Tư Duy Cá Mập Suy Nghĩ Cá Vàng

by Jon Gordon

Now more than ever, fear and uncertainty are becoming staples of daily life. During changing times, it's easy to worry, give up, and let fear paralyze you. However, you have more control than you think you do, and how you handle adversity is your choice-the only choice that matters. Many successful people and businesses have grown to prominence during even the worst recessions and downturns. These successful people and organizations all shared similar characteristics and took similar actions to thrive while others merely tried to survive. You can do the same. In The Shark and the Goldfish, bestselling author Jon Gordon shares an inspiring fable about a goldfish who has always been fed, a nice shark who teaches him to find food, and a wave of change that brings them together. In the process of finding food the shark teaches the goldfish the ultimate lesson-that the difference between a full belly and an empty stomach depends solely on your faith, beliefs, and actions. In the face of adversity, this is a simple fable that reinforces a proven truth-you can't control the events in your life. But you can control how you respond to them. You can allow the waves of change to crush you, or you can learn to ride them to a successful future. Packed with tips and strategies for thriving during tough times, The Shark and the Goldfish will have a lifelong impact.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Leadership, Personal Development, Business, Audiobook, Inspirational

128 pages, Unknown Binding

First published August 27, 2009

About the author

Jon Gordon is an American business consultant and author on the topics of leadership, culture, sales, and teamwork.

Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous NFL, NBA, and college coaches and teams, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, hospitals and non-profits. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish, Soup, The Seed and his latest The Positive Dog. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Atlanta Falcons, Campbell Soup, Wells Fargo, State Farm, Novartis, Bayer and more.

Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.

When he's not running through airports or speaking, you can find him playing tennis or lacrosse with his wife and two "high energy" children.

You can find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jongordonpage

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this is the first time I have given 1 star (and I love books about positive thinking!). This book would really be better in poster form. The illustrations that cover 50% of the book are a tad lame, shall I say? One nice colorful poster sized image of the goldfish and shark accompanied by a one-sentence summary of the story (which is simply repeated over and over as if trying to teach an infant in the book) would be completely sufficient. "Be a shark and go after your own food; don't wait around like a goldfish for somebody to feed you."-- You just read the book/poster. Congratulations!

[Kelly D · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read it for work. It read like a drawn-out picture book. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — I’ve read lots of great picture books. Too many platitudes about positive thinking, though. Books about positive thinking just aren’t my genre of choice.

[Middy Fiddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little life story message book.
I do believe this book is intended for teens/young adults as they are coming into their own path in this great big world (ocean). That’s the audience I would recommend it for.
It was however a reminder as an adult and a super quick short read.

[Kimberly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate inspirational books and I had to read this for work. Gag me.

[Erika Reynolds · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this book from a Power of Positive Leadership training presented by Jon Gordon’s daughter at my work. Her presentation was interactive, and while all inspirational style trainings are corny to some degree, I didn’t mind her presentation overall and agreed with much of what she said. However, this book is about as high as you can get on the corny scale. It’s basically an Aesop fable, which isn’t inherently bad, but it’s not particularly effective for adults. It’s a picture book with a ton of blank/extra space, written entirely as an analogy. I fully believe in the power of a positive mindset, but this book doesn’t include any specific steps people can take or how to apply the principles to real life. It honestly feels like a cash grab to release a bunch of tiny books filled with platitudes and pictures like Jon Gordon does. There are plenty of more thoughtful self-help books on the market.

[Sangjun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me, and it was a short and impactful read. I finished it in one sitting! I appreciate how simple the concept is while acknowledging that change and adjusting your mindset and behavior are quite difficult tasks. I will definitely revisit the principles in this book as I navigate waves of change in my life.

