Fisch Tales

About the Author

Bob Fisch, an innovator in specialty apparel retailing, orchestrated one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent retail history. As Founder and CEO, he led Rue21 from Chapter 11 bankruptcy to the largest specialty apparel retail chain in store count, with over 1200 stores. Fisch's varied roles currently include author, mentor, investor, consultant, and motivational speaker. He is known for pushing people to take charge of their own destiny so they have no regrets and can enjoy life to the fullest. His philosophy is evident in his book, Fisch Tales: The Making of a Millennial Baby Boomer, where he shares his motivational lessons from years in retail.

Main Idea

In Fisch Tales, Bob Fisch shares his insights on staying ageless and relevant, coining the term "Millennial Baby Boomer" (MBB) to capture the essence of someone who adapts and thrives across generational divides. He emphasizes the importance of shared values and empathy among generations to foster stronger, more productive relationships. The book provides lessons on leadership, vision, mentorship, culture, risk-taking, and confidence, aiming to inspire readers to continually evolve and grow.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• People
• Get a Mentor
• Persona Versus Personality
• Culture
• Could You Care Less... Or More?
• Think Like a Bezos
• Alignment
• Speak Plainly and Directly
• Learn to Listen Critically
• How to Weaponize Listening
• Risks and Diversification
• Dig Beneath the Data
• Prepare, Don’t Panic
• Speed to Market
• It’s Disruptors Against the World
• Hit ‘Em Where They Ain’t
• Confidence
• Capturing Confidence
• Don’t Doubt Yourself Just Because Others Might
• Conclusion

Introduction

Vision is vital. If you have a vision to build something, it won’t happen unless you can get people to go along and execute it. Motivating people to see and embrace your vision requires constant effort. Creating a culture that supports your business vision is crucial. Bob Fisch’s lessons for leaders guide the way.

People

Whether hiring or aligning, value authenticity, dedication, curiosity, and tribal knowledge. Tribal knowledge is based on authentic wisdom that accumulates over time from experience. It requires a strong work ethic and feeds on reliable information and intangibles. It’s organic, as in hard-won knowledge; it’s not synthetic, as in assumed or imagined expertise.

Get a Mentor

One way for millennials, or someone of any age, to achieve their goals is to seek the guidance of a mentor. Learning from the right person is a proven way to increase your value to your employer, much like being an apprentice. Even if you are not new to your job, there is always something to learn from seasoned professionals willing to share their knowledge and street smarts. As Fisch puts it:

"Hoping gets you nowhere fast. Maybe doesn’t cut it. Don’t wait to seek help from those ahead of you in the journey." - Bob Fisch

Don’t wait for someone to take you under their wing. Actively seek out mentorship to advance in your career.

Persona Versus Personality

It takes all kinds of personalities to make a company succeed. Managers should not try to change someone’s personality to fit in. However, a persona can be developed to help someone communicate and relate better with colleagues. A persona is not always a precise mirror of personality; it may mask it. Work closely with people to help them solidify a persona and push them to do things they don’t think they can do. It’s essential to be aware of how people perceive you.

Being shy or soft-spoken is okay, but don’t let it hold you back from speaking up for yourself, your ideas, and your accomplishments.

Culture

Culture describes how a company’s attitude and behavior are demonstrated in day-to-day business dealings. Relationships are a vital part of culture.

Could You Care Less... Or More?

Caring genuinely about people is a desirable core value, but caring is only half of it. The other half is not hiding it. Show people that you care. It’s therapeutic. For those not in a leadership role, show your boss that you care about more than a paycheck. Demonstrate that you have a personal stake in the performance of the company by:

• Asking questions
• Offering to help with tasks not in your job description
• Volunteering to help a coworker

These simple acts set you apart from your peers. Praise people who deserve it. By making everyone believe they are critical to the company’s success, a manager helps others reach their goals. Recognition for efforts is a legitimate expectation for people of all ages.

Think Like a Bezos

Whether in charge of a company, a division, or a project team, remember there is no secret sauce for success. People at the top of their game, such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, tell us it’s not genius that creates game-changing projects, products, and business models. It’s good old-fashioned sweat and the will to put your vision into action. Bezos invested countless hours in experimentation and imagination to create Amazon, which continues to take risks in pursuit of new ideas. As Bezos says: