Who Moved My Cheese

e is no straight and easy corridor along ch we travel free and unhampered, a maze of passages, ough which we must seek our way, t and confused, now and again ecked in a blind alley. always, if we have faith, oor will open for us, perhaps one that we ourselves uld ever have thought of, one that will ultimately ve good for us. -A. J. Cronin

Who Moved My Cheese? -A Summary of the StoryPresented by Traveling Coacheswww.travelingcoaches.com

Author: Spencer Johnson, M.D.

The Story

Once upon a time . . .

Four little characters who ran through a maze looking for cheese to nourish them and make them happy

www.travelingcoaches.com

Four Imaginary Characters

The Mice

Sniff Scurry

The Littlepeople (two beings as small as

mice but who look and act a lot like people) Hem Haw


The Search for Cheese

Sniff and Scurry

Simple rodent brains Good instincts Complex brains Beliefs and emotions

Hem and Haw


The Maze

Corridors

and chambers

Some containing delicious cheese Dark corners and blind alleys leading nowhere Easy place to get lost

Secrets

allowing better life


Navigating the Maze

Sniff and Scurry

Trial and error Often lost Bumped into walls Ability to think and learn Perception clouded by beliefs and emotions

Hem and Haw


Cheese is found!

Each morning, our four characters race through the maze, eager to enjoy their cheese.


The Daily Grind

The mice

Dressed in their running gear Head over to Cheese Station C Also raced toward Cheese Station C each morning Until different routine set in . . .

The littlepeople


Lifestyle of Hem and Haw

Wake a little later Dress a little slower Walk to Cheese Secure Comfortable


Having Cheese Makes You Happy


The Littlepeople Attitude

Every night, they would return home full of cheese Every morning, they would confidently return for more We worked hard, we deserve this Cheese


Sniff and Scurry Routine

Also returning to their cheese each morning Sniffed, scratched, scurried around inspecting


No Cheese for Sniff and Scurry

But since Sniff and Scurry had noticed their diminishing supply of cheese, they werent surprised Prepared for the inevitable Knew instinctively what to do


No Cheese for Hem and Haw

Unaware of their changing environment Unprepared to find their Cheese missing Who Moved My Cheese? Its Not Fair!


Shock and Disbelief

Response

Unattractive Unproductive But understandable


Importance of Cheese

Meant a great deal more than just having enough to eat every day

Material things Good health Family Cozy cottage Position


While Sniff and Scurry Move OnHem and Haw continue to hem and haw

Ranted and raved about injustice Depression What about future plans?


The More Important Your Cheese Is To You The More You Want To Hold On To Itwww.travelingcoaches.com

The Next Day . . .

Hem and Haw returned to Cheese Station C expecting to somehow find their cheese By the way . . . Where are Sniff and Scurry?


Sniff and Scurry

Farther and farther into the maze Up and down corridors Single goal of finding more cheese Entered an area where they had never been


In the Meantime . . .

Hem and Haw still analyzing situation Angry about the injustice Looking for benefits Feeling entitled and betrayed


Hem vs. Haw

Haw decides to leave Hem doesnt want to

Its dangerous Im too old I might get lost Make a fool of myself We might fail


Hems Idea

Perhaps if we just work harder, well find that nothing has really changed The difference between activity and productivity


Waiting For Improvement

Littlepeople growing weak from hunger and stress Losing their edge Continue doing the same things over and over and . . .


Prepare to reenter the Maze or Wait until they put the Cheese back?www.travelingcoaches.com

Haws Wisdom

Sometimes things change and they are never the same again. This looks like one of those times. Thats life! Life moves on. And so should we.www.travelingcoaches.com

If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinctwww.travelingcoaches.com

Fear and Anxiety

What if there is no other Cheese in the maze? What if I am unable to find Cheese? Why didnt I get up and move with the Cheese sooner?


What Would You Do If You Werent Afraid?www.travelingcoaches.com

Back In The Maze

A little Cheese here and there Confusing Two steps forward, one step backward Not easier but better than Cheeseless situation


Looking Back

Cheese hadnt actually disappeared overnight Smaller and smaller Old and moldy Should have anticipated change


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


Haw Is Discouraged

Empty Cheese Station

Wants to give up Losing physical strength Continuing fear

What would I do if I werent afraid?


Movement In A New Direction Helps You Find New Cheesewww.travelingcoaches.com

When You Move Beyond Your Fear, You Feel Freewww.travelingcoaches.com

Imagining Myself Enjoying New Cheese Even Before I Find It Leads Me To Itwww.travelingcoaches.com

The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese The Sooner You Find New Cheesewww.travelingcoaches.com

It Is Safer To Search In The Maze Than Remain In A Cheeseless Situationwww.travelingcoaches.com

Old Beliefs Do Not Lead You To New Cheesewww.travelingcoaches.com

When You See That You Can Find And Enjoy New Cheese You Change Coursewww.travelingcoaches.com

Noticing Small Changes Early Helps You Adapt To The Bigger Changes That Are To Comewww.travelingcoaches.com

New Cheese

As Haw enjoyed the New Cheese, he reflected on what he had learned

Held on to illusion of Cheese when it was no longer there Learned to laugh at his own folly You can let go and quickly move on


And Haw Learned

Keep life simple Dont overanalyze or complicate Change with the situation Envision success Learn from mistakes and use them to plan for the future


The Handwriting On The Wall

Change Happens

They Keep Moving The Cheese Get Ready For The Cheese To Move Smell the Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old

Anticipate Change

Monitor Change



Adapt To Change Quickly

The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese Move With The Cheese Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese

Change

Enjoy Change!



Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again And Again

They Keep Moving The Cheese


Move With The Cheese And Enjoy It!


Documents

Who Moved My Cheese