Who Moved The Cheese?...My Cheese Workbook Journal

Recently the IEEE R5 Houston Section partnered with IEEE-USA Career & Professional Development team to facilitate a webinar "Who Moved The Cheese?...My Cheese Workbook Journal". It was surprising to learn that during these challenging times of Coronavirus that the book "Who Moved My Cheese?" is still very relevant in teaching lessons in leading change effectively today. The webinar is grounded in the books principals and helped participants start their personal Cheese Workbook Journal to note the challenges in leading change at home, at work, or in their community.

We constantly deal with unexpected changes in our lives, be it in our career or relationship, among other things. It’s especially hard to move on to a new path when you are already settled with your present situation.

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal With Change In Your Work and In Your Life is a book about Moving with change, written in the style of a business fable. It is written by motivational speaker and management consultant, Dr. Spencer Johnson, and became a New York Times’ bestseller in 1998 it has sold more than 30 Million Copies and translated into more than 30 different languages. The webinar had more than three hundred participants from more than 10 countries participate.

Although the four primary characters in the story were two mice, named Sniff and Scurry, and two little people, named Hem and Haw. The story follows their journey to find more cheese. Cheese is a metaphor for whatever nourishes us, whether it's a good job, a loving relationship, or peace of mind. So in our journal we answered the question Cheese:  What we want to have in life?

The “Maze” represents where we spend time looking for what you want. So in our journal we answered the question Maze: Where so you spend your time looking for what you want?

Workbook is our metaphor for working through our experiences from the webinar discussion pertaining to change. So our Workbook Journal is our notes of challenges in leading change at home, at work, or in our communities. In reflecting in our journal…what do you want in life and where do you spend your time looking for it?

The characters are relatable because each represents our common attitude toward change: Sniff has the ability to sense change, while Scurry is quick and mentally acute. The two mice represent the part of us that is simple. On the other hand, the two little people embody our complex parts. Hem and Haw are a little hesitant to change, but Haw eventually realizes that he needs to move with change. In our journal which one of the characters do we most likely identify with when change is taking place around us? How do our family members or colleagues identify with each of the characters when change takes place?

Upon discovering “new cheese”, he left a trail for Hem through the “handwritings on the wall” as he reflected upon his discoveries:

Change Happens: They Keep Moving the Cheese

John Maxwell once said that change is inevitable, and growth is optional. We have to acknowledge the fact that the things we want in life are constantly changing. Acceptance is the first step in moving forward.

Anticipate Change: Get Ready for the Cheese to Move

Sniff and Scurry were not surprised when they found out there are no cheese left in Cheese Station C because they already expected that the cheese will soon run out. One thing we learned from these mice is that we should not succumb to complacency even if we are doing well. We should always have a Plan B. Better be prepared than regret later.

Monitor Change: Smell the Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old

You should be receptive to your environment in order to observe the changes around you. Sniff already noticed that the cheese supply in Station C is decreasing so he and Scurry looked for another source in the maze.

Adapt To Change Quickly: The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, the Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese

As soon as Sniff and Scurry noticed that there is no cheese left in Station C, they didn’t waste any time, and left in search of a new cheese, unlike the two little people who tend to over analyse things.

So what do you do when change happens? Just go with it. Nothing good will happen if you deny it or just complain about it. Just like what the book says, “It is safer to search in the maze than to remain in a cheeseless situation.”

Change: Move with the Cheese

Hem was hesitant to leave Cheese Station C because that was his comfort zone. What is holding Hem back? Fear. He was frightened of the unknown that’s why he refused to move on. On the other hand, Haw realizes that he has to overcome this fear in order to find a new cheese.

Enjoy Change!: Savour the Adventure and Enjoy the Taste Of New Cheese!

Now that you accepted change, enjoy the new cheese! In the story, Haw soon appreciated the change of pace and the thrill of hunt. Now, he’s ready to embark on a new journey in his life, and he couldn’t wait for his friend Haw to follow his path.

Be Ready To Change Quickly and Enjoy It Again: They Keep Moving the Cheese

Again, as you enjoy the new cheese, be wary of your surroundings because another one will come soon. You’ll encounter success and failure along the way, but the learnings and experience will be all worth it.

Like the characters in the backstory, we will learn that these lessons are applicable to the circumstances we encounter in our personal life and in our career. It will change your thinking and attitude towards change. It’s ideal to be like Sniff and Scurry who are always ready and adaptive, but it’s not too late to be like Hem who learned embraced change.

Ready for a change? Let Christopher Sanderson know if he can help guide you with your journey in pursuit of new cheese. Some additional articles that you might enjoy along your journey:

VUCA Leadership through Business Crisis: In short, strategic leaders must succeed in an environment marked by Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity #VUCA

Who Moved My Cheese? & LEAN Six Sigma: LEAN Six Sigma uses a collective team effort to improve performance and remove waste (such as Defects, Overproduction, Waiting, Non-Utilized Talent, Transportation, Inventory, Motion, and Extra-Processing) referred to as D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E.

“Organizational Effectiveness” Building Dynasty Teams: In today’s economic, quality, and demand for efficiency times; there will be organizational changes, acquisitions, and casualties along the way. Unfortunately, the casualties will be losing meaningful purpose, lost of culture values, quality, safety and customer satisfaction.

Your thoughts and feedback are greatly appreciated.