Who doesn’t like a good book that you’ve enjoyed reading and learned a few nuggets of knowledge from the author? Case in point, Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard. It’s an easy-reading parable about a couple of mice in a maze looking for, what else, Cheese. Being a parable, it is generously peppered with metaphors related to the pursuit of goals. The book will help make you aware of the dynamics that are occurring outside of your field vision (the maze) and the constant changes to the environment that you choose to be in. It’s a very fast-reading book that can help you learn how to recognize, plan, and respond to the silent language of change to your best advantage.
I read this book for the first time in 1998 and re-read it on occasion to help keep my organization antenna up. Many people get thrown off balance when change does not happen on their terms and they become fearful. Like the characters in the book, some people are quick to notice, accept and adapt, while others struggle with it or even get lost in the shuffle.
This book can help you recognize your habits and if you choose, make the necessary changes…on your own terms.
My most recent reorganization experience pretty much followed the normal pattern that I had experienced in the past. A change was announced and the “What” and the “Why” were briefly communicated. This time they focused on the “What” as its low hanging fruit and expected everyone to connect the dots on their own. In my opinion, not enough time or effort was covered during the “Why” stage.
Many people did not completely process the “Why” before the facilitators launched right into the “What”. (See the Simon Sinek YouTube that explains the Golden Circle and the genius of “Why, What, How.”
If the “Why” is clearly defined, processed, and accepted, the “How” and “What” fall more easily into place.
This time around, The “How” was very different than my past experiences.
It’s almost as if the Three Stooges teamed up with Laurel and Hardy in front of a whiteboard at a Euro-style “workshop” and were trying to put together an organizational chart years after multiple acquisitions.
Months later, Abbott and Costello were sent out to deliver the message with the names in the new org chart and the “Who’s on First” communication monologue was rolling out.
For me, I knew the stages of change by heart after years of company and department reorgs. The “cheese” was getting old last year. I clearly recognized the writing that was on my wall after a sales meeting at the beginning of the year. My preparations were well underway as I was already letting go of the old cheese and ready to savor a new adventure after Christmas. However, “Laurel and Hardy” decided it should be 200 days sooner. The timing was near perfect, season-wise as it’s been an awesome summer “between jobs”. The next new adventure continues with an upcoming 21-day road trip south seeking new opportunities, experiences, and locations in the awesome white car, as mrsfromthebachrow refers to the Challenger.
For you, the reader, retrospectively look back at one of your situations and walk yourself through the entire scenario taking special notice of each of the steps below and how you navigated your way through each of them.
The point is to recognize change and learn how to proactively pivot off it to either survive or find another adventure.
Executive Summary:
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 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
They Keep Moving The Cheese.
Aside from the executive summary above, I picked up a few more useful behaviors that can help you leverage your positive response.
Bottom Line#1. You will get better at adapting quickly.
Bottom Line #2. You will learn that movement in a different or new direction helps you find more opportunities.
Bottom Line #3. When you move beyond fear and uncertainty, you will feel in control and make better choices.
Pick up the book at the library. It’s there waiting for you.
While you are at it, pick up Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin.
Comments anyone?
Passing this blog on would be appreciated.
One final request to help me improve the content for future posts.
Does anyone take the time to click on the hyperlinks that I embed in each article?
They’re supposed to add entertainment value as well as to support a particular statement.
I don’t like Limburger cheese, and it seems that’s all we get. Worst cheese of the bunch. Think I might starve next year….:( Or go MAKE my own cheese!