Not wanting to appear the resident dissident, I quickly read the first copy that crossed my desk. Now, when I said “quickly read,” I wasn’t kidding. You can knock this book out in a little over half an hour. But, don’t think that just because it’s a quick-read the message is one to be taken lightly. Quite the contrary — Who Moved My Cheese? is packed with valuable, possibly life-altering information. Imagine that. How could a parable about two mice and two littlepeople living in a maze possibly change your life? Well, for starters, it’s all about change and how change has unlimited potential depending on how you deal with it, both in your work and your home life.

Through superb story telling, the story of Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw unfolds. The mice, Sniff and Scurry, and the littlepeople, Hem and Haw, all share a common goal. Find cheese. Being the instinctual types, Sniff and Scurry go about their daily routine of searching for cheese purely by following their metaphorical noses. Hem and Haw, being littlepeople with established belief patterns and paradigms already in place, go out daily looking for cheese with an intellectual approach. Theirs was the “I think, therefore I am” and “If I ignore it long enough, it will just go away” syndrome. One day they all happen upon the same large stockpile of cheese, relocate their homes to closer proximity of the new cheese, and after time settle in to a daily routine of eating and doing what mice and littlepeople do.

To make a short story even shorter, the cheese eventually runs out. Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw now must find new cheese, while the moral of the story unravels as the different personality profiles search for and find, or do not find, new cheese. Aware of the diminishing cheese stockpile, Sniff and Scurry were relatively prepared. They scampered off out into the maze sniffing out and following-up the possibilities. Eventually Sniff and Scurry’s detective nose-work paid off and they found cheese.

Hem and Haw were not so quick to respond in a progressive way. First dismay, then shock, then anger, until they finally understood if they didn’t find cheese, they wouldn’t live the lifestyles they’d become accustomed to. Only after overanalyzing their situation did Hem and Haw decide what to do about their bleak situation. Turns out, Hem is the stodgy profile and Haw decides to forge the maze alone. Throughout the story you get the impression that Haw is “paving the way” for Hem. Haw eventually finds cheese, but only after he goes through a growing transition while scribbling “the writing on the wall.”

The writing on the wall isn’t some new paradigm for a perfect life, but if applied it may certainly improve your lifestyle. Haw learned the steps slowly, through trial and error, and with much fear and trepidation applied his new understanding, and now Haw is a changed littleperson. So, what is “the writing on the wall?” Basically it’s the understanding to recognize change and accept it, even enjoy it. Take a look at the writings so eloquently scribbled on the maze walls:

Johnson’s parable is written at a level where even those resistant to change can see the benefits and truth to living with change. Who Moved My Cheese? begins with “The Story Behind The Story,” steps into “A Gathering” where “The Story of Who Moved My Cheese?” gracefully unfolds. At the end of the book is “A Discussion” where participants from the earlier gathering meet again to discuss the parallels they see reflected in their own lives through the parable. Throughout the book Johnson urges us to recognize Change Happens; Anticipate Change; Monitor Change; Adapt to Change Quickly; Change; Enjoy Change; Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again. Over and over, each of these concepts is illustrated concisely.

Being flexible and comfortable with change is not as easy as it sounds. Although some people have an innate ability to move with the flow, for others it takes being jarred out of their comfort zones by the cheese being pulled out from under them (a.k.a. company downsizing). Are you comfortable with change? In these days of uncertain employment futures, can you afford to not be ready for change? Do you sniff the cheese frequently to detect change? How’s the cheese in your personal life?

Anticipate change, move with it, and enjoy it. It’s a simple theory and yet therapists make millions trying to help people cope with change. Save yourself a lot of money, buy the book Who Moved My Cheese? and before you know it you’ll be asking yourself and others who you are in the book. Or, if you think even a “quick read” is too much to invest in changing your life, I hear Cliff Notes are now available. If reading it yourself isn’t enticing enough, I’ll bet there’s someone you know who can’t stand change, Give them a copy.