[Amanda Podwinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good message on how to navigate change

[Toàn Khôi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tập sách dành cho những người đang muốn vượt thoát thử thách của cuộc sống Tư duy cá mập suy nghĩ cá vàng là câu chuyện về chú cá vàng Gordy yếu đuối, nhút nhát và bác cá mập Sammy anh hùng, dũng cảm. Cá vàng Gorly có một cuộc sống tuyệt vời, thanh bình, được bao bọc, che chở, đầy đủ thức ăn trong chiếc hồ nhỏ bé, an toàn của mình. Còn cá Mập thì lo toan, đấu tranh bộn bề mọi thứ ngoài đại dương rộng lớn. Tưởng chừng như, hai nhân vật này sẽ khó có mối liên hệ. Vậy mà…

Một ngày kia, khi cá vàng vướng vào nghịch cảnh, phải bước vào thế giới mênh mông của đại dương, Gordy tất nhiên là chới với. Trong lúc nguy hiểm nhất của cuộc đời giữa sự sống và cái chết thì cá vàng gặp được cá mập Sammy. Mối liên hệ giữa hai nhân vật ấy hình thành, một cách rất kỳ lạ: Không ưa, chẳng ghét nhưng cũng chẳng mến, chẳng thương. Tuy nhiên, hai cá thể khác biệt khi bước vào không gian chung, lại phát sinh tương tác. Cá mập không cứu vớt, hay cho ăn đầy đủ mà bác ấy đã chỉ dạy cho cậu cá vàng những nguyên tắc sống, làm việc, suy nghĩ và ứng xử trong từng tình huống để cá vàng không vô định, lênh đênh, không điểm đích.

Cuộc biến chuyển trong nội tại của Gordy, từ đó mà hình thành… Khéo léo dùng hình ảnh của hai chú cá để làm ẩn dụ cho câu chuyện cuộc đời của mỗi người, tác giả Jon Gordon vẽ ra cho người đọc câu chuyện của con người, của cuộc đời. Nhiều người trong chúng ta giống như chú cá vàng Gordy. Đối mặt với những vấp ngã, đau thương hay thất bại, dễ dàng chán nản và ngừng cố gắng. là thế nào để bước qua giai đoạn này, dù có, hay không gặp được “cá mập” nào đấy?

Chuyện của cá mập, cá vàng giản đơn nhưng lối dẫn dắt, cách kể chuyện khéo kéo đã khiến người đọc tìm thấy con đường thoát ra những suy nghĩ, hành động tiêu cực. Như lời của Jon Gordon, thay vì coi chúng là kẻ thù, rồi chịu đựng, căm ghét và ra sức chống lại chúng, hãy cậu chọn cách ôm chầm lấy mọi sự thay đổi, biến chúng trở thành bạn của mình, học hỏi và kiểm soát chúng.

Sách do First News thực hiện, NXB Tổng Hợp ấn hành, phát hành tại nhà sách Trí Việt, 11H Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Phường Bến Nghé, Quận 1 và tất cả các hệ thống nhà sách trên cả nước.

Đôi nét về Jon Gordon:

Jon Gordon là tác giả tiên phong trong việc phát huy khả năng của cá nhân tích cực bao gồm những doanh nhân, những nhà lãnh đạo hay các tổ chức, trường học. Ông cũng là người đồng sáng lập chương trình PEP – Positive Energy Program – giúp phát triển tư duy tích cực. Jon và các Giải Pháp Năng Lượng của ông đã tạo được dấu ấn trên hàng trăm chương trình truyền hình, tạp chí khắp thế giới như: CNN’s American Morning, NBC’s Today Show, Men’s Health, Forbes và Positive Thinking…

Ông cũng là tác giả cuốn The 10 Minute Energy Solution (Giải Pháp Nghị Lực Trong 10 Phút), Energy Addict: 101 Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Ways to Energize Your Life (Năng Lượng Say Mê: 101 Cách Để Tiếp Thêm Năng Lượng Cho Cuộc Sống Của Bạn), The Carpenter (Người thợ mộc lạ lùng)… Jon tốt nghiệp cử nhân Đại học Cornell và là thạc sĩ Đại học Emory. Ông đang sống với vợ và hai con ở vùng đông bắc bang Florida.

https://www.firstnews.com.vn/vi/tac-p...

