Who Moved My Cheese

[MrWhy]

Has anyone read Who Moved My Cheese? (http://www.whomovedmycheese.com/first_chapter.html) by Spencer Johnson?

What do you think of it?

I haven't read it myself, I want to know if it is worth doing so.

[Lsura]

The bitch handed it to us during her first week in the department and "requested" that we read it.

Honestly, it had a couple of decent points, but overall I thought it was kind of a useless book. It seems to have the easy morality lesson that is so popular today, but that fades quickly.

[Kamandi]

I haven't read it, but I used to work for a very large company that inflicted a two-hour seminar based on it upon all its employees. This was about a year ago. The lesson we learned was that there are three types of employee:

1. The one who refuses to adapt to changes in the work environment. The cheese moves, he starves.

2. The one who will adapt to changes, but thinks for himself how to find the new cheese.

3. The one who will easily adapt, but only with direction from management. He scurries mindlessly all over the place looking for new cheese, until told where to find it.

Guess which employee the company was encouraging everyone to emulate? That's right, they wanted all their enployees to be mindless mice, adaptable, pliable, and easily led by management. This did not play well to us, a room full of professional aerospace engineers.

I think it's a load of crap.

[The Man Who]

All hail Christopher Livingston:

http://www.notmydesk.com/archives/cheese_week.html

For some reason the page reads bottom to top.

-Myron

[Zenster]

My boss had a copy of it laying around, so I borrowed it. He advised me that it was fairly simple material. I've only read the first chapter, but despite all of the glowing accolades, this book is a BGO*.



*BLINDING GLIMPSE of the OBVIOUS.

[puk]

It's not a must-read. It's not even a recomended read. On the other hand, reading the entire book will take at most ohalf an hour. I've done more useless things with my time than reading it.

Having said this, SDMB members are probably not the intended audience.

Just don't spend any money on it.

[astorian]

I hated "Who Moved My Cheese," passionately.

I hated it because the parts that were valid were so damned OBVIOUS. If you're an adult, you should already know that life can be tough, that things don't always turn out the way we'd like, and that we sometimes have to change our lives drastically.

The book, on the other hand, seemed to suggest we should not only COPE with hardships, but REVEL in them. And it scoffed at the idea that anybody owes us loyalty.

The "cheese" pretty clearly represents our jobs and the monetary benefits our jobs provide. If we're lucky, we find jobs that we like and that pay us reasonably well. So, what does the missing cheese represent? Well, the loss of our jobs!

Hem and Haw represent guys who worked hard for a company, gave their all, helped build the company into what it is. They've reached a level of success, are proud of what they've accomplished, and are beginning to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Suddenly, the company starts "downsizing," and they're fired.

The book presents Hem as an idiot and a crybaby, because he's ANGRY at losing what he earned. Haw, on the other hand, is supposed to be admirable, because he sees his misfortune as a great opportunity to find other cheese elsewhere!

In short, the book is telling you that you're LUCKY to get axed, that losing everything you've worked for is a good thing, and that only a dopey whiner expects loyalty from a firm he's served well. (Suppose THAT's why so many big companies made employees read the book?)

If Spencer Johnson had spelled out his thesis THAT way, think anyone would have bought the book?

Hey look, we ALL have to deal with terrible things in life. Small example: my wife divorced me, out of the blue, no reason given, nine years ago. I was devastated, and my life was in shambles a long time. EVENTUALLY, I recovered, put my life together, and am now happily re-married to another woman.

So, am I an admirable "Hem," who put the loss of Cheese #1 behind me, and went on a great adventure to find CHeese #2?

NO! There is NO upside to my divorce. The fact that I eventually moved on and coped and found another life is irrelevant. The pain and devastation was REAL, and there is NO way to put a positive spin on it.

In the same way, a loyal employee who gets downsized may eventually find another job- but it is cruel and stupid to suggest that his firing was a positive thing, a chance for him to grow and expand.

[Tars Tarkas]

I read the book, it took me 10 minutes while i was in the bathroom, full of obvious junk.

BTW, there are at least 2 parody books, both entitled "Who cut the cheese?"

[thinksnow]

Wow, a lot of vitriol directed at a book that really is helpful.

