Do you think there is a difference between work and play? Should there be a difference? What makes it different?
Work is where you are employed to complete a specific task or duty. Fun is referred to as recreation or activity for relaxation when work is completed. However, why can’t they be combined? Many years , I heard and learned about the Fish Philosophy. I wanted to know more about this new approach.
Fish Philosophy, modeled after the Pike Place Fish Market, is a business technique aimed at creating happy individuals in the workplace. John Christensen began this philosophy in 1998. The central four ideas are: “choose your attitude,” “play,” “make their day,” and the “present moment.”
I know many schools utilized the Fish theme and applied the philosophy to begin their school years, as well as many organizations. It was the new “shiny” object to help build up teams and help others feel happy at work.
I have all of the FISH books and loved the thought behind the philosophy. The fish market was a crazy place to find happiness, but they discovered the secret to working, playing, and having fun.
We gathered up the ideas and practices to put into place. We began to implement the practices, but we put something into practice, and things slip away a little at a time as our attention is taken to the new noise in the world. It is usually a loud, negative noise we need to address, and it drowns out all of the positive steps we have taken forward.
I can name several different motivational themes and ideas utilized over the past several decades to help us work better together, enjoy what we do, and have fun while we are doing it. The truth is, more and more demands are placed on those in education, criticism is loud, and the level of disrespect is at an all-time high, in my opinion.
I believe the hard-working teachers and those in education I know are drowned out by the noise of those who look at what they do as work only. Those who are working in the field of education and who love what they do are those who work and play. They know the responsibilities they have for those they serve, but they also see the fun they need to bring to what they do for all to enjoy the journey of learning.
What is your new philosophy?
Maybe you are not into FISH, so what do you have as a philosophy? I utilize many different tools to help maintain motivation, inspiration, encouragement, fun, and joy in our daily activities. It does not matter what job we have; our life is vital to those around us. We make a difference in the lives of others with the simple things we do each day without even knowing.
My philosophy, you know, is to Be the Solution Daily in a world that needs you. We can always choose to be part of the solution or the problem; it is our choice. I only have two rules to live by daily, and I have taught this for decades. Everyone who walks through our doors will feel good about being here, and everyone will feel safe. We will work together to make it happen. I will help guide you in seeing how.
Together we can!