Change Management | Oliver's Blog

Find out how “Who moved my cheese” inspired my after reading it twice:

After two years in business the company I worked for faced tough times (the new economy just collapsed).To prepare us the management gave us “Who moved by cheese” by Spencer Johnson. It was the company’s goal to turn me, a software developer and consultant, into a sales person. Thus I gave Johnson’s book a try.

The first time I read it, I was disappointed. All common sense - no new insights. It went right into the bookshelf. Period. (And as of today I have not become a sales person.)

Half a year later I personally felt inside “I need to change”. I needed a new job in a new company. I avoided taking action or making a decision for weeks and weeks. I did not search for a new company or send out a resume. Guess what, one Saturday “Who moved by cheese” found its way in my hands and I started reading. Everything I could say is “Yes, I went too often to the same old place not finding any cheese”.

A couple of hours later I literally stood up motivated to make change happen. Two weeks later I had a new job, more money and responsibility. Just to be clear: This was not the result of successful planning. It’s been a combination of taking action and luck that made it turn out good.

Who moved my cheese - distilled:

Here is the essence for those who can’t wait to take action and change:

Change Happens: They Keep Moving

The Cheese Anticipate Change: Get Ready For The Cheese To Move

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

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

Change: Move With The Cheese

Enjoy Change: Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!

Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again: They Keep Moving The Cheese.

(Taken from “Who moved by cheese” page 74)

Inspiration:

My times of change are by far not always fun. It is like taking a ride on a rollercoaster: My mood goes up, then down and at the end up again. I allow myself to have times not knowing how to move on. I lean back, take a break and (important) then go back to change my situation. I always read, “Who moved my cheese” when I feel I have to change but avoid it. The time from avoidance to action reduced significantly since then. To me, “Who moved my cheese” is a great source of motivation time and again.

For you: Make change happen, stop avoiding it. Get the book and read it from cover to cover. Then act, better sooner than later.

As a manager: Be prepared that people make change happen. However, it might not be the direction your are thinking of. Show character and support them.