Who Moved My Cheese?

Who Moved My Cheese? is  a simple parable that reveals profound truths.  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 your life – whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money or a possession, health or spiritual peace of mind.

And the maze is where you look for what you want – the organisation you work in, or the family or community you live in.

This profound book from best selling author, Dr Spencer Johnson will show you how to:

• Anticipate change
• Adapt to change quickly
• Enjoy change
• Be ready to change quickly, again and again

Discover the secret for yourself and learn how to deal with change, so that you suffer less stress and enjoy more success in your work and in your life.”

In his Foreward, Ken Blanchard said “I’m such a strong believer in the power of ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ that I recently [c 1998] gave a copy of an early pre-publication edition to everyone (more than 200 people) working with our company.  Why?  Because like every company that wants to not only survive in the future but stay competitive, Blanchard Training & Development is constantly changing.  They keep moving our “cheese”.  While in the past we may have wanted loyal employees, today we need flexible people who are not possessive about “the way things are done around here.”

Over 24 million copies have been sold.

I first read this little book in 1999 and I still find it useful.  I personally relish change (and deliberately seek it out) which sometimes makes it hard for me to understand what other people (who find change difficult) feel and think.   This book gave me considerable insight.  I’ve read some reviews where people have said that this book “states the obvious” and therefore isn’t worth reading; but I strongly disagree.  Sometimes what is obvious to one person is hidden from someone else and sometimes the simplest metaphors contain the most profound truths.

Leading at a Higher Level

by Ken Blanchard et al

“Lead your people to greatness as you create high performing organizations that make life better for everyone.  This book will guide you, inspire you, provoke you, and be your touchstone.

Ken Blanchard and his colleagues have spent 30 years helping good leaders and organizations become great … and stay great.  This edition delivers brand new guidance on using coaching to build individual and organizational performance, plus a full chapter on how to create an organizational culture that brings out the best in people.

Discover how to:

• Go beyond the short term and zero in on the right target and vision
• Deliver legendary, maniacal customer service and earn raving fans
• Truly empower your people and unleash their incredible potential
• Ground your leadership in humility and focus on the greater good”

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to anyone involved with managing / leading / coaching / mentoring.  It would be a particularly useful read for anyone studying a management qualification.