The FISH Principle of Life and More!

Stephen Lundin, Chairman and co-Founder of Ontend Creative Partners, as well as a noted author and speaker on work culture, innovation, motivation, and customer service was the featured guest on Total Career Success VoiceAmerica Radio Show. Dr. Lundin discussed his bestselling book FISH! and upcoming book CATS: The Nine Levels of Innovation and how positive energy and innovation can improve and put joy in your job search and career.

We led this week’s show with some tips for your job search, especially as we enter the holiday season. While the majority of people perceive the holiday season as a slow time that often puts a damper on a job search, it is important to remain active and proactive in your job search throughout the season in order to be prepared when the pace picks up again in January. Here are a few tips for a fruitful job search amid the holiday buzz:

Networking During the Holidays

Networking is one of your most valuable tools in a job search, and is especially important during the holidays. Holiday parties and gatherings are excellent ways to build your contacts and learn about companies, industries, and opportunities. Stay positive and get into the holiday spirit, and be upbeat about the future in your conversations with people. It is important to see networking as an exchange of information, so make an effort to help others and communicate and share what you have learned for their benefit as well. In addition to social gatherings, holiday cards can serve as a good way to update contacts and friends on your job search status. Include in your cards and letters a positive note about your job search and then personally follow-up with your contacts. Networking with companies is also important throughout the holiday season. You can gain valuable insights into the company, their hiring needs, and possible positions they might be looking to fill after the holidays. Also, if you are traveling, contact potential employers to set up a time when you can stop by for a meeting.

Preparation and a Positive Attitude

In addition to networking, you can continue to plan and organize your job search throughout the holiday season. Rather than slowing down your search, use the holiday spirit to imbue it with renewed energy. Stay positive and proactive, and remember that despite unemployment statistics, you are only looking for one job. Research companies and industries, and continue to prepare and refine your resume and interviewing skills. Be prepared when January rolls around!

Guest Stephen Lundin

Renowned speaker and best-selling author Stephen Lundin joined us in the second segment to discuss his book FISH!, the inspiration behind it, and its remarkable and universal appeal. Lundin credits his experience working with physically challenged children as a young adult as a prominent influence on what would become a fundamental principle for the FISH philosophy: life is precious. This idea was magnified again for Lundin following the death of his daughter, who he says inspired him with the idea that life is too precious to be going through on autopilot. Lundin’s FISH philosophy began from a real life observation of a fish market, of all places, and evolved into a formula for living a vital life. Central to Lundin’s philosophy is his idea that we cannot do anything about what HAS happened, but we have the ability to determine how we will respond and act afterwards. Co-host Ken Dawson noted that vitality and energy in life come from giving back what we can, even in the face of our own adversities. Everything we do – whether working or resting – is life, and, all of life is meant to be lived vitally. Dr. Lundin suggests that we should not separate the “work” and “life” spheres, but always put the same amount of vitality and energy into everything we do. After all, he says work IS life! As human beings we have the power to choose our actions, responses, and attitudes, and we need to use it in work, play, and in our interactions with people so we can be fully present for them and serve them.

The FISH philosophy applies to all of life, yet Dr. Lundin’s ideas and insights can be particularly valuable for revitalizing the workplace. By replacing the “this is only work” mentality with passion, vitality, and fun, individuals can create for themselves a work environment that is actually both enjoyable and productive. Having a passion for life and a belief that everything you do matters will help you to make all of life positive and affirming. We have the power to determine our attitudes and who we will be as individuals while we work. Dr. Lundin suggests that we should not adopt separate identities or personas for the workplace, but instead should bring our passion for life into it. This makes for more authentic workplace interactions and, as Dr. Lundin stated, enables us to make vital emotional connections by engaging people in ways that honor them as individuals. In doing so we have the power to create and build positive environments and experiences for ourselves.

Dr. Lundin also took a few moments to discuss his upcoming book CATS: The Nine Levels of Innovation, which outlines principles for improving one’s capacity to be innovative. According to Dr. Lundin, people will always be most comfortable interacting with you as you are naturally in your day-to-day activities, and it is in this type of environment that innovation often happens. People – not organizations – are innovators and have the capacity to be creative and think in new ways. By recognizing this ability in ourselves and in others, we create environments that encourage innovation and enable us to add value.