Who Moved My Cheese?: Book summary and Review

The author, Dr. Spencer Johnson talked about THE MAZE where he mentioned that 30% of a person's time runs through the Maze.

He talks about “Cheese” as an opportunity, job, relationship, health, money, success, house, etc.

This cheesy story has improved the lives of many. The principles mentioned in this book can be applied in personal life and business life as well. The story of this book  dispenses the essence of: 

• Starting the journey to hunt for your desired cheese, 
• Keep exploring, and 
• Overcome past beliefs and fears, etc.

The core of the story is “How to reform yourself and be happy in the world where everything is continuously changing”.

                              The Story of Who Moved My Cheese?

There are four characters in the story:

Two mice (Sniff and Scurry) own a simple brain and Two Little person (Hem and Haw) has a complicated brain and rely on their past experience.

Their journey starts with the hunt for cheese in their life. 

Hunt for Cheese: Take action 

All four characters used to run through the maze for several days. One Day, they found Cheese Station C that had a lot of cheese and they all were very happy. They all started visiting Cheese Station C every day and enjoyed the new morsels of cheese.

After some time, Hem and Haw's excitement reduced since they were aware of the availability of cheese. Now, they have become very comfortable and found security in their life. They moved near to Cheese Station C and set up their social life there.

On the other side, Sniff and Scurry were excited and investigated the supply Cheese Station C. They noticed the availability of cheese has reduced and been ready to take action in the future.

Action Taking Day

One day, both mice and little person visited Cheese Station C but there was a difference in the attitude of both. How?

1. An attitude of Mice

Sniff (smells the direction) and Scurry (takes a lead). Their brain was very simple so answers for problems were very simple. ). They have noticed the supply of cheese was getting smaller every day. Therefore, they started to hunt the new source of cheese without wasting their time. 

2. An attitude of Little person

Hem and Haw hasn’t noticed the availability of cheese at station C and was not prepared for this situation. They relied on their complex brain but they were disheartened, disappointed, and yelled at each other when couldn’t manage to get cheese. They went home with hope. The next day, the same episode was repeated but their complicated mind with the belief held them back. They kept coming to the same station C.

Fear: Killer of energy

After some regular visits, Hem and Haw were tired and frustrated for not getting cheese. Then Haw decided to find the new source through the maze but Hem didn’t take action.

Therefore, Haw started his journey of finding a new Cheese Station. With time, Haw was losing his energy, and fear of not getting new cheese was instigating him to go back to cheese station C. Somehow, He kept moving and found little cheese at some places.  All the time he was full of doubts and fear. 

After some regular visits, Hem and Haw were tired and frustrated for not getting cheese. Then Haw decided to find the new source through the maze but Hem didn’t take action.

 

Change is inevitable: Time to find new cheese

In search of new cheese, Haw overcame his fear and realized its much better situation now than having fear of no cheese. Here and there thought out the maze he found some cheese for his survival. This boosted him to find Cheese Station. To motivate Hem, he started writing on the wall so that one day Hem might come out of the comfortable zone. Then these saying would help him. He wrote on the wall “Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old”.

On the way, he realized his fear made things worse otherwise he would have taken initiative long before without wasting so much time at old Cheese Station. Subsequently, he wrote on the wall “Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese”. He was happy to find a new way and trusting the journey. Now he started enjoying the journey and breeze inside the maze rejuvenated him.

He imagined himself sitting around his favorite cheese. Then he wrote on the wall “Imagine yourself enjoying your new cheese leads you to it”. He recognized the positive side of change and moved with full energy and strength through the maze. He realized “it is safer to search in the maze than remain in a cheeseless situation”. As Haw moves, he was in a continuous state of learning new things and changing his belief. Finally, he concluded his new beliefs have come up with new behavior.

Finally, Haw found Cheese Station N and met old mice friends, Sniff, and Scurry. He enjoyed cheese with them. Now, Haw has mastered the art of change from this journey of finding new cheese and got a reward at the end.

                              Conclusion of the story

We should embrace the change and overcome the past fear. FEAR shouldn’t make your path hazy or opaque with no power and strength. Fear drains out strength and Inhibitor of change lies within us.

Changes help in finding new opportunities around the world. Keep investigating your cheese supply and explore the new areas around you instead of getting stuck in your comfort zone for the sake of not taking action. Gain momentum and keep moving.  

In the end

Haw has written on the largest wall of Cheese station N:

• Change happens
• Anticipate change
• Monitor change
• Adapt to change quickly
• Enjoy Change
• Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again and again

Question for readers

Who are you in the story?

SNIFF?

SCURRY?

HEM?

HAW?

WHO MOVED MY CHEESE? a book can be purchased online to enjoy the complete journey of mice and little person through the maze and how Haw found cheese station at the end.

KEEP READING, KEEP SHINING