Who Moved My Cheese? A Book by Spencer Johnson

Who Moved My Cheese? is a story about change that takes place in a Maze where four amusing characters look for “Cheese”-cheese being a metaphor for what we want to have in life, whether it is a job, a relationship, money, a big house, freedom, health, recognition, spiritual peace, or even an activity like jogging or golf.

One of the many real-life examples comes from Charlie Jones, a well-respected broadcaster for NBC- TV, who revealed that hearing the story of “Who Moved My Cheese?” saved his career. His job as a broadcaster is unique, but the principles he learned can be used by anyone.

Here's what happened: Charlie had worked hard and had done a great job of broadcasting. Track and Field events at an earlier Olympic Games, so he was surprised and upset when his boss told him he'd been removed from these showcase events for the next Olympics and assigned to Swimming and Diving.

Not knowing these sports as well, he was frustrated. He felt unappreciated and he became angry. He said he felt it wasn't fair! His anger began to affect everything he did. Then, he heard the story of “Who Moved My Cheese?”

After reading that story, he laughed at himself and changed his attitude. He realized that his boss had just “moved his cheese.”So he adapted. He learned the two new games in this process.

Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived four characters who ran through a maze looking for cheese to nourish then and make them happy. Two were mice named “Sniff” and “Scurry” and two were little people named “Hem” and “Haw”. One day all of them were in a search of their own special cheese in maze. Hem and Haw found out cheese one day in the corridors of Cheese section C. Sniff and Scurry also found the cheese and whenever they needed t...

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...cheese. He reflected on the mistakes he had made in the past and used them to plan for his future. He knew that you could learn to deal with change. You could be more aware of the need to keep things simple, be flexible, and move quickly. You did not need to overcomplicate matters or confuse yourself with fearful beliefs. You could notice when the little changes began so that you would be better prepared for the big change that might be coming. He knew he needed to adapt faster, for if you do not adapt in time, you might not adapt at all.

In this story Sniff was a character who analyzed the situation and sees the change early and Scurry goes into action immediately. Whereas Haw experiences from the past and then adapt the present situation and Hem always wanted to stay in the familiar territory and he didn’t want to deal with the change and also not want to see it.