Who Moved My Cheese? (The book)

Amazon.com ^ | UNK | by Spencer Johnson, Kenneth H. Blanchard

[My back yard]

Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives.

Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice--nonanalytical and nonjudgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

Hem and Haw are "littlepeople," mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image.

Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships.

The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

[My back yard]

Just a bit to ward off the monday morning blahs. I came across this and it made me chuckle. Not even sure what the 'cheese' word means here.

[My back yard]

Is there a cheese ping list?

[MotleyGirl70]

Hold Muh Cheese...

Wow I didn't know cheese was so complex.

[tonyinv]

Cheese, here means everything and anything.

"Who Moved My Cheese" is a good book.

We need a new book specifically for FReepers

"Who Moved My Moose"

[crazykatz]

All your cheese are belong to us.........

[Jaxter]

[Jaxter]

"Wow I didn't know cheese was so complex."

[txzman]

We had to read this at work. I just have one word to say:

BAAAAARRRF!

[My back yard]

You had to read this at work?? I would barf at that too.

'we have to be alert to changes in the cheese'

[Cincinatus]

The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

This is indeed the point of this story. One might ponder the implications of it. Forget about principles or morals or timeless truths -- they're irrelevant. Find out where they moved your cheese. Then, do what it takes to get it.

A fine tale of our times. It could have been the official manual of the Clinton Administration, but unfortunately, everyone in that lot already knew who'd moved the cheese.

[My back yard]

funny.

Can anyone tell me why these two sentences have in common?

From the book

"we have to be alert to changes in the cheese"

and from Pelosi

"We cannot allow Republicans to pretend they share our values and then legislate against those values without consequence."

[Doc-Joe]

Not even sure what the 'cheese' word means here.

"Cheese" refers to a person's goals, rewards, etc. "Moving one's cheese" is a change. In the book there are four mice (I remember Hem and Haw, but the other two names escape me) who enter the same maze everday with the same goal (the cheese). Later, the cheese is moved or an obstacle is placed in the way and the mice must find a way to adapt/overcome. The book illustrates how people react to change, such as leaving one's comfort zone and moving on, or fighting change (i.e., hem and haw).

[Doc-Joe]

Ah! Sniff and Scurry. Mentioned them in the article. Where are my specs?

[octobersky]

The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

Well, as an ardent turophile I would have to agree with you.

[My back yard]

LOL, thank you. I was in a hurry and less than clear that, I don't fully understand the use of the word 'cheese' here, at Free Republic. 8^)

[jim_trent]

Our boss bought several of the books "Who moved my cheese?", bought an antimated videotape of it, and required everybody to watch it -- just before laying off a bunch of people and giving their work the the remaining people.

We called it "Who cut the cheese?".

[luckodeirish]

LOL! We had to as well. Thought I would puke, all the execs running around carrying their copies and acting like aged cheerleaders.

[Shenandoah]

LOL! I had a manager once who presented each of us at a meeting with a copy of this little book. I actually read it. So did a few other people and we all had a good laugh over it. On every few pages is a picture of a slice of cheese with some wise, philosophical saying on it. I scanned one of those pictures and replaced the text with "Welcome to my Hell". Those of us who get a kick out of management's continuing attempts at getting us to realize that our work is paradise on earth, shot copies of my handiwork around and a few copies ended up pinned to peoples' cubicles. I live the life of "Dilbert".

[Prince Caspian]

...all the execs running around carrying their copies and acting like aged cheerleaders.

Don't like the sometimes artificial nature of corporate politics, but loved the practical message of the book.

[luckodeirish]

I agree, the message was a good one, and very timely for a lot of us.

[My back yard]

Yes, Dilbert is what comes to mind. I can't help wonder if this has made it to Oprah's reading list.

[stainlessbanner]

Same here - we even had a video. I call it "Who Moved my Cube?"

[blau993]

Pssst. Follow the cheese!

[My back yard]

Turophile, I had to look it up. lol

[luckodeirish]

LOL, did the employees spoof the book and make the video or was it legit?

[Prince Caspian]

"Welcome to my Hell"

Sounds like you need to go find some new cheese... somewhere else, like Hem and Haw. Are you sure you read the book?

[Prince Caspian]

...and very timely for a lot of us.

You mean just before all those self-important, suck-up, book toting management types RIF'd 20% of the staff?

[luckodeirish]

Yep, that's exactly what I mean.

[My back yard]

I think I should have directed my post to you. 8^)


From the book

"we have to be alert to changes in the cheese"

and from Pelosi

"We cannot allow Republicans to pretend they share our values and then legislate against those values without consequence."


Or, IOW, we can no longer count on Big Media to secure our connection to the cheese. And, our legislating against those who know where to find the cheese makes us look really stupid.

[OldFriend]

Or who's taking a shower?

[jjm2111]

I had to read this book at my old job. BARF!!!

What a waste. Then again, I wish I could write some childish, imbecilic book and make millions in royalties.

[stainlessbanner]

It was a real, licensed copy - the animated story. Actually, the book has a good message, but Corp America just bends over backwards for Hem and Haw.

[Grampa7030]

The worst manager I ever worked for loved this book. It was on a level she could understand. But it is really little more than a bunch of trite statements strung together with some cheesy (pun intended) artwork. My problem with books of this sort is there is no real contnet, but managers think they have read something profound as it is on the best seller list. Then these fully enlightened individuals go back to their incompetent leadership styles knowing that when they invoke some stupid policy that know one buys into, they can stand before the masses and tell everyone the cheese has moved. Sheer nonsense, but don't try to tell them that.

