I recently heard one of my John Maxwell Team mentors tell the story of the World Famous Pike’s Place Fish Market in Seattle. I have probably been there a dozen times in my life and never knew the background story or the message that can be learned from it.
The market was purchased in 1965 by a former employee at the market, John Yokoyama. Twenty-One years later, the business was on the verge of bankruptsy and if there were any hope to save it, something had to change. Yokoyama decided to add the words “World Famous” to the the sign at the front of the market and an amazing transformation began.
Employees began to buy in to the concept of being world famous and began to perform in a manner that supported the name. They began to work with the passion and effort required to be world famous. Soon there were fish flying through the air, games were being played with customers and the employees appeared to be truly enjoying their jobs.
These “fish mongers” started to build a relationship with their customer base that would help to create a business that was to soon to become exactly what they set out to be … World Famous. In an interview, Yokoyama stated, “We took a stand that were going to become world famous. We just said it and it became so.” Today, over 10,000 people visit the market every day.
So here is my question. What would it take to be world famous? More importantly, what if you approached everything you did with the intent of being world famous? A world famous dad. A world famous husband or wife. A world famous (fill in the blank). What if we put in the same effort into being world famous as the fish mongers do every day in Seattle.
Over the last few years, I have given a considerable amount of thought to the legacy I will leave behind and the things that I want to do in building that legacy. So now I find myself challenged with walking the talk in doing what it takes to leave world famous legacy. I admit, the concept is overwhelming, but I know that one thing is clear. Without a plan and without the commitment to the cause, reaching this goal is unlikely. Here is my plan:
CLEAR OBJECTIVES: – No legacy will be worthwhile without keeping my faith and family at the forefront. As a husband and father, I have the responsibility to act and lead in a way that not only my family, but those around me will want to emulate as well. The success of my legacy will start at home and my hope is that for years to come the passion I have for things that really matter will continue to be evident in those I have influenced.
ADD VALUE: – Anyone that has left a legacy, has added value in some way. My focus forward is to add value to others in everything I do. I believe that you are doing one of two things in life. Adding value or subtracting it. Adding value is a pretty straight forward concept. Subtracting value is a little more complex. We have all come into this world with unique gifts and talents, yet none of us will ever realize our full potential. If we are not working towards reaching our potential, we are robbing from others what we have to offer to them.
FOCUS and COMMITMENT: – I will be the first to admit that I will fail many times in seeing opportunities to add value to others, but I know that focus on my objectives will help me get there. With each failure, I will strengthen my commitment to making a difference and work towards being “world famous.”
My challenge to you today is to choose one thing in your life and consider what it would take to become world famous at it. What is the worst thing that could happen – 10,000 people show up to see you in action!
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Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 7/15/12