[Sameer Gudhate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever felt like life suddenly pulled the floor out from under you? That freefall feeling when comfort zones vanish and you’re flapping around, unsure how to land? Yeah—me too. That’s exactly why Jon Gordon’s The Shark and the Goldfish felt like it swam into my life at just the right time.

Jon Gordon isn’t new to writing books that spark motivation when your tank feels empty. You might know him from The Energy Bus or The No Complaining Rule—books that sneak wisdom into your brain like your favorite coach who somehow gets you to do ten extra push-ups without you noticing. This time, he serves up a short and sweet fable that punches way above its weight.

At the heart of the story is Gordy, a goldfish who has always lived a comfortable, spoon-fed life. Suddenly, he’s swept out of his safe bowl and into the vast, unknown ocean. Just when you think he’s doomed to be fish food, enter Sammy the Shark—a predator by nature, but in this tale, a wise mentor.

Sammy teaches Gordy a powerful truth: goldfish wait to be fed, but sharks go find food. In other words, success isn’t about your circumstances—it’s about your mindset, actions, and how you respond when everything around you is changing. It’s a simple plot, sure, but the metaphor is solid and surprisingly sticky.

Gordon’s style is breezy, conversational, and purposefully minimalistic. You’re not going to get deep, lyrical prose or complex sentence structures here—and that’s exactly the point. This book is designed to be read in an hour, maybe less, which makes it perfect for people who say, “I don’t read much.”
It also feels like he’s talking directly to you—as if you’re grabbing a quick coffee with a friend who’s been through the storm and is offering you a life jacket.

Sure, the characters are metaphorical fish (literally), but they represent real people we all know. Gordy is that friend who’s never had to hustle until now, and Sammy is the mentor many of us wish we had. What really clicks is the clarity of ideas. The concept that your faith, beliefs, and actions define your outcomes isn’t new—but Gordon distills it in a way that feels fresh and digestible.

The plot is linear and intentionally simple. You won’t find twists or cliffhangers. But again, that’s not what this book is trying to do. It’s structured like a business parable—a bite-sized story followed by takeaway lessons. Think of it more like a TED Talk in book form.

At its core, The Shark and the Goldfish is about mindset. It’s about moving from fear to faith, from passivity to action, from being fed to going out and feeding yourself (and maybe others too). It touches on change, uncertainty, resilience, and the importance of not just surviving but thriving.

There’s a subtle but powerful allegory here too—especially for anyone who has felt blindsided by layoffs, economic downturns, or personal upheavals.

Did it move me to tears? No. But did it nudge me to sit up straighter, reevaluate how I handle uncertainty, and get off my metaphorical couch? Absolutely. The part where Sammy explains that “faith and fear both believe in a future that hasn’t happened yet” made me pause. That hit different.

The Shark and the Goldfish is incredibly accessible, making it a great read for all levels—from reluctant readers to seasoned professionals. Its central metaphor of goldfish vs. shark is simple yet powerful, offering a lesson that sticks with you long after the last page. What’s refreshing is that it manages to be genuinely encouraging without sounding preachy or overly motivational. Whether you're leading a team meeting, looking for a quick morale boost, or want to gift someone navigating change, this little book delivers impact in a compact, meaningful way.

The book is undeniably short and may come across as overly simplistic or lacking depth for some readers, especially those seeking something groundbreaking or more literary in nature. It might also feel repetitive if you’re already familiar with Jon Gordon’s other works. However, its very simplicity is what makes it so effective—because not every book needs to be a 400-page deep dive. Sometimes, what we truly need is a gentle, timely nudge in the right direction—and this book delivers just that.

