Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Entertaining Lesson

A short story about 2 mice and 2 'little people' in a maze looking for cheese.

Of course 'cheese' is just a metaphor for what you want in life (such as money, the ideal job), and the 'maze' represents where you are looking for what you want (such as your family, an organization). As the story goes, one of the characters (Haw) learns to deal with change successfully and writes what he has learned on the maze wall. In this way, the reader gets the main points in the book and can learn too how to deal with life's changes.

A little book that is big on wisdom, many should find it entertaining and useful. Also recommended The Sixty-Second Motivator -another short story that is to the point and practical

10 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

I didn't like it.

I am a teacher and was required to read this book for staff development. I found it to be somewhat offensive. The overall feel I got from reading this is 'sit down, shut up, and quit your moaning'. I don't think that's an effective way to deal with change.

4 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

This book should be in schools -- Grade Schools to College

The ideas are put in such a simple way that they are easy to understand.. they are life changing and/or enabling.. it gives a person the capability to live with change even a life altering change .. without feeling like your giving up your values or lowering your standards.. it makes dealing with change acceptable and it is not focused on any individual political, medical, spiritual or other issue.. it is truly generic.. it is a good primer on how to deal with a changeable world and not become bogged down by it.. and it should be read and re-read at differnt life stages...

3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

One Character Short

Although this book addresses four different reactions to change and is primarily addressing business situations, it claims to be for aspects of life outside of business as well and in this regard falls one character short. The character missing is the one who asks 'Who cares who moved the cheese, why don't we get out of this maze?' The assumption that we must be in this maze is never questioned by any of the characters. In this light the book is a good example of propaganda for capitalism, but not a good challenge to think 'outside the box', or, in this case, the maze.

3 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Cheese and Change

This audio book begins with an engaging introduction by Johnson with Ken Blanchard, who has written the foreword to Johnson's book. The subtitle focuses the book's intention: "An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life."

This audio version is a full text of the creative allegory of the challenge of dealing with change in the workplace. Blanchard (PhD) and Johnson (MD) are co-authors of The One Minute Manager, which has become "the world's most popular management method."

The pleasant and expressive voice of Tony Roberts reads the active text of the book to us, telling the story of two little mice named Hem and Haw and their friends, Sniff and Scurry. The allegory develops as Hem and Haw become settled in their comfortable home in a wealthy home.

Hem and Haw planned and used their great intelligence to find cheese in the maze in which they all lived. Sniff and Scurry found cheese more by trial and error, remembering the productive lanes and nooks hiding the cheese. Hem and Haw find a plenteous and regular supply of cheese at "Cheese Station C." Hem and Haw became accustomed to the easy life with the supply of plenty of cheese and were able to organize their life comfortably.

As Hem and Haw become more affluent and comfortable, they begin to look down on their hard-working neighbors Sniff and Scurry. But the smart mice Hem and Haw mapped out the places they had found cheese, so they had to work less and less to get food every day. They became complacent, until one day they went on a trip, then came one day to find no cheese at their "Cheese Station C."

Sniff and Scurry had also been gathering some cheese from Cheese Station C, but they had noticed that the cheese supply there had been diminishing. Now that there was no more cheese, it was nothing to them. They shifted their strategy and returned to their industrious pattern of looking in various places.

But Hem and Haw were not that flexible. They had not developed foraging techniques, so were at a loss. They continued going to look for cheese at the same cheese station, but finally it was clear cheese was no longer to be found at Cheese Station C. The way they finally work out a solution spins out the possibilities of learning how to deal with the traumatic change in their situation.

The body of the story is this parable of the cheese, which is then discussed in a dialogue by business colleagues to evaluate their various businesses. Cheese is the focus then for whatever they as individuals or the company wants. This works on a personal or a corporate level. The Maze that was home to Hem and Haw represents the places you looks for what you want. This could be an organization, the family, the community or the market.

This is an enjoyable little story and the debriefing dialogue of the human characters is realistic. It is a pleasant experience and provides insights or at least an interesting review of the approaches to change. The story provides an opportunity for self-evaluation on how one meets change.