Sure, it's obvious stuff: [quote] Old Beliefs Do Not Lead You To New Cheese
Change Happens Anticipate Change Monitor Change Adapt to Change Change Enjoy Change Be Ready To Change Again

In today's apathetic, give-me-more, work-me-less work place, I guess I'm not surprised to hear that you guys rail against the ideas in here. I'm not saying any of you are lazy or that you are just trying to skim by with minimum effort, but if you expect a static system, you're fooling yourself and doing yourself a grave disservice.

The point of the book is not that you have to constantly find a new job or wife or home or car, it is that you should not expect everything to maintain a comfortable situation for you. If you wait until something happens and live a reactive life, then you aren't really living, you're being lived. You aren't taking action, you're being acted upon. You have no freedom of choice or action, as the decision to act is thrust upon you. Keeping an eye open, looking for the changes, the opportunities for improvement, allows you the decision, gives you the latitude of choice and provides you time to adapt rather than scramble when change smacks you in the face.

astorians example, I hate to say, probably isn't a good one. This is not directed at you, astorian, as I certainly have no idea of all the details, but: there almost certainly was some reason somewhere and you (hypothetical you), believing that your course was firm and safe and set, figured that you could keep doing was you've always done and expect the same results. Personal interaction doesn't work that way and neither does corporate success. Granted, I'm not saying that knowing about a downsizing (or whatever) will fill you with a great sense of joy that you can go and change your life around, I am saying that by constantly improving yourself, your work, your life and focus, you will be part of the making of the change, rather than a part that is changed.

It's not about sniffing around blindly, it's about being aware of your environment, noticing and tracking changes so that you are not blindsided by them, but can anticipate them and move with them. Nothing ever improves without change and change is hard. Obvious? Sure, but so many people are rooted in what they find comfortable, what the know, that they fear change and pay for it by having their options removed for them.

Yes, I have the book sitting in front of me. Yes, my background is process and systems improvement, so I've been learning and teaching this sort of thing for years. And yes, I have had change forced upon me and it sucked, but I was aware enough that though I saw it coming, I thought that since things were still good, I would not be affected. I know better now and I take measures to ensure my happiness.

[Tars Tarkas]

I read the book, it took me 10 minutes while i was in the bathroom, full of obvious junk.


i meant the book was full of obvious junk, not I....

[Kamandi]

thinksnow, I, for one, did not have a problem with the obvious message that change in life is inevitable and we must be prepared for it and adapt. I hated the condescending manner in which it was presented.

[Lute Skywatcher]

Originally posted by Tars Tarkas
I read the book, it took me 10 minutes while i was in the bathroom, full of obvious junk.


i meant the book was full of obvious junk, not I....

If you were in the bathroom for 10 minutes, you probably were full of junk which did not become obvious until in the bowl. :)

[thinksnow]

Kamandi
I hated the condescending manner in which it was presented. The people I've dealt with that felt it was condescending or found themselves offended for some other reason, were often the ones least observant to change. My take on it was that they felt almost personally insulted, as though it was an affront to their practices, because, as many have said, it is all fairly obvious. Why get offended over the obvious unless you realize, somewhere deep inside, that you are in fact part of the problem? Again, just my take on the people I've actually dealt with over this and I mean no disrespect to any here.

To the OP, it's a worthwhile read as long as you take it as words of advice, not a guide and not a lecture.

[Tars Tarkas]

If you were in the bathroom for 10 minutes, you probably were full of junk which did not become obvious until in the bowl.


Well, some of the junk was still not obvious even then. And some of it was, heh heh heh!

[Hello Again]

I'm sorry, but I found the book insulting to my intelligence, along with every other book this man has put his hand to (he is co-author of Big Bucks!, Raving Fans! etc.) Each of them is set in HUGE type, and fluffed up with a stupid parable storyline, thus disguising that there is *at most* 15 pages of actual information contained therein. Talk about give-me-more/work-less attitude! If anything, this book teaches us (by example) that we can do exceptionally well by doing the bare minimum and aiming for resounding medicority. There are legitimate books on doing business out there, but apparently they take too long to write. (or read.)