I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect much from a book I could finish in a single sitting. But it surprised me. It reminded me of conversations I’ve had with mentors during my lowest phases—simple truths that didn’t need fancy wrapping to change how I saw my challenges. It’s also something I can easily share with my daughter or colleagues without overwhelming them.

The Shark and the Goldfish isn’t just a fish tale—it’s a mindset shift wrapped in a fable. It reminds us that while we can’t control the tides, we sure as hell can learn to swim. If you’re feeling stuck, uncertain, or just need a quick dose of perspective, give this one an hour of your time.

It might not change your life overnight, but it will definitely change how you see your next wave of change.

Read it. Share it. Reflect on it. And most importantly—choose to be the shark. 🦈

[Ivy Nguyen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tôi treo quyển này hơn một năm mới đọc xong dù cuốn sách vỏn vẹn nội dung chính chưa đến 100 trang kèm rất nhiều hình ảnh minh họa. Vậy lý do vì sao lại treo lâu như thế?

Vì nhạt. Và đơn giản quá.

Có thể nói đây là quyển sách self-help với hình thức kể chuyện theo kiểu ngụ ngôn giữa chú cá vàng Gordy và bác cá mập Sammy. Là hành trình sống sót và vươn lên của chú cá vàng lưu lạc nơi biển cả với sự giúp sức của bác cá mập tốt bụng.

Thế nhưng không theo kiểu để người đọc rút ra bài học, quyển sách giống như sự tổng hợp các kết luận từ hàng tá quyển self-help khác, ví như:

"Để thành công thịnh vượng bạn phải biết nắm bắt và điều khiển những con sóng thay đổi trong cuộc đời mình".
"Hãy chọn đặt niềm tin lên trên nỗi sợ".
"Đừng rơi lệ, hãy mạnh mẽ tiến lên". (Tôi thực sự không thích câu này tí nào)

Quyển sách thiếu tính thực tiễn ở chỗ ngoài các câu kết luận có thể bắt gặp ở muôn vàn quyển sách khác, còn lại không đưa thêm được hướng dẫn cụ thể nào cho người đọc. Hẳn là do tôi khắc khe với dòng sách này. Nhưng cũng không thể kỳ vọng ở một quyển sách nhỏ và ngắn như thế có thể truyền tải được quá nhiều nội dung sâu sắc.

Quyển sách sẽ thích hợp với các bạn muốn tìm động lực một cách nhẹ nhàng, không cần suy nghĩ và tư duy nhiều. Hoặc nếu bạn muốn tìm một kết luận tổng hợp cho quá trình phát triển bản thân thì quyển sách này cũng có thể là một sự lựa chọn. Các câu quote trong sách thật ra đều có thể xem như không sai trong nhiều tình huống, chỉ là hoàn cảnh để đúc kết dựa trên câu chuyện thì không đủ vững chắc và khá gượng ép.

Nhìn chung xét về thiết kế thì quyển sách khá là đáng yêu và gọn nhẹ, cộng điểm thêm cho thiết kế vậy.

[Allyssa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this for work, otherwise I never would have picked it up. The premise is a bit too cheesy for me. I love a good parable or comparison to get the mind looking at an idea from a different angle, but this did not work for me. It was not making enough connections to the real life messages it was trying to explain. This book also could have been significantly shorter. Things were reiterated multiple different times and there were several large rocks to symbolize the messages that were already shared. For me there were also a few times where the advice was a bit cringey and out of touch. I am a strong believer in the power your thoughts have on your life, but I think this book dismissed the legitimate stress, depression, and anxiety that big changes in life can cause. I agree we have more control in our lives than we realize, but there are still a lot of things outside of our control. And people should not feel like they have to pretend to be someone else to get through things. Feel your emotions and be the best goldfish you can be... you don't have to be a shark to be happy.