[Sloth]

I read it... an incredibly infantile book.

Good review of it here: http://www.notmydesk.com/archives/cheese_week.html

[Fiddlstix]

I really like cheese
(I'm not too sure about moose though....
one bit my sister)

[Sender]

I had to read it at work too. The big boss discovered this book and it was like a revelation to him, so no one dared to refuse or make light of it. Corporations use stuff like this to prepare the workforce for coming changes, like losing your job, or being forced to work 24/7, or being paid in vodka credits, etc. The message is, those who can adapt to change will survive, others will not. If anyone else's boss tells you that it's very important for you to read this book, go ahead and polish up your resume and watch your back.

[CheezyD]

We were required to watch the film version (we're in the middle of a buy-out). Upper management seems to love this kind of garbage. They think they're doing us a favor by showing us this claptrap. Just goes to show how out of touch with reality they are. Those of us in the rank and file know it's just a way for them to feel better about getting ready to screw the rest of us. Merry Christmas.

[Maigrey]

Fabulous book. You should also pick up the book "Fish". I've read both, and was impressed by the context of the parables.

[PrairieDawg]

10-4 on that!
I took the hint and left 2 weeks before the first wave of WFRs at the company formerly known as Bill and Dave's excellent place to work. If anyone ever passes out this book at a meeting clean up your resume and hit the jobboards ASAP! As far as the book and it's message goes, I'm stretching it from a job parable as I'm starting to get the idea that for 40ish Unix/C geeks like myself finding something different to do may be the way to keep the cheese supply fresh. Kinda disappointing, but that's just the way the Global Economy crumbles I guess...

FRegards,
PrairieDawg

[MrNeutron1962]

A moose bit my sister; no, really, one did.

An obligatory moose comment for the cheese thread.

[LibertyGirl77]

My roommate reads this kind of sh!t like it's the Bible.

She has the Cheese Book, something called "Raving Fans" which is really just a gay fantasy disguised as a business book, and numerous other large-type hardcovers with four-inch-margins that she bought with hundreds of dollars she doesn't have.

Each time she reads something, it's like a revelation to her, no matter how childish or condescending. All of the books contradict each other, but she doesn't care. She thinks she's going to find success and riches by following these corporate "leaders." It never occurs to her that these corporate "leaders" are not writing books for anyone's benefit but their own -- and certainly not hers.

She takes entire days off work (she is in real estate and sets her own hours, but still . . .) to study this stuff and "goal set" how she intends to implement it in her daily life. Her fiance is the same way, and together they are going broke buying all these books, attending bullsh!t "seminars" based on the books, and meanwhile NOT doing their jobs.

They are also both the kind of people who CONSTANTLY get suckered into MLM dream schemes that end with them owing hundreds or even thousands of dollars to Mary Kay/Amway/HerbaLife/Quixar/etc. because they thought the products were "an investment." They join them ALL. Unfortunately for them, the rest of our friends and I are not stupid, and won't help them recoup the cash by signing up to sell the stuff ourselves (which is the only way those scams work -- you make money by expanding the pyramid, not selling the product).

I am tired of watching this scam of an industry suck naive people in with promises of obscene wealth with little or no sweat or tears. The culture of "get-rich-quick" is encouraging financially stuggling, often under-educated people to take unwise risks with their money and their careers while taking BILLIONS from those same cash-strapped people for all the useless booklets, tapes and seminars. It's disgusting!

--LibertyGirl steps OFF her soapbox.

[matthew_the_brain]

The book sucked, don't bother wasting your time.

[Lady Jag]

No one moved the cheese. The cheese moved itself as you can plainly see:

[jriemer]

I know a co-worker who gives away the "cheese book" anyone he meets like it's free crack or he's a Mormon missionary. Pick one.

"Who moved my Cheese" is only today's corporate book-o-the-month. The pointy-hair bosses will put it on their shelves along with "Manage like Attila the Hun" and with all the other management fads that have come and gone...

jriemer

[My back yard]

I recommend to anyone who has been unfortunate enough to have been forced to read this book that they read, and pass out copies to co-workers, the autobiography of Lee Iococca. The only book of this type I've ever read. I love it, and you will too.

[My back yard]

That surely wins the moving cheese pic award!

[Lady Jag]

Yes, the chesse moved me, too.

[jim_trent]

I have been working for about 40 years now. I have learned that most people are willing to give a decent days work for a decent days pay. There are a few suck-ups/workaholics. And there are a few screw-offs/lazy-bums. Unfortunately, most management people do their best to turn the majority into screw-offs. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW HARD YOU WORK if management makes BAD decisions. Blaming the average worker for stupid management decisions is common, but completely ass-backwards.

One company I used to work for employed about 500 people. The company closed down after a BUNCH of bad decisions. It was sold to a "Canadian" outfit. Their manager came in and interviewed everyone from the old company looking to work for the "new" company (which would make the same product on the same machinery in the same place). He ended up hiring the BEST 150 to 160 people in the company. The first year, they manufactured 2/3 as much with 1/3 the number of people. They made money hand over fist. Then they started screwing the people. Cutting salary, but starting a "profit sharing" program that never paid anything, cutting medical coverage, cutting days off, etc. Instead of the work going up, their work output dropped until they were putting out 1/3 of the work with 1/3 of the people. The "new" company should be out of business again any day now. "Who moved the cheese" and other gee-wiz books won't change anything if management doesn't change.

[Bob Mc]

"I read it... an incredibly infantile book."

My 10 year old homeschooler read it and thought it was infantile!