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Who knew we could learn so much from watching fish fly through the air? Halibut, anyone?

Take a handful of "regular" guys, demanding work, and a commitment to personal and organizational greatness, and you've got the makings of something spectacular. Just ask the fishmongers at Seattle's Pike Place Fish Market who have committed to being world famous, in every way. Their philosophy is simple, and any organization can duplicate it with encouraging results.

The philosophy has been called the fish philosophy, some call it the catch philosophy. It's simple really. Being ordinary is easy, it just happens; but greatness is created. It starts with a commitment to being great in all that you do.

How does an organization with less than enthusiastic employees generate greatness? You ask your employees to Choose Their Attitude, every day. It is not necessary to love the work itself, it is necessary to love the way in which you do your work. The fishmongers are an amazing example of such - it's demanding work. No easy days at the market, loading and unloading, setting up displays, in the cold, in the rain, and every day in between. For 12 hours. Can this kind of work actually be fun? How do these guys keep a positive attitude? They choose it, every day. To love the way in which they do their work, not necessarily the work itself.

If you've ever visited the market, it would be impossible not to notice the spirit of fun and enthusiasm that the fishmongers share with everyone they come in contact with. Not only do they choose their attitude, they are fully present with each customer and guest they meet. No dismissive attitudes, no small interactions. Every interaction is an opportunity to Make their Day, another important component of their winning strategy.

In the world of business, we are surrounded by clients; some are external, but think of the amount of internal clients each company has within its structure. Each department is in essence an internal client of another department. How do those interactions generally go? Do people feel like their needs are important? Are employees present when dealing with each other? Are internal client needs met with the same enthusiasm and spirit of cooperation as the needs of external clients? Encourage employees to be present with ALL clients, responding to clients with a sense of cooperation and team work. Internal relationships can be transformed and strengthened when employees consciously choose the attitude they will share with others,

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