Joyful Jubilant Learning

Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results

I was extremely excited to receive Rosa's invitation to contribute again to Joyful Jubilant Learning. Rosa always provides such a positive environment that it never ceases to be an honor to be invited to contribute here. AND, it was so fortuitous that I had just read a book that I was really excited to share with others. So, let's share!

First let's get the credit where credit is due out of the way.

Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results was written by Stephen C. Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen. Published in 2000 by Hyperion Publishing of New York, New York.

Don't let the title through you as it did me. My mind immediately set about conjuring up images of Dicky-George and Eddie-Bob trawling their Evin-rude up next to the bank for some up close and personal bass fishin' tips. Nothing could be further from reality.

I suppose I should have been tipped off by the book jacket, which resembled nothing so much as one of the Pepperidge Farm Gold Fish Cracker boxes. You know, the ones with the friendly little smiling fishies that make such a delectable Cheddar morsel. In fact, that image kind of sets the tone for the often lighthearted flavor of this wonderful book (is anybody else hungry for a salty treat right now?).

There are a few things you should know about me to get the most out of this review.

• I love parables
• I love playfulness
• I love attentive behaviors
• I love engaging attitudes
• I love fish (but not batter)

This book jumped right into my affections by relating to me through those very 5 loves I listed above.

Fish! begins with a forward which dedicates itself to the principles above (with the exclusion of fish, oddly enough). I was (dare I say it?) hooked from the beginning.

The book teaches in story format four key lessons learned through the life lens of Mary Jane. Mary Jane is an adequate middle manager who has not been spared the difficulties of life. However,due mostly to her own work ethic Mary Jane is promoted to a department of her organization which is dreaded by all and known as the company toxic energy dump. Her mission is to find a way to bring vitality to this department or face impending dissolution and outsourcing the department work.

After one particularly dreadful morning she decided to take in the fresh air and consider her options for escape. However, as she wondered about she stumbled upon an open air market which happened to be the home of the "World Famous Pikes Place Fish Market." There she was struck by the joyful manner in which these fish mongers went about their smelly, messy business. And after a brief talk with one of those very fish mongers she set about finding a way to bring their verve and vigor to her own, less than joyful workplace.

With the aid of gentle nudges from her fish monger guide Lenny she was able to uncover the four secrets to a joyful and productive workplace.

1. Choose your attitude. You can't choose everything that your encounter in life. But, you can choose how you react to it and the attitude with which you address it. Be you angry and disinterested or be you caring and energetic; the choice is yours.
2. Play! Get your work done but have fun doing it. It will lower turn over rate. It will instill pride in what you do.
3. Make THEIR day. Look for creative ways to make someones day. Colleagues as well as customers and clients. Engage people.
4. Be Present. Be focused on the individual you are working with at that moment. Constantly scan for opportunities to interact. Speak to others as if they are your long lost friends.

Their are, of course, obstacles to this plan. You will encounter skeptics almost certainly. But, if you consider most skeptics are scared; scared to take a chance, you will likely find a way to reach them.

Ultimately, it comes down to the following:

"You can't change others. If you're in a frustrating job, you have three choices:

1. You can go somewhere else.
2. You can go through the motion, complaining about people and situations you can't change.
3. You can choose to live in a way that acknowledges the value of your own life and take charge of the only person you can control--YOU."

---Fish! The Guide, Charthouse Learning, page 79.

Well, in case you haven't been able to tell by the review, I am definitely a fan of this book. I heartily endorse it and recommend you add it to your personal library.

Here it a link to all things Fish!.

Reg Adkins writes on behavior and is a temperament specialist who counsels, coaches and writes about the human condition at www.elementaltruths.com.

Is there Value in Learning for the Sake of Learning?

In the 1950's Benjamin Bloom developed a lovely pyramid construction to analyze the essence of learning. Ben said learning could be compartmentalized into 7 subordinate components the higher of which could not be reached with out the complete mastery the lower.

They went like this:

• Knowledge - to define, recall, duplicate or state
• Comprehension - to classify, discuss, explain or translate
• Application - to chose, demonstrate, illustrate or perform
• Analysis - to compare, contrast, differentiate or discriminate
• Synthesis - to appraise, argue, defend or judge
• Evaluation - to assemble, construct, create or design

I know that it looks a little constrained but remember it was the 1950's. We were all about organizing, classifying, counting and other panicked attempts to control a universe which we had recently discovered was uncontrollable.

Remember this just a scant 25 years since the Scopes trial which many felt rent away the comfort of intelligent design and folks like Bloom were casting about to find a way to bring some order and control back into their souls.

Fast forward to the 1990's to some former students of Bloom's who felt it was time to shake things up. So, they took the ground breaking and scandalous step of turning the statements of Bloom into questions.

The "new" pyramid read this way.

• Remembering - can the student recall the information?
• Understanding - can the student explain the ideas or concepts?
• Applying - can the student use the information in a new way?
• Analyzing - can the student distinguish between parts?
• Evaluating - can the student justify a stand or position?
• Creating - can the student create a new product or point of view?

All in all, it basically looks like the new crew took a thesaurus and rewrote Bloom in the form of a Jeopardy question. But, hey what do you expect? This was a headlong charge made my the baby boomer generation and we are rebels everyone!

In spite of all this progress I find myself obliged to respond to unsubstantiated allegations that there are those who continue to learn outside the clearly defined parameters of classifiable knowledge. While these reports are outrageous in and of themselves, I am even more concerned by the fact that these same perpetrators have in turn become purveyors of this illicit learning by committing such acts as blogging concepts with an open inquiry approach and carry on with unfettered intellectual discussion and in some rare, yet outlandish incidents of learning only for the sake of learning.

But, the cure is quite attainable. You see, if you haven't acquired very much learning you most likely don't feel any great desire for more learning. However, once you acquire any measurable amount you are set upon by the intense desire for more. In fact, the more you drink of learning the greater your thirst becomes. Then the more you slake that unquenchable thirst with more learning the greater the likelihood you will begin to commit such atrocious acts as questioning the way things have always been done; and asking why not; thus disturbing the placidity of divine ignorance. The cure then is, simply seek no initial learning and thus avoid the vile compulsion to glean more.

I would leave you with this warning. The enormous volumes of frightening power gathered from learning available from such localities as Joyful Jubilant learning are heartbreaking in their insidious availability. I can personally attest to the discomfort I have experienced hear at unwilling having my perspective broadened and my mind ruthlessly opened to new concepts. I urge you, seek out television immediately and balm your pulsating mind with the soothing poultice of mindless drivel.

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Reg Adkins writes on behavior and the human condition at www.elementaltruths.com