Random book review...

Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson MD was a book required by my employer to be read. If there is one thing I hate about reading (yeah, me - who LOVES reading) it is being told that I have to read a certain book. We were actually requested to do this the last Tuesday in April - so like the 27th or so and I just today picked up this book and read it.

It was a VERY quick read (I read it in less than an hour in between helping customers and some chit-chat with co-workers) and I can see why the President asked us to read it.

The inside flap reads, "Who Moved my Cheese? is a simple parable that reveals profound truths about change. It is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a "Maze" and look for "Cheese" to nourish them and make them happy. ... "Cheese" is a metaphor for what you want to have in life - whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money, a possession, health or spiritual peace of mind. And "The Maze" is where you look for what you want - the organization you work in or the family or community you live in."

Four characters - Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw are in the maze looking for cheese. While Hem and Haw become complacent with the cheese in one section, Sniff and Scurry make sure to constantly be ready for change. Once the cheese is gone, so are Sniff and Scurry looking for new cheese...Hem and Haw, not so much though. Eventually though Haw realizes he's gonna have to look for more cheese and does. Hem - well, he doesn't ever do anything but what he's always done. Needless to say - he's not so well at the end of the story.

And the writing on the wall? It says -
* Having cheese makes you happy.
* The more important your cheese is to you the more you want to hold on to it.
* If you do not change, you can become extinct.
* What would you do if you weren't afraid?
* Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old.
* Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese.
* When you move beyond your fear, you feel free.
* Imagining myself enjoying new cheese even before I find it, leads me to it.
* The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.
* It is safer to search in the maze than remain in a cheeseless situation.
* Old beliefs do not lead you to new cheese.
* When you see that you can find and enjoy new cheese, you change course.
* Noticing small changes early helps you to adapt to the bigger changes that are to come.
* 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 and again - they keep moving the cheese.
* Move with the cheese and enjoy it!

So - what's your cheese? Is it time to change it or look for new? If you're struggling at work or at home with your cheese, I would recommend this easy, quick read!