Who Moved My Cheese? By Spencer Johnson’s is a self-help book on business, happiness and meeting one’s goals. In this book “Who Moved My Cheese? “, the author describes the search for business success through the eyes of four characters living in a maze. These characters search for the cheese in the maze, the cheese is all they need to be happy. However, the cheese is constantly moving out of reach. He explains that cheese is a metaphor for all you need to find success. He explains how to find happiness with little or no expense and how to experience inner-peace. In this book, he helps readers learn how to lead a fulfilling life.
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Patrick Spencer Johnson
Spencer Johnson was born in Watertown November 24, 1938 , South Dakota, graduated from Notre Dame High School of Sherman Oaks, California, in 1957, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Southern California in 1963,and his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Johnson lived in Hawaii and New Hampshire. He was employed by the Harvard Business School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. He died in San Diego on July 3, 2017 at the age of 78. Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. His best known for the Value Tales series of children’s books, and for his 1998 self-help book Who Moved My Cheese?, which recurred on the New York Times Bestseller list, on the Publishers Weekly Hardcover nonfiction list.
Who Moved My Cheese? Short Summary
Who Moved My Cheese? is written in Allegory based it is a literary device, an allegory is a narrative in which a character, place, or event is used to deliver a broader message about real-world issues and occurrences. Authors have used allegory throughout history in all forms of art to illustrate or convey complex ideas and concepts in ways that are comprehensible or striking to its viewers, readers, or listeners.
Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way To Deal With Change In Your Work And In Your Life
Who Moved My Cheese? is a simple parable that reveals profound truths about change. It is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a ‘Maze’ and look for ‘Cheese’ to nourish them and make them happy. Two are mice named Sniff and Scurry. And two are little people’ – beings the size of mice who look and act a lot like people. Their names are Hem and Haw. ‘Cheese’ is a metaphor for what you want to have in life – whether it’s a good job, a loving relationship, money, a possession, good health, or spiritual peace of mind. And ‘The Maze’ is where you look for what you want – the organization you work in, or the family or community you live in.
In the story, the characters are faced with unexpected change. Eventually, one of them deals with it successfully, and writes what he has learned from his experience on the maze walls.
When you come to see ‘The Handwriting on the Wall’, you can discover for yourself how to deal with change, so that you can enjoy less stress and more success (however you define it) in your work and in your life. Written for all ages, this story takes less than an hour to read, but its unique insights can last for a lifetime.
Parts of All of Us
The Simple and The Complex
The four imaginary characters
depicted in this story —
the mice: “Sniff” and “Scurry;’ and
the Little people: “Hem” and “Haw” —
are intended to represent the simple and
the complex parts of ourselves, regardless of
our age, gender, race or nationality.
Sometimes we may act like
Sniff
Who sniffs out change early, or (Sniff tends to sniff out change early)
Scurry
Who scurries into action, or (Scurry has a habit of scurrying into action)
Hem
Who denies and resists change as he fears
it will lead to something worse, or
Haw
Who learns to adapt in time when he sees
changing can lead to something better!
Whatever parts of us we choose to use,
we all share something in common:
a need to find our way in the Maze
and succeed in changing times.
features four characters: two mice, “Sniff” and “Scurry,” and two Little people, human metaphor, “Hem” and “Haw.” (The names of the Little people are taken from the phrase “hem and haw,” a term for indecisiveness.) They live in a maze, a representation of one’s environment, and look for cheese, representative of happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans, paired off and travelled the lengthy corridors searching for cheese. One day both groups happen upon a cheese-filled corridor at “Cheese Station C.” Content with their find, the humans establish routines around their daily intake of cheese, slowly becoming arrogant in the process.
The beginning of the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” is started by One day Sniff and Scurry arrive at “Cheese Station C” to find no cheese left, but they are not surprised. Noticing the cheese supply dwindling, they have mentally prepared beforehand for the arduous but inevitable task of finding more cheese. Leaving “Cheese Station C” behind, they begin their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrive at Cheese Station C only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem demands, “Who moved my cheese?” The humans have counted on the cheese supply to be constant, and so are unprepared for this eventuality. After deciding that the cheese is indeed gone they get angry at the unfairness of the situation. Haw suggests a search for new cheese, but Hem is dead-set in his disappointment and dismisses the proposal.
Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry have found “Cheese Station N,” and new cheese. But back at Cheese Station C, Hem and Haw are affected by their lack of cheese and blame each other for their problem. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. However, Hem is comforted by his old routine and is frightened about the unknown. He knocks the idea again. After a while of being in denial, the humans remain without cheese. One day, having discovered his debilitating fears, Haw begins to chuckle at the situation and stops taking himself so seriously. Realizing he should simply move on, Haw enters the maze, but not before chiselling “If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct” on the wall of Cheese Station C for his friend to ponder.
Still fearful of his trek, Haw jots “What Would You Do If You Weren’t afraid?” on the wall and, after thinking about that, he begins his venture. Still plagued with worry (perhaps he has waited too long to begin his search…), Haw finds some bits of cheese that nourish him and he is able to continue his search. Haw realizes that the cheese has not suddenly vanished, but has dwindled from continual eating. After a stop at an empty cheese station, Haw begins worrying about the unknown again. Brushing aside his fears, Haw’s new mindset allows him to again enjoy life. He has even begun to smile again! He is realizing that “When you move beyond your fear, you feel free.” After another empty cheese station, Haw decides to go back for Hem with the few bits of new cheese he has managed to find.
Uncompromising, Hem refuses the new cheese, to his friend’s disappointment. With knowledge learned along the way, Haw heads back into the maze. Getting deeper into the maze, inspired by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw leaves a trail of writings on the wall (The Handwriting On the Wall”). These clarify his own thinking and give him hope that his friend will find aid in them during his search for new cheese. Still traveling, Haw one day comes across Cheese Station N, abundant with cheese, including some varieties that are strange to him, and he realizes he has found what he was looking for. After eating, Haw reflects on his experience. He ponders a return to see his old friend. But Haw decides to let Hem find his own way. Finding the largest wall in Cheese Station N, he writes.
KEY POINTS OF THE BOOK “Who Moved My Cheese?“
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! Savour The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again They Keep Moving The Cheese.
Cautious from past experience, Haw now inspects Cheese Station N daily and explores different parts of the maze regularly to prevent any complacency from setting in. After hearing movement in the maze one day, Haw realizes someone is approaching the station. Unsure, Haw hopes that it is his friend Hem who has found the way.
Quotes from The book “Who Moved My Cheese?”
If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct.
The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Find New Cheese.
It Is Safer To Search In The Maze Than Remain In A Cheese-less Situation
The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Find New Cheese.
“What you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.”
Who “Moved My Cheese” Analysis and Conclusion
Keep moving! When you accept the fear of uncertainty then life becomes an adventure. When you accept the adventure, you will play to stay ahead of the game.
Whatever parts of us we choose to use, we all share something in common: a need to find our way in the maze and succeed in changing times.
The key lesson here is to not get too comfortable with your current situation. Be aware that things are always changing. Pay attention to the bigger picture.
Don’t let fear hold you back
Fear is explored throughout the book. As the people were comfortable with their existing situation when they needed to find new “cheese” fear set in. They were fearful if other good cheese existed.