Patrick Oconnell
Who Moved My Cheese?, written by Spencer Johnson and published in 1998, is a motivational business fable that describes four reactions to change. The story is written as a parable about two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two Littlepeople, Hem and Haw, during their hunt for cheese in a maze. The Cheese is a metaphor for what one wants in life, such as a good job, a loving relationship, money, or health. The Maze represents the environment in which one seeks these desires, such as an organization or a community. The story's core message is that things constantly change, and adapting quickly to these changes leads to greater satisfaction. The book became a New York Times business bestseller and has sold almost 30 million copies worldwide as of 2018.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Spencer Johnson |
| Year of Publication | 1998 |
| Genre | Fable, Parable, Business, Motivational |
| Characters | Sniff, Scurry, Hem, Haw |
| Theme | Change, Reactions to Change, Adaptation |
| Setting | Maze |
| Symbolism | Mice: Simple-mindedness, Instinct; Littlepeople: Humans; Cheese: Happiness, Success, Fulfillment, What You Want in Life |
| Narrative Style | Allegory, Third-person |
| Narrative Perspective | Multiple |
| Narrative Tone | Amusing, Enlightening |
| Target Audience | General, Businesses, Managers, Individuals |
| Impact | New York Times Bestseller, 30 million copies sold worldwide |
| Related Works | Who Cut the Cheese? (Parody), Who Moved My Soap? (Parody), I Moved Your Cheese (Parody) |
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What You'll Learn
The four characters
Sniff and Scurry are simple-minded and instinctive. They run through the maze every day, looking for cheese, and are always ready to move on when the supply runs out. They are not surprised when the cheese at Station C is depleted and quickly begin their hunt for new cheese, eventually finding a new stash at Station N.
Hem and Haw, on the other hand, represent a different attitude towards change. They search for a special kind of cheese that will make them happy and fulfilled. When they find Cheese Station C, they settle there and quickly become accustomed to the abundance of cheese. They do not notice the cheese supply dwindling until one day, they wake up to find it gone. Hem is angry and demands, "Who moved my cheese?" Unable to accept that the cheese is gone, they waste time and energy hoping for its return.
Haw eventually overcomes his fears and decides to explore the maze in search of new cheese. He writes about his journey and the lessons he learns on the walls of the maze, hoping that Hem will follow him. Haw's new mindset allows him to enjoy life again, and he eventually finds new cheese at Station N, where he is reunited with Sniff and Scurry.
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The hunt for cheese
"Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" is a 1998 motivational business fable by Spencer Johnson. It describes four reactions to change, represented by four characters: two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two "littlepeople" (miniature humans), Hem and Haw. These characters live in a maze and look for cheese, which is a metaphor for what one wants in life, such as a good job, a loving relationship, money, or health.
Initially, the mice and littlepeople pair off and search for cheese in the maze. Eventually, they discover a spot where their favourite cheese is regularly available, called Cheese Station C. The mice, Sniff and Scurry, continue to run through the entire maze each day, while the littlepeople, Hem and Haw, settle at Cheese Station C, growing accustomed to the abundance of cheese.
One day, the supply of cheese at Station C runs out. The mice, who have been keeping track of the dwindling supply, are not surprised and immediately begin their hunt for new cheese. Hem and Haw, on the other hand, are angered and upset by the disappearance of their cheese. They return to Station C the next day, hoping to find their cheese, but are met with the same cheeseless place. Haw begins to accept the reality of the situation and thinks of searching for new cheese, but Hem remains stubborn and refuses to let go of the old cheese.
Haw eventually overcomes his fears and sets out into the maze alone. He finds crumbs of cheese scattered here and there, which nourishes him and allows him to continue his search. He writes about his journey and the lessons he learns on the walls of the maze, hoping that Hem will follow him. Finally, Haw arrives at Cheese Station N, which is stocked with all kinds of cheese. He reflects on his journey and the lessons he has learned about change and adaptability.
The story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" serves as a parable for dealing with change in one's work and personal life. It encourages readers to embrace change, take action, and adapt to new circumstances, just as the characters in the story do. The book has been widely popular, selling almost 30 million copies worldwide and spending over 200 weeks on bestseller lists.
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Reactions to change
"Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" is a 1998 motivational book by Spencer Johnson. It describes four reactions to change through four characters: two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two "littlepeople", Hem and Haw.
The mice, Sniff and Scurry, are simple-minded and instinctive. They run the same path every day, eating cheese when they find it, but are always ready to move on. On the other hand, the littlepeople, Hem and Haw, search for a special kind of cheese that makes them happy and fulfilled by keeping track of where they have found it before.
