Chef Laura: “Omaha!” and flying fish

Laura Cook Newman //January 30, 2014//

Chef Laura: “Omaha!” and flying fish

Laura Cook Newman //January 30, 2014//

Have you heard?  The Denver Broncos are going to the Super Bowl.

Admittedly – and perhaps a little late – I’ve recently climbed aboard the Broncos’ bandwagon.  Not enjoying native status, I’ve never owned clothing with the head of a white horse silkscreened across the chest, nor understood why that car dealer is always being interviewed about the team’s stats.

Despite my slow uptake, after 12 years of paying Colorado state taxes, I can say that I’ve become “United in Orange”.  Why the change?  Well, winning games certainly helps one support a team.  But really, I just like listening to Peyton Manning yell “Omaha!” repeatedly over the course of four quarters.

Why is he doing this?  The obvious explanations are:

  1. A deep love of Nebraska
  2. A reminder to balance his check book
  3. Subliminal advertising to order a $52 steak at Elway’s 

Regardless of what this QB screams to his offense and its intended meaning, it’s become a fascinating ritual.  I’m a little disappointed when Manning doesn’t refer to Gerald Ford’s birthplace.  Crying “Omaha!” directs his teammates, confuses his opponents, and delights Broncos fans.

It reminds me a bit of rival city Seattle’s Pike Place Market.  This is the Mecca for fresh food, flowers, and spices.  Just like SAF@MH, the sights, sounds, and smells of this massive marketplace are an assault to visitors’ senses.  After a while, all the glorious vendors start to look alike. 

You can buy fresh Wild King Salmon at four different seafood vendors; however the one that draws the biggest crowd is Pike Place Fish Market.  How do they direct their team, confuse their competition, and delight their customers?  They substitute the chant “Heyyyyyy Ya!” for “Omaha!”, as a hunk of halibut goes sailing overhead.

Yes, these fish mongers throw the seafood.  Instead of calmly taking orders, wrapping filets, and handing it to the customer, they turn that process into a performance.  Like Ramirez snapping the pigskin to Manning who fires it to Decker, this orange coverall-clad team pitch fish around their shop before delivering it to their delighted customers.  Holy Mackerel…Touchdown!

Peyton and Pike Place Fish Market are making work fun:

  • fun to watch them
  • fun to root for them
  • fun to part with your money. 

Like Disney’s Seven Dwarfs, when employees whistle while they work, that catchy tune spreads, puts a pep in their step, and before they know it, it’s quittin’ time!  Another hard day’s work with a smile on their face is in the books.

When your employees are having fun, your customers want to join in.  Think of those jokester flight attendants on Southwest, or bottle flippin’ flair bartenders.  They draw attention – for the right reasons – and the merriment spreads. 

Unless you’re employed by Sea World, it’s probably not appropriate to throw fish at your workplace.  But how can you inject some fun and excitement to produce a high-performing team?  How can you create a place where employees and customers look forward to doing business? 

Only three more days until kickoff.  I’ll be donning my newly acquired #18 jersey, while I fire up the grill for some “Omaha!” ribeyes or freshly “caught” King Salmon.  Time to have some fun and Time to Ride!