What Will It Take To Move Your Cheese?

This evening, my sister asked me to read this book entitled Who Moved My Cheese? by Dr. Spenser Johnson. At first, I agreed to do it so I won’t hurt her feelings; initially, I didn’t want to do it. However, I am glad I did. I immediately fell in love with the story. Come to find out, this book is the #1 best-selling business book of all times and is frequently used in leadership/organizational training workshops. In addition, the lessons learned in this book can be applied in your personal life as well.  For more info, please view the website at http://www.whomovedmycheese.com/ or visit your local/online bookstores.

The overarching theme of this book is handling and adapting to change. “Cheese” represents the areas that one may want or need to change, such as

·         Money

·         Respect

·         Love

·         Work

·         Health

·         Family

·         Behavior

·         Habits

The story centers around four characters:

The Mice – Kept It Simple & Kept It Moving
Sniff	Scurry
·         Who sniffs out changes early ·         He sniffs out the situation and see the change early ·         Monitor change – smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old ·         Attributes a)      Sniff out change b)      Help update the vision c)      Understand and identify how changes can improve business/personal life d)     Enjoy working in places that recognized changes and adapted in time	·         Who scurries into action ·         He went into immediate action ·         Anticipate change – get ready for the cheese to move ·         Attributes a)      Likes to get things done b)      Encourage to take actions, based on  the new vision c)      Still needed to be monitored so they won’t scurried in the wrong direction d)     Were rewarded for their successful effort and progress e)      Like working in a place that valued actions and results
The Littlepeople – Complex Thoughts/Emotions Complicate Things
Hem	Haw
·         Who denies and resists change as he fears  it will lead to something worse ·         He wanted to stay in familiar territory – “comfort zone” ·         Old beliefs do not lead to new cheese à CHANGE – Move with the cheese! ·         Attributes a)      Were the anchors that slowed progress b)      Either too comfortable or too afraid to change c)      Want to work in a SAFE place d)     Either they come around and change OR get left behind and let go	·         Who learns to adapt in time when he sees changing can lead to something better! ·         He had to learn the hard way, but he came around and learn to adapt to change ·         Adapt to change quickly – movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese ·         Attributes a)      Initially hesitant b)      Became open-minded enough to learn something new, act differently, and adapt in time to help in succeeding c)      Learn to expect change and actively look for it d)     Paint a realistic picture of New Cheese that makes sense e)      Wants to work in a place that gave people the confidence and tools to change f)       Kept a good sense of humor while seeking change

Each character dealt with change differently. Some handled it better than others. Nevertheless, change is inevitable; how you deal with change will determine your future. I believe we all can relate to one or more of these characters, or know others who can. While the story is simplistic and based on common sense logic, from time to time, we can all use a bit of reminders to help us get back on track and look at things differently. Trouble will come and you will have to deal with them. Some of these troubles are accompanied with required changes. You will have two choices: get right by recognizing, acknowledging, and adapting to change or get left by denying and resisting change. The choice is yours.

Pearls of Wisdom from the Book

·         Having cheese makes you happy

·         The more important your cheese is to you the more you want to hold on to it

·         If you do not change, you can become extinct

·         What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

·         Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old

·         Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese

·         When you stop being afraid, you feel good!

·         Imagining yourself enjoying your new cheese leads you to it

·         The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese

·         It is safer to search in the maze than remain in a cheeseless situation

·         The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists

·         It is natural for change to continually occur, whether you expect it or not; change could surprise you only if you didn’t expect it and weren’t looking for it

·         Old beliefs do not lead you to new cheese

·         When you see that you can find and enjoy new cheese, you change course

·         Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to the bigger changes that are to come

·         Let go of the past and adapt to the present.

·         The fastest way to change is to laugh at your own folly – then you can let go and quickly move on

·         Be aware of the need to keep it simple, be flexible, and move quickly

·         Change happens – they keep moving the cheese

·         Anticipate change – get ready for the cheese to move

·         Monitor change – smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old

·         Adapt to change quickly – the quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy the new cheese

·         Change – move with the cheese

·         Enjoy change – savor the adventure and enjoy the taste of new cheese

·         Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again and again – they keep moving the cheese

·         Move with the cheese and enjoy it!

So what will it take to move your cheese?