FISH ESSENTIAL CONVERSATIONS
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1. Shawn says when you’re being there, “it’s like being with your best friend.” Who is
best at being there for you? What makes them good at it? How does it make you feel?
2. What gets in the way of being there at work? At home?
3. Johnny says, “We’re not actually working. We’re playing.” How is Play different
from work? How is it similar?
4. When you hear laughter at work, how do we react?
5. What examples of Play did you notice or practice this week?
“It’s like being with your best friend you’re there.”
-Shawn Fishmonger
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FISH ESSENTIAL CONVERSATIONS
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6. Is there any job where you can’t be creative? Is there any job where you don’t need to
be creative?
7. What are some ways you’re already creative in your work? What benefits do we get
from that?
8. Can anyone be creative? What does it take to be creative?
9. What little things make your day? How does it feel?
“You find ways of playing… There’s a million different ways of playing, you know.”
-JP, fishmonger
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10. It’s said that if you don’t make mistakes, you’re not learning anything. How do you
react around work when people make mistakes?
11. What keeps you from trying new things?
12. What would you try in your job/life if you knew you couldn’t fail?
13. J.P. admits, “I spent a lot of years rolling my eyes when people asked me questions.”
Has anyone ever rolled their eyes at you-literally or figuratively? How did it make you
feel? When do you find yourself rolling your eyes at others?
“Necessity is the mother of invention.”
-Plato
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14. At work, do you tend to make some people’s day more than others? Why is that?
15. Sammy says it’s important to provide “different experiences for different people.” Why
is that important?
16. Who makes your day? What makes them so good at this?
17. What are two actions you will take next week to Make Their Day?
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
–Voltaire, philosopher
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18. What is your attitude right now? Did you choose it? Why did you choose it?
19. When are you most aware of your choices? Why?
20. How can you tell the difference between an attitude that’s satisfying and one that’s not?
21. Shawn says when he realized he was “serving” people, it gave him a “plus” in his life.
What gives you a “plus” in you job?
“You gotta choose where you’re gonna be as soon as you get outta bed. I do consciously make that
choice everyday. -The Bear
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22. Johnny says it sounds “corny” but he and his employees “love each other.” What is
your reaction to that statement?
23. Darren says “the relationships I see” at the fish market “keep me around.” What keeps
you around at work?
24. Shari says on cold days she could stay home, but she chooses to go to work and be with
people “I like being with.” Who do you like being with at work? Why not everyone?
25. Think of a time you had a disagreement with someone and left it unresolved. What
impact did it have on your relationship?
“Whenever you’re in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between
damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.”
-William James, philosopher
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26. Johnny says when he focuses on the “positive” background conversation, it changes the
way he communicates with others. How does your background conversation affect the
way you communicate?
27. What examples of good listening and communication did you notice or practice this
week?
28. Justin says his passion is “just inside of me.” It comes from being “treated like a human
being.” What does being treated like a human being look like? What does it feel like?
29. Score yourself from 1 to 5 (5 being highest) on how well you live the FISH! Practices
at home and work.
Home
Work
Be There
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Play
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Make Their Day
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
Choose Your Attitude
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4 5
“Conversation is essential. It’s how we make sense of our world.”
-Anonymous
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30. Which FISH! practice do you live best at home? Why? What is that you do that makes you
good at it?
31. Which FISH! practice do you struggle with most at home? Why?
32. Who do you want to be at work? At home? Describe what that looks like.
33. When you are being FISH!, what do you see differently than you use to? What opportunities do
you see that you didn’t see before?
“It’s about who you’re being while you’re doing what you’re doing.”
-Ronnie, fishmonger
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