at the heart
of the World Famous Pike Place Fish Market's stunning turnaround:
"Let me tell you about my grandmother. She always brought love
and a smile to her work. All of us grandkids wanted to help in
the kitchen because Grandma was so much fun. In the process a
great deal of kitchen wisdom was dispensed. Us kids were given
something truly precious, a caring adult.
"I realize now that my grandmother
didn't love dishwashing. She BROUGHT
love to dishwashing, and her spirit
was infectious.
"Likewise, my buddies and I realized that each day when we come
to the fish market we bring an attitude. We can bring a moody
attitude and have a depressing day. We can bring a grouchy
attitude and irritate our coworkers and customers. Or we can
bring a sunny, playful, cheerful attitude and have a great day.
We can choose the kind of day we will have.
"We spent a lot of time talking about this choice, and we
realized that as long as we are going to be at work, we might as
well have the best day we can have. Make sense to you?"
Makes sense to me! And if you agree, my friend, take a closer
look. See, what the Pike Place Fish gang intuitively discovered
is that ...
... if their situation was to change,
first THEY had to change.
And so they did. They decided to turn their dreary and
unprofitable work into fun. Fun for themselves and for everyone
who steps into their world, whether they buy fish or not.
Ask Johnny Yokoyama what he's most proud of these days and he'll
tell you: "My employees and I made Pike Place Fish 'World
Famous!'"
Then ask him what "World Famous" means to him, and you get the
real scoop: "It means that we never stop creating possibilities
-- every day gives us the opportunity to grow, to learn something
new, to get better than we were yesterday. We are gonna make your
day!"
Why not make it YOUR objective to become "World Famous?" To find
ways to bring the same "sunny, playful, cheerful attitude" to
YOUR job or business or to ANY- and EVERYTHING you do -- and to
begin to revel in the delight of seeing the very same kind of
RESULTS, including the ones you can take to the bank?
If the fish guys can do it, so can YOU!
Here's where you can meet the Pike Place guys and gals, see and
hear the fun, check out their philosophy, and pick up some great
seafood recipes, too!
--> http://www.pikeplacefish.com
Have FUN, my friend -- and remember to watch out for those
low-flying fish!
Certain Way Productions Inc., 5190 Neil Road, Suite 430,
Reno, NV 89502, USA. Phone: 775-333-5949 Fax: 314-480-9229
CUSTOMER SERVICE: at-your-service@scienceofgettingrich.net
Get more information about SOGR - Science of Getting Rich Click Here for a Free Book
Enjoy
Fran Watson
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