Who Moved My Cheese? Lessons Leaders Can Learn From Mice

Who Moved My Cheese? was published on September 8, 1998, and is a motivational business fable. The text describes change in one's work and life, and four typical reactions to those changes by two mice and two little people, during their hunt for cheese. A New York Times business bestseller upon release, Who Moved My Cheese? remained on the list for almost five years and spent over 200 weeks on Publishers Weekly's hardcover nonfiction list. It has sold more than 26 million copies worldwide in 37 languages and remains one of the best-selling business books.

Here are some lessons leaders can learn from the mice:

• Old beliefs do not lead you to new cheese. 
• Being complacent leads to extinction. 
• Embracing change and being flexible leads to survival.
• Don’t over-analyze or over-complicate things.
• Embrace the thrill of the hunt, be curious, and push the envelope. This is your job as a leader.
• Let go of old behavior instead of letting go of the situation: A different viewpoint can often help a situation more than a change of scenery.
• Consider what you might do if you weren’t afraid. This is a key takeaway as fear holds you back and prevents you from moving forward.
• Smell the cheese often so you know when it’s getting old. Timing is everything.
• Imagine yourself enjoying the new cheese even before you find it. It’s important to visualize on what you want.
• Let go of old cheese quicker so you can find new cheese sooner: When it’s time to let go, be sure to let go.

Thought For The Week--What you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine. The fear you let build up in your mind is worse than the situation that actually exists.--From Who Moved My Cheese

 

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life