And, BTW, I am extremely amenable to change, I've been at my current job about 2 years and my job description has changed 180 degrees approx. every 3 months, which I enjoy. I do not enjoy management spouting claptrap jargon out of every orifice or telling me how to think about "my cheese" (gag). I'm a 20-something and I certainly don't expect my or any employer to give a rat's ass about me. Nor, in turn, do I offer them anything but my brain power while I am working. Not my loyalty, not my heart, etc.

In sum, this book is not an affront to my "practices," but to my intelligence.

[thinksnow]

I just want to reiterate that I was not making comment about or toward anyone in particular and mean no offense to those that find the book lacking or insulting, I just don't happen to agree.

[jsc1953]

Add me to the list of those who found it a) condescending; b) self-serving (if you're management); and c) a BGO (love that!). I wish I had thought of the idea, of taking the bromide "learn to deal with change", padding it to minimal book-length, and selling it to gullible executives looking to rationalize their management style.

I am 40-something, and have dealt with corporate life for 25 years. Occasionally, change occurs because the world changes--technology being the prime example. This accounts for very few instances of organizational change. Most change is pointless managerial dithering, attempting to cover the mistakes made in the last change.

[ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks]

This really is a worthless bit of information. And by "bit" I mean...well...BIT. As another poster said, it's clearly an attempt by the author to take some simple parable and stretch it out to sell books.

A friend of mine bought an audio version of it while he was standing in line at Kinko's. He keeps forcing me to listen to it in the car as a joke. It's like listening to someone read a child a bedtime story in a whiney, sing-song voice. It's funny for about five minutes, but lame children's stories hold little interest for adults. There's no useful information on how to change anything here. Just a little story about how NOT to behave. You'd probably learn more by watching Barney.

-L

[Mnementh]

I've not read it, but once while I was in the bookstore with Ramoth I noticed it, and read the title out loud, quite loudly.

Everyone just looked at me funny. :D

Just thought I'd share. I'm an odd creature.

[Heath Doolin]

I read it. Nothing new

Just thinking of it, its pretty much says what I thought in the first place. I guess a self help in a goofy example was mind blowing to a few.

Personally, I am all for the Conan self help in job, life, and everything

"Crush yer enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of der wimmin."

Makes a darn good new years resolution too

[DarkPrince]

My dear friend Mnementh, I do believe that was an Anne Mcaffrey reference.

I've always wondered if that's where you got your handle from.

[Road Rash]

It was a cute book, but when you start having bosses say its recommended reading (coersion), and there are SEMINARS on it, I start thinking it is a Tony Robbins, or some other feelgood dude ready to take YOUR, or your company's, money from you for a cheerleading seminar. It is a good book. But if I EVER hear of a seminar on it, I will throw it away as just another loser trying to seperate me from my money.

[dangermom]

It is an extremely stupid book, and I'm angry that my husband's company spent hundreds of dollars on buying a copy for every employee instead of buying 2 copies for the common bookshelf and using the money for something useful, like pizza or a computer monitor. I'm also bitter about the $20 price tag for a book that has gigantic type and dumb illustrations of obvious maxims, when it could have been printed as a $2 pamphlet.

It took me 10 minutes to read--10 minutes that I will never get back, and could have spent in a better way, for example by watching "Cops" or watching mold grow on bread.

[bernse]

As stated before, the books "insight" should already be obvious to any modern, working adult. If a person reading it got much out of it that person probably has to remember to breathe as well.

[Road Rash]

Originally posted by thinksnow
Kamandi
I hated the condescending manner in which it was presented. The people I've dealt with that felt it was condescending or found themselves offended for some other reason, were often the ones least observant to change. My take on it was that they felt almost personally insulted, as though it was an affront to their practices, because, as many have said, it is all fairly obvious. Why get offended over the obvious unless you realize, somewhere deep inside, that you are in fact part of the problem? Again, just my take on the people I've actually dealt with over this and I mean no disrespect to any here.

To the OP, it's a worthwhile read as long as you take it as words of advice, not a guide and not a lecture.

I will say I enjoyed the book. I was depressed and a therapist recommended it. He also recommended I listen to motivational tapes. I responded that I felt they charged way too much money for stuff I have already heard before. He then said "you don't have to buy it, go to the library.

