2021: The Year of Cheese!

I am sure, you must have read or heard about the book, “WHO MOVED MY CHEESE” by Spencer Johnson, MD. It’s one of the best books on Change Management and one of the reasons for its popularity lies in the way the book is presented. Pictures and large fonts & to make it amazing it has a story of 2 Mice Sniff & Scurry alongside the story of little fellows, Hem & Haw. Afterall, we love stories. Isn’t it?

The image below gives a simple understanding of the characters in the book. Image courtesy: starlite.com.sg

In this article, I don’t intend to share the synopsis of the book or give my views on the book, but there is one lesson that I could resonate over the last few months & today I would like to share the most important lesson from the book.

“Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old”

This statement I personally believe changes the course of action in the book as well in People’s life. When you read the book, before this statement occurs, the book is about the experience of the 4 characters but from here on it becomes a life changing narrative. This is where the first step towards finding the “Cheese” comes in play.

The year 2020 saw a remarkable change in many people’s life, irrespective of either being in Job or in business. For many it was a shock to see NO CHEESE anymore at their daily cheese station. Many lost their jobs or income source & it was during this time many acted according to the characters of the book, some were like sniff and scurry, immediate to look for new cheese and sniffing and scurrying around for new cheese and as the year progressed, these people had a new Cheese for them.

There were many like Haw, initially unable to accept the reality but later started sniffing around for new cheese and many actually got some cheese on the way. Few were like HEM, crying, blaming, shouting at every one else for the loss of their cheese. Scared to even step out & take some action but hoping some one will put the cheese back again at the empty cheese station.

I am sure in the year 2021, many people would want to continue to be like the character, Haw. the guy who resists change at the start but eventually set’s out to find his new cheese like Sniff & Scurry did, instead of just waiting like Hem to get the cheese served to him.

As you progress throughout the year, there are many “Cheese stations” you will come across and chances are you would get the Cheese you are looking for & the brain will trick us to get comfortable with the new cheese station & the cheese but don’t forget the empty cheese station in the year 2020 that most of us were totally unprepared for. 

Whether you are in business or in Job, we all need our Cheese & now it’s the perfect time to smell the cheese. Sometimes, we tend to be like Hem, we want the cheese and we want it all the time, it’s like we seek a comfort job/ business which should sail smoothly & we want to be happy every day.

The last 30 days have been a journey of amazing adventure for many, for some it would be high energy & actions, for some a time to introspect, for some it would have by now become a routine similar to previous years. Some would have been struggling last year would have started a new job/ business by now & looking to stabilize in their new job/ venture.  

January is almost over & with each passing day; we will move closer to the end of 2021 as well & you don’t want to be in the same situation at the end of the year? Do You? So, with the cheese you must have earned till now, its time to do a quick analysis whether it’s good or getting old & if it’s getting old, you know what you must do.

The success of anything we want in our life depends on our adaptability to change, we can one of these characters, Sniff/ Scurry/ Haw. All three adapted to change and sooner or later they will find the “Cheese”. Faster the adaptability to change, higher the chances of Finding the new Cheese!!

A lesson that will make my year different! Because I am smelling my “Cheese” quite often. Will you be doing the same? & if you have read the book, let me know one thing that you could resonate the most from the Book, “Who Moved my Cheese?”

Wishing you a Happy Year of Cheese!! Happy 2021.

#Changemanagement, #selfevaluation, #selfanalysis, #moveahead,