Who Moved My Cheese? Review by Samith Pich. This 1998 personal and business development classic by Dr Jenson Johnson explores the nature of change and how to deal with it through a parable involving mice, little people and lots of cheese…

I don’t remember when I first read this book, possibly a decade ago. I remember being affected by the simplicity of the books message and it’s application to anyones life. Recently Iris asked me to see if our local library had a copy, and after two false attempts I finally got my hands on a copy. I re-read the story again and have started reading short bits to my children and discussing some of the important points.

[pullquote author=”Steven A.”]If things are changing in your life and they always are, this book will help you find yourway. ” [/pullquote]

Synopsis:

‘Who Moved my cheese’ is a short and concise parable about how two mice and two little people, who live in a maze of sorts, deal with change after their beloved ‘cheese’ at Cheese station C,  suddenly disappears one day. In this instance the little humans ‘Hem & Haw’  initially deal with the event quite poorly and experience a wide range of emotions while the little mice ‘Sniff and Scurry’, not burdened with beliefs, simply go back into the maze to find some more Cheese. Overall  This story is about adjusting attitudes toward change in life, especially at work. Change occurs whether a person is ready or not, but the author affirms that it can be positive.

 About the Author:

Dr Jenson Johnson coauthor of the multimillion bestseller The One Minute Manager (which sold sqillions) is adept at taking complex ideas and writing it so simply that a seven year old can understand (or someone like me :P)

My View:

‘Who Moved My cheese’ is supposedly a business book, but it’s (arguably) even more applicable to life. The general ideas are:

• Change is inevitable

• If you don’t change, you will die (figuratively or literally)
• Watch for signs of change, so you can be prepared to change, too
• Change is good, and can lead to something better

On a personal note, I’ve seen people deal with change in a variety of ways. I have dealt with change in a variety of ways! lol And I have been as guilty as anyone else of occasionally chucking a tantrum when change has happened and I’ve felt that someone has ‘moved my cheese’. Things changed for me when I studied Buddhism and one of it’s central tenants is that Change is constant and inevitable, and that change is neither good nor bad really but becomes so only when we lable it so. I really started to realise how inevitable and special change can be, and how things that I had initially looked at dismay turned out to be really good changes.

Action Steps:

• Consider how you can be proactive in creating change rather than wait for it to happen.
• If you have goals, if you have projects, if you have relationships – things will change! Stay open to the moment and appreciate what you have. Staying open will also keep you aware as things start to change.
• Be flexible!

I hope you enjoyed my review of ‘Who Moved my Cheese’. To purchase the book just click on the picture on the left or you can look it up on amazon here.

P.S. What’s your favourite cheese? Mine’s mozzarella on home cooked pizza! Yummo…