One day, Sniff and Scurry arrive at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left. They are not surprised, as they had noticed the cheese supply dwindling, and had mentally prepared for the task of finding more cheese. They leave Cheese Station C and begin their hunt for new cheese. Hem and Haw, on the other hand, arrive at Cheese Station C and are angered and annoyed to find no cheese. They had become accustomed to the daily intake of cheese and were unprepared for this change. After realizing the cheese is indeed gone, they go home hungry.
The next day, Hem and Haw return to Cheese Station C only to find it still empty. Haw starts to accept the situation and thinks of searching for new cheese, but Hem is stuck in his victimized mindset and refuses to consider this proposal. Haw eventually decides to move on and explore the maze, leaving Hem behind. He finds crumbs of cheese scattered around and other cheese stations that are already depleted. He returns to Cheese Station C and tells Hem about the other cheese, but Hem still refuses to budge. Haw continues exploring, writing observations about his journey on the walls of the maze, until he arrives at Cheese Station N, which is stocked with all kinds of cheese.
Haw's journey represents a reaction to change that involves accepting and adapting to new circumstances. He faces his fears, embraces uncertainty, and takes action to find a solution. This contrasts with Hem's reaction, which involves denial, resistance, and a refusal to move on. Haw's experience highlights the importance of embracing change, taking risks, and learning from them. By doing so, individuals can discover new opportunities and achieve success, just as Haw found a plentiful supply of cheese at Station N.
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The maze
The mice, Sniff and Scurry, run through the maze every day, following the same route and eating cheese when they find it. They are always ready to move on and find a new source of cheese. They do not get attached to any particular cheese station and are not surprised when the supply runs out.
The littlepeople, Hem and Haw, also search for cheese in the maze, but they are looking for a special kind that will make them happy and fulfilled. They keep track of where they have found cheese before and settle at Cheese Station C when they discover it, believing they have found their ideal source of cheese.
When the cheese at Station C runs out, Hem and Haw are confused and upset. They remain at the station for several days, growing frustrated and hungry. Eventually, Haw accepts that he must enter the maze again to find more cheese. He explores different parts of the maze and discovers crumbs of cheese and other depleted stations. He writes about his journey and the lessons he learns on the walls of the maze.
Haw eventually arrives at Cheese Station N, which is stocked with all kinds of cheese. He reflects on his journey and the lessons he has learned, hoping that Hem will let go of his doubts and join him.
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Lessons from the story
"Who Moved My Cheese?" is a 1998 motivational book by Spencer Johnson, written in the style of a parable or business fable. The story describes four reactions to change through four characters: two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry", and two "littlepeople", "Hem" and "Haw". The story serves as a lesson in dealing with change in one's work and life. Here are some key lessons from the story:
Embrace Change
The story emphasizes the importance of embracing change rather than resisting it. When faced with an empty cheese station, Sniff and Scurry quickly adapt and move on, while Hem and Haw remain stuck, hoping for the old cheese to return. This illustrates that those who embrace change are better equipped to navigate life's challenges and find new opportunities.
Be Proactive
Instead of waiting for change to happen, be proactive and anticipate potential shifts. Sniff and Scurry, for example, noticed the cheese supply dwindling and mentally prepared for the task of finding new cheese. They didn't become complacent and were ready to take action when the change occurred.
Overcome Fear
Fear of the unknown can paralyze us and prevent us from moving forward. Haw initially struggled with fear and uncertainty when facing the maze alone. However, once he found the courage to move beyond his fear, he felt liberated and more confident in tackling new challenges.
Adapt Quickly
The story highlights the importance of adapting quickly to change. The quicker you let go of the old situation and embrace the new one, the sooner you can move forward and find success. Haw, for instance, wasted time and energy stuck in his old ways, while Sniff and Scurry quickly adapted to the change and found new cheese.
Learn from Experience
Throughout the story, Haw learns valuable lessons from his journey through the maze. He writes these lessons on the wall, hoping that Hem will follow his example. By reflecting on his experiences and applying what he has learned, Haw is able to navigate change more effectively.
Change is Inevitable
One of the key messages of the story is that change is inevitable. Things won't always stay the same, and it's important to accept this reality. By accepting that change will happen, you can be better prepared to deal with it when it occurs.
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Frequently asked questions
The book is a motivational business fable that describes four reactions to change. The story is about two mice and two "little people" who live in a maze and look for cheese, which is a metaphor for what you want in life.
The two mice are named Sniff and Scurry, and the two "little people" are named Hem and Haw.
One of the key lessons from the book is that things constantly change, so we must adapt. Another lesson is that the quicker we let go of old cheese, the sooner we can enjoy new cheese.
