Who Moved My Cheese?

Introduction

"Who Moved My Cheese?" by Spencer Johnson is a motivational fable that explores how people deal with change.

Story

The story centers around four characters living in a maze and searching for cheese.

• There are two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two Little people resembling humans, Hem and Haw. The Little people's names derive from the phrase "hem and haw", a term for indecisiveness.
• Maze represents one's environment, symbolizes the unpredictable nature of life.
• Cheese represents what you desire in life, such as security, happiness, relationships or success.

The characters initially find a plentiful of cheese supply in "Cheese Station C" and settle into a comfortable routine. However, the cheese eventually disappears, forcing them to adapt.

While possessing simple brains and good instincts, Sniff and Scurry represent those who are adaptable and expect change.

• They, having previously observed the cheese supply dwindling, quickly accept the situation, head back into the maze and find new cheese.
• They manage to find an abundance of new cheese at "Cheese Station N".
  

While possessing complex minds filled with emotions and beliefs, Hem and Haw symbolize resistance to change.

• Angered and annoyed, Hem yells, "What! No Cheese? Who moved my cheese?"
• Hem becomes fearful and denies the reality of the missing cheese. Hem denies and resists change as he fears it will lead to something worse.
• Haw, on the other hand, eventually accepts the situation and heads to the maze hoping for a change. Getting deeper into the maze, inspired by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw continues his searching journey and eventually come across "Cheese Station N".

Summary

As Hem wrote on the largest wall in Cheese Station N,

• 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
• They keep moving the cheese.