[Taylor Diehl · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fun little book about how to be positive and take responsibility for your life. While all of that was good, and particularly the part about choosing "faith over fear" was great, this book lacked any nuance, and for this reason it could very easily be used to gaslight and to silence people in the midst of real and important challenges. It did not address what to do when exploitation or abuse is happening, it did not address how to handle negative situations in a way that inspired positive change, and it did not include any semblance of a rhythm of Sabbath rest. Rather, it was completely subject to the Western cultural mindset of "Work hard to make more money," or in the words of this book, to "eat more food." While there was mention of thriving, the word was associated with a concept of getting more for yourself, and while the story did end with the idea of helping others to thrive, it seemed incredibly self-focused for the most part. Some helpful advice for taking responsibility for your life, but again, incomplete.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another AMAZING Jon Gordon book. He is an excellent author and the content is right on point. This was a fast, but impactful book. It is a great read for anyone struggling in any area of life. People who embrace adversity are the ones that come out on top. So many more great quotable lines. I always use a highlighter when reading a Jon Gordon book. Below is a perfect summary of this book (taken from the description on Goodreads):

"You can't control the events in your life. But you can control how you respond and in turn this determines the outcome."

Now read the book to find out how to shift your paradigm to come out on top.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shark or a gold fish, which one are you? Jon Gordon uses this story (or rather illustration) to teach every day we have the choice whether or not we will thrive or barely survive and this choice is determined by our attitude. Through some unfortunate circumstances, the gold fish is forced to make this choice. With help of his new friend, the shark, the gold fish learns 4 steps to Thrive that change his life to which he pays it forward by teaching others. Another great yet simple book by Jon Gordon. If you do no like positive thinking or being challenged to make wise choices - this book may not be for you. Light, easy reading - nothing deep yet it is encouraging.

[Jessica Sellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to listen to on morning walk/run

*you can choose how to respond to everything
*Faith and fear are similar because they are beliefs of the future that hasn’t happened. Fear is negative, faith is positive
*be proactive in the face of adversity, focus one he opportunity not the challenge
*we live in abundance not scarcity
*ride the wave of change
*you have more control than you think
*you are not a victim
*your belief must be greater than the chorus of negativity
*postivie fish fine more food
*trust in the ocean of abundance and expect success
*work hard
*be humble and hungry

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you a shark or a goldfish. Do you go out to find food? or wait to be fed?
A goldfish get washed out to the ocean and finds a friendly fish that teaches the fish to take his negative event find optimism to make a better outcome in the end.
Event + Response=Outcome
With either a positive or negative event if you respond in a negative way the outcome will always be negative.

I kept wondering if all events should really be optimistic, sometimes being a realistic is also important in life. The book was super quick, it was mostly pictures.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with "Outlearning the Wolves" the simple fables provide such a powerful message! Gordy the goldfish is thrust in the ocean after living a comfortable life in the fishbowl. He meets a shark who helps him not only acquire food but also lessons on how to survive change.
Sure its not some elaborate, chart filled, Ivy league researched book detailing 15 steps to survive change. Its about a goldfish and a shark..and I loved it! This will be my go to gift book for everyone!

[Larasestu Hadisumarinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bukunya ringan dan menarik, mengajarkan kita bagaimana caranya untuk survive di dunia yang keras ini dengan mengibaratkan karakter "goldfish" yang terkurung di akuarium, selalu diberi makan dan tidak perlu mengkhawatirkan apa-apa, kemudian "shark" yang ada di alam bebas, ganas, dan mandiri untuk bertahan hidup.

Buku ini bercerita tentang shark yang mengajari goldfish bertahan hidup di lautan luas.

[Julianna Zellers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snow day today so decided to read this to kick of my jobs fiscal new year. What a great quick easy read. “ The Shark and the Goldfish “ was a perfect inspiration about thriving in a changing environment. John Gordon provides a super cute dose of positivity to start the new year. I encourage all of us to be sharks 🦈 this year, humble and hungry.