I have been to seminars. The "touchy-feely" stuff gets old after the first time. I went to one, which was hosted by the then personnel manager of my co.. At one point she put us in groups, and gave each group limited instructions and supplies to make paper airplanes.

I told my manager, and the operations manager, to not waste my time with this trash. I said it a bit nicer to the O.M. The plant manager, my boss, backed me up.

At corporate seminars, I have no use for metaphors and abstractions. I desire concrete examples of how to do my job better; how to deal with clients and employees better. We have a new personnell manager now, who gave a REAL seminar on being a supervisor, and he has renewed my faith in people who do that.

Why do employers waste employees time and possible bonuses with this? It is extremely condescending. It is far better to offer training courses.

Oh BTW, I am now a boss myself and am loving it. I did enjoy the book. But if I had a boss recommend it to me, I would be suspicious of him (or her).

[MovieMogul]

Haven't read it but I first heard of it from this (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/06/21/DD171846.DTL) article, which I found to be an interesting analysis. Comments?

[Home of the Braves]

Originally posted by Tars Tarkas
I read the book, it took me 10 minutes while i was in the bathroom, full of obvious junk.


i meant the book was full of obvious junk, not I....

Then why were you in the bathroom?

Seriously, I totally agree with Kamandi . I was subjected to a faculty meeting totally about the book complete with an re-enactment, certain fellow teachers (who, IMHO, are the ones that kiss the principal's arse) portrayed the mice. We also were told (OK, ordered) to get ready for change, and change is good.

What a load of CRAP.

[Muffin]

Perhaps the mice should form unions or professions so as to be better able to participate proactively in the changes to which they are subjected.

But the book is not open to that sort of creating and seizing of opportunity outside of the control of the corporation. Thus it really is no more than yet another in a long line of books promoting a corporate mythology in which people are expected to willingly be squished like mice in traps.

[JRDelirious]

rmariamp, RoadRash you have summed it up beautifully.

The sheer innocuousness of this book makes the price charged for it and the hype around it and around its author seem out of all proportion. Want to read it? Public library. Or park yourself with it at the Border's or Barnes & Noble's café on a day off.

And yes, in this dynamic age of change, those of us who are aware of our environment, who recognize the realities of human interaction and corporate success, who embrace change and challenges and know how to seize opportunities... are precisely the ones who will be extremely skeptical of anything enthusiastically embraced by "pointy-haired-boss" types.

[kniz]

My situation is that I just sold my company and do not know exactly what is ahead. My wife is still working and not around very much, so I want to sell our house and move to where we can be together more. She is reluctant to sell the house that we raised our family in. So along comes this book, she read it and gave it to me. Although it was short and simple it made me feel good that I'd sold my company (I didn't realize until afterwards how stale the cheese had gotten). It opened up an opportunity for my wife and I to talk about moving on in the maze. So it was good for me, but I'm glad I didn't find it before I sold the company.

[MrWhy]

Originally posted by kniz
It opened up an opportunity for my wife and I to talk about moving on in the maze. So it was good for me, but I'm glad I didn't find it before I sold the company. I'm not sure I quite understand. Why are you glad you didn't read it earlier?

[Shayna]

[sortof hijack] Many years ago, I was working for a company that bought hundreds of copies of Harvey Mackay's Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive and sent them to every employee throughout the country to read. One chapter in particular was quite enlightening, as it outlined specifically how not to be a bad manager. Mackay must've known my boss personally, because I'd swear he was writing about her when describing every wrong thing a manager could possibly do.

I quit the company in disgust over this woman's piss-poor management skills, and shortly thereafter, one of my co-workers did the same - but she did it with much more style than I did. She went into the bosswoman's office, handed her the book, open to the chapter on bad management techniques (having highlighted several paragraphs) and made her read it. After doing so, the woman actually looked up at her with a bewildered look and asked why she'd wanted her to read it! :rolleyes: Her reply? "That's you, and I quit. Goodbye."

Ha Ha! I thought that was great. After losing the top 2 sales reps in that district, I wonder if the corporate schmuck who'd sent it out had any second thoughts about having done so? [/end hijack]

I've never read the cheese book, and based on the glowing reviews here, I'm sure I don't want to, thankyouverymuch.



___________________
Jeg elsker dig, Thomas