Since this story is an allegory, this audio book is an excellent way to get the story. The superb reading stimulates the mind to conjure up vivid images to enjoy the visual story in your head!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great Book

I was first introduced to this book by one of my employees. I had just become the Training Manager for my company and was having a hard time dealing with all the overwhelming changes. My employee told me to read it. It was given to her when she graduated college. I make reference to the changes that were occuring because that is what this book was meant for. It was meant to help those deal with change. Although the book is a fast read (it took me a whole hour to read it), it keeps you intrigued to find out what happens. It gave me forsight on how to deal with change and not to be afraid of change. I now have given the book to all of my friends who have had to deal with a life changing event. I have given it to those who are afraid to make a leap in life because of the changes that may occur. If anything, this book will turn on a light bulb and give you a little help on managing the changes in your life that you are afraid to accept. Enjoy!

2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Everyday Workers Beware

Let's get right to the point. If your boss comes up to you one day and tells you that you should read this book (or even worse, hands you a copy), start looking for a new job. Because your days of peace of mind and security in the work place are over. The book is small enough to be read over a lunch break (how convenient), with large print and lots of pictures that look like Sunday Comics rejects. You'll be better served grabbing the latest classifieds and circling new employment possibilities while you finish off your meal. The book uses a simple metaphorical story about two 'rats' (workers) who go to the 'same place everyday' (work) to get their 'cheese' (money). But one day, when some unseen person moves the 'cheese,' the rats are forced to do things they wouldn't normally do just to get the same reward they've been getting all along. Any middle of the road worker who has ever had to work twice as hard after an episode of 'corporate downsizing' just to get the same amount of money out of his paycheck (or even worse, keep his job) should be able to relate. This choice of metaphorical characters should tell you everything you need to know about what the author (and the corporate executives of America) think about the middle of the road American worker. They don't care about the well being of their employees. Your boss will tell this book is about change, and how to accept it in your life and in the workplace. And to an extent that's true. If you want to believe that change is inevitable, there's nothing you can do about it, and you're willing to let your boss bully you around until he decides that some one half your age can do your job half as well as you're already doing it for half the price, you'll fit right in to the environment your employer is trying to create. Because to them, you're just a pawn. And if you don't do exactly what they say (or if they just get tired of looking at you, whichever comes first) they'll take your share of the cheese and give it to some other 'rat.' It¿s sad to think how simplistic this book is. Even a child could read it. Parents who are stupid enough to enjoy this book can start brainwashing their kids early on in life, so when it¿s time for them to enter the workforce they¿ll think being mistreated in the workplace is perfectly normal and even acceptable.

2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

I found the author's tone condescending...

I didn't appreciate the simplistic child like analogy...it just feeds into current poor management trends. But I did "see the handwriting on the wall", and left the company that required we all read it.

2 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

This is NOT process improvement

This book is all about how the individual needs to change in order make things better. The entire book runs counter to the process improvment movement. Rather than blaming the individual for their lack of ability and/or desire to change, the organization should be looking at system issues. If the system is broken the individual will not have the willingness or even the ability to change. This book does a disservice to the individual by placing blame (It is your fault you have decided not to go in search of the cheese) rather than encouraging group problem solving.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Supporting a Nation of SHEEP

This book is GARBAGE! It is overly simplistic and is grossly misunderstood and used as a tool to avoid treating people with respect. Remember the Disney film 'The Lion King' when Poombah, the warthog, declares 'You've got to put your past behind you'....that's the philosophy here. Disregard anything bad that happens and let it go...it is past history. According to this book, the employees and stockholders of Enron and WorldCom should not waste time asking 'why' and just move onto finding the next source of cheese. How convenient for the people who are responsible for those messes.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

You've got to be kidding!

Sorry, but the authors have taken an old sales training story - and wrapped Bob and Carol, Ted and Alice around it. The concept is condescending and lame. Really I'm jealous - I've got to come up with some simplistic scam that will catch the minisecond attention span of the airport reader.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Zero stars would be more befitting

This is a trite allegorical that was written for corporations to hand out to their Baby Boomer employees to rattle their cages and warn them about their impending replacements. Subterfuge against labor organizations and unions. No hemming and hawing about it: this is a cheesy little hard bound pamphlet that stinks. But, if you like to be condescended to, it may be right up your little maze-like alley!

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Who ReMoved My Execllence?

