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Sean Adams
05-29-2008, 05:25 PM
Have you ever read this book?

It is called "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Dr. Spencer Johnson.

I read this book last night for the 3rd time. It only takes about an hour to read, but it is great stuff.

Here it is in a nutshell...

There are two mice named "Sniff" and "Scurry" and two little people named "Hem" and "Haw".

They are in a maze which represents life and they are constantly running through this maze looking for cheese which represents success and happiness.

The two mice work together and the two little people work together looking for cheese. One day they all come upon "Cheese Station C" which is filled with cheese. The mice are happy, but they keep looking for more cheese. The little people (humans) become content with what they have found and they become lazy and arrogant, believing that the cheese will always be there for them.

One day the mice arrive to the cheese station and find that there is no cheese. They aren't upset and decide to "sniff" and "scurry" along looking for more cheese. When the two humans (Hem and Haw) get to the cheese station and see that the cheese is all gone they get really upset asking out loud...

"Who Moved My Cheese?"

The humans keep going back everyday to the same cheese station and find no cheese, and each day they get more and more upset, blaming the world and even eachother for their lack of cheese (success and happiness).

Meanwhile, the two mice end up finding a new cheese station with even more cheese than the first place.

One day the one human (Haw) decides it is time to go out and look for new cheese, but the other human (Hem) says that there is no way he is going out into the scary, unpredicatable maze. He decides he is going to wait right there and eventually the cheese will reappear.

Haw goes out on his way, nervous and afraid, but determined to find new cheese. On his journey he begins to realize a lot of important things about life.

1st - Change is inevitable. Deal with it.
2nd - Anticipate change - be ready for it, not surprised by it.
3rd - Monitor change - keep your eyes open at all times to what is going on.
4th - Adapt to change - the quicker you change the better life is.
5th - Make the change - or in this case, move with the cheese.
6th - Enjoy the change - it is not always a bad thing.
7th - Be ready for change again and again - it is the world we live in.

Finally, the human "Haw" finds the new cheese station where the mice have been all along. He is excited hoping that his friend "Hem" will stop being so stubborn and leave the old cheese station.

My favorite part of the story is when Haw, when on his journey for new cheese, alone and scared, decides and asks himself...

"What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?"

It got me thinking.... I realize that most of the things in life that people are afraid of are not nearly as bad as they make them out to be in their own mind. It's just a matter of trying something new. You just might surprise yourself.

Don't worry if someone moved your cheese. Just go out and find some new cheese, some better cheese, and enjoy yourself along the way.

Supper Grassy
05-29-2008, 08:43 PM
wow sounds like a good read

bill8379
05-29-2008, 10:06 PM
I hated that book, get it from the library if you must read it.

I should plagiarize it though... how's this? Who Moved my Oil.

DiyDave
05-31-2008, 08:07 PM
What do we want? Change! How are we going to get it? Same old way, protest, and stamp our feet. Forgive me, its an election year, and I'm getting sick of the slogans that mean nothing.:usflag:

DanaMac
06-01-2008, 09:05 PM
I think that is a great book. I usually read it once a year. It's helped my adjust my business each year.

warren piece
06-04-2008, 02:55 PM
Reminds me of a quote from a friend of mine "All you have to do to change the world is change your mind"

bill8379
06-04-2008, 03:45 PM
I actually downloaded this book a few days ago as a PDF, love the information age.

I also much prefer the new PDF format of the Lawn Care Success thing, much better then word format.. better looking I mean.

Mrs. H
07-02-2008, 11:40 AM
What a really good story. I don't know how I ended up on this thread...but I think I really needed it.

:)

J & D Greens
11-15-2008, 11:24 AM
My friend had me read this book after he did. It was back when He decided to start his own plumbing Bus. He wanted me to work under Him but I was close to a pension with my other job. Read the book, I could have been making twice the money for the past three years. And my pension? It is in jeopardy as I speak. I was going to wait but can't any more. Now everyone know the uncertainty of everything. So we must be aggressive, I just hope I can push myself hard at enough at the age of to grow in the industry I have always love to work in.

Real Green
11-16-2008, 03:45 PM
That book is a great read! Thank you Sean.

FullBlast
08-25-2010, 07:11 AM
I read it last year on a flight from Dalas to Baltimore MD and loved it. Got to roll with the tide!!

the ace
09-11-2010, 10:59 PM
I think I missed the point, I'm suddenly craving cheese.

TPnTX
12-10-2010, 09:34 AM
I read that book several years ago. I can see it being of great benefit and insight to a lot of people.

Me? I found it moistly to be confirming or at least supporting what I already knew.

Bosses like to suggest employees read it before or as they "reorganize"

Cajun Cleanin'
01-01-2011, 12:19 AM
Great book.

cclllc
02-18-2011, 08:31 PM
I just ordered it off Amazon. Another good read is QBQ- The question behind the question.