• Play! It's a state of mind which brings new energy to the tasks at hand and sparks creative solutions.
• Make Their Day! Turn routine encounters into special memories with customers and co-workers.
• Be There! The glue in our humanity is in being fully present for one another.
• Choose Your Attitude! You have the power to choose and find opportunities you never imagined possible.

Those fun guys at the Pike Place Fish Market are famous for throwing whole salmon through the air to get them wrapped, then throw them back to hand to the customer.

After being inspired by the Fish philosophy,
an employee of the City of Milwaukee wrote this poem, reprinted here by permission of author.

Fresh Fish!
by Marti Cargile

Here at the City we do important work.
Every so often we encounter a jerk.
More often than not, we're overworked.
Sometimes it's stressful, and we all go berserk!

The hours are long, and the demands are demanding.
Perhaps you and your partner have a misunderstanding,
Half of your projects are still outstanding,
And to top it all off, your job is expanding.

On these points, one cannot disagree.
You may ask yourself, "Why is this happening to me?"
When that happens, consider this philosophy:
While the work is serious, we need not be!

Well, the guys in one fish store
Aren't complaining anymore.
They've taken a less-than-pleasant chore
And made it better than before.

For one, they treat work as play
Which they regenerate every day.
And their motto "MAKE THEIR DAY"
Goes beyond just what they say.

They promise to "BE THERE" for each guest,
Despite their being stressed.
By now you may have guessed -
They want to be the best!

Even when customers appear to be rude,
They try to "CHOOSE THEIR ATTITUDE."
So most people respond with gratitude -
And walk away in a better mood.

So the next time things get out of control,
Remember the wisdom the "fish guys" extol.
Keep your spirit light and your eyes on the goal,
And look for fresh ways to keep yourself whole

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