#thesharkandthegoldfish #jongordon #julesbookshelf #humbleandhungry #goodreads

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jon Gordon's books have nice ideas in them, but they're presented in such an over-simplistic way. I get why that might be great for people who hate reading, but I find it insipid. I also found the overall message of this book steeped in privilege. Work harder and you'll be more successful hasn't always been true for people who aren't white men. Still, it was inspiring and was a quick enough read that I didn't begrudge reading it.

[Van Thanh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Một cuốn sách nhỏ nhắn, chỉ vỏn vẹn 127 trang nhưng thông điệp nó mang đến thì lại to lớn hơn thế nhiều. Từ câu chuyện thực tế khi trải qua sự kiện bong bóng Dotcom khiến công ty phá sản, phải đối mặt với những vấn đề mà Jon Gordon nghĩ là tồi tệ nhất trong cuộc đời mình, cũng là lúc ông nhận ra mình cần phải thay đổi cách nghĩ, cách làm để thay đổi số phận. Và hành trình của chú cá vàng Gordy tìm cách sinh tồn dưới đại dương cũng giống như vậy...

[Hitesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon Gordon is Aesop of this century !

His fables , that teaches lessons of life are short and to the point.

A goldfish lands in a sea ( no they don't survive in Sea water, but go along with the story ), and is unable to find food until a shark notices it and decides to give him a lesson on survival.

Good, Short, Quick , Effective Read !!!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to my middle school leadership class. I know the older ones (8th graders) got something out of it. I didn't get anything out of it personally. All the messages, at least for me, are one hundred percent common sense and stuff I've been doing my whole life. Still, I think it's a good read for young adults, maybe college and high school kids.

[Alexandra Farrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great ideas and points but it could’ve been left as a picture book with just the graphics and gotten the points across way more effectively. I understand the format of telling it in story form it did make it more fun to READ but having the main points in graphics throughout honestly defeated the purpose... this probably would’ve been better off as an inspirational poster or viral FB live.

[Nhung Nguyễn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 sao cho những tư duy và lối suy nghĩ cận kề với những gì mình đang mong muốn và hiện hành. Trong cuộc sống chăm chỉ là điều không bao giờ thừa thãi, tập trung vào mục tiêu và đưa ra phương pháp mới cho hành trình của mình là để đến với thành tựu. Suy nghĩ tích cực và nỗ lực vượt qua thử thách, bỏ ngoài tai những con sóng gây phiền nhiễu và ảnh hưởng đến năng lượng của mình.

[Valentina Uzelac · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it took a really good lesson for everyone to learn and turned into a very basic concept that ended up working with it perfectly. This story would be great to read to kids and sports teams because the message in it is very powerful. It is a quick read but the message will leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.

[Susan Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book due to the fact that personally and professionally I, among others, are facing a great amount of change. As a team leader in education, I want to be able to help lead my fellow colleagues into the unknown in a positive way.
This book gives great talking points to use with a team. I will be sharing this with as many of my team members as possible.

[drowningmermaid · Rating 1 out of 5]

A knock-off of “Who Moved My Cheese” with less realism and fewer practical tips and no original ideas.

“Wake up earlier” is kind of the vibe I got. Also, “be a shark, but a nice shark” — what even is this book?

Early on, the author expounds on his literary tastes which consist of the aforementioned “Cheese” book and also “Rich Dad, Poor Dad.” Which… is where I should have stopped.

[Patrick J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book often, great recharge!

The Shark and the Goldfish is a short easy read. It is an excellent source for recharging and redirecting one’s motivation. It pushes you to be confident and focused on the right thoughts and action. I’ll read this story often to recharge my personal energy!

[Portia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you a shark or a goldfish? Shark!!! Love that the book encourages people to always think positive no matter what life hands you. Really helped me to navigate my fear of the future. Favorite quote: “fear is believing in a negative future and faith is believing in a positive future. Both are unknown so why not choose the positive future.”