---If the Cheese Book had been passed around Washington's troops the winter Washington crossed the Potomac.--- The colonies would all be saluting the Union Jack today. --- Not one continental soldier would have responded to the speech Washington had read to his men. --- The words, 'These are the times that try men's souls'--- would have been unheeded by the freezing troops. They would have all been scurrying around looking for the fastest way home. --- Americans would all be saluting the Union Jack today. Hail, Britannia! ---In this tale, I could find no impulse to better conditions? ---Nor could I see where it show that one person can make a difference? ---Nor could I see striving for excellence or even the potential for excellence? ---While cute on the surface, I found the story degrading. Setting 'little men' trapped in a Skinner box competing with rodents of equal size for the same survival niche may project a popular view of the world. Unfortunately, that Weltanschauung is not a productive one for bettering the human condition. ---I have found that part of what makes men civilized that they can choke down their fight or flight instincts and carry on with a cause when times get tough? ---This little story plants the subliminal seeds of defeatism. It is a world of little victims that have to figure out how to look out after their own skins. Clearly the way to survive is to be more like rodents. ---This story may not be an excellent tool in softening up employees for lay off if that is your objective as it appears to lower morale. ---As that is how it is appears in the context of required reading at the site of one of my clients. ---The feedback I get is that the story is making them feel stupid for having attempted being ¿TEAM PLAYERS. Being Team Players has always been the management mantra up until the required reading arrived. ---Team players are supposed to look past their own personal interests in the pursuit of the overall team objective? --- Team play includes potentially sacrifice in the achievement of a goal? ---In counterpoint this little tale forwards a world of fair weather friends and sunshine patriots. Where team players are suckers, and loyalty is to be scoffed at. Or at least that is the feedback that I have gotten. I took it the same way. ******An uninspiring morale breaker *******

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Rats in a corporate maze

I'm glad I didn't buy this book with my own money. My copy was given to me by 'unnamed company' and it did nothing to improve morale. It actually made our employee outlook even worse. The analogy is degrading. The message I got from the book is to accept poor management with unfocused goals, do what you are told, and be happy with where the powers-that-be move your cheese. Change is inevitable, but this message stinks. What good points were made in the book only highlighted the fact that 'unnamed company' didn't do these things for the employees.

1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Stupidest thing I have ever read!!!!

The only reason this is a best seller is Corporatons and Government bought it to tell you change is Good whether it makes sense(common) or not. If I could give a -25 I would!!!

1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Residue from the Reagan years in a cute new package...

Given the basic argument of the text, I believe that 'Bend-over for corporate downsizing,' would be a more accurate title. Give this book to let your employees know how little they actually matter.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

What Well-Publicized Trash!

'Who Moved My Cheese?' is very disappointing with respect to the price to poor quality book production ratio, the silly, kindergarten-like drawings and the banal nature of the author's message. It seems that certain readers, who praised this book as a panacea for changes in one's personal life, have unfortunately missed the point. This book was obviously written to excuse the callous changes, which managers impose on the workplace. After all,as listed in the book, it is endorsed by managers from more than 70 corporations. As such, this book is abominable. The degrading manner in which employees are threatened with change or loose your jobs and are portrayed as simple brained mice or 'littlepeople' is highly objectionable, insulting and shameful! Let's brush aside this well-publicized, biased trash. If you would like to read a really entertaining, hilarious book about the workplace and see, for a change, what those 'littlepeople' think about management follies and 'vices', then the American satire 'Management by Vice' by C.B. Don, is highly recommended instead!

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Cute and Valuable --- but Potentially Dangerous

I never intended to even pick this book up. The title didn¿t particularly interest me. But it turned out to be an appealing little story, and a useful little handbook for dealing with change management at all levels and in all aspects of life. Normally, I deem books like this condescending, but the story here is so typical and essential, I thought that it could actually be effective --- especially for those in upper management, whose comprehension levels are usually somewhat limited. My fear, though, is that the book might do no more than serve as a downsizing handbook for upper management. Nonetheless, there is value to be gained from the story --- value that can help one deal with any kind of change, be it job-related or in one¿s personal life.

1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Good book

Awesome book for kids and adults it teaches a lesson that change can be good

Hannah 2 Chloe

What? That wouldn't work! I was making sure that... you know... didn't happen... between them... and it would be just plain wrong anyways!