Change Good or Bad? When your Cheese Moves

I first discovered Who Moved My Cheese? during a leadership seminar. Each of us was handed a copy and told to go home and read it. At the time, I didn’t give it much thought—but then I figured, why not give it a chance?

The book is short—easily read in an hour or two—but its impact lingers far longer. It’s a parable featuring four characters: two mice, Sniff and Scurry, who rely on instinct, and two little people, Hem and Haw, who represent human behaviors. Their names cleverly reflect their personalities.

They live in a Maze—a metaphor for the world we live and navigate daily: our workplace, relationships, and communities. Their goal? To find Cheese, which symbolizes things we strive to achieve in our lives, success, love, health, or happiness.

At first, there’s plenty of cheese. Isn’t that always the case when something is new? A fresh relationship feels amazing, maybe even like love. A new job challenges you to grow and excel. A move to a new community brings the excitement of discovery, even if it’s prompted by a job change or the decision to downsize or upsize. You’re learning your surroundings, seeking new friends. And while change can be energizing, it can also be hard.

As in real life, things shift. The cheese begins to disappear. Sniff and Scurry adapt quickly, leaving their comfort zone to search for new cheese. They trust their instincts. Hem and Haw, however, struggle. They cling to what remains, unsure how long it will last. What should they do?

Not long after that seminar, my company began downsizing. In hindsight, I think the seminar was their subtle way of saying, “The cheese may run out.” I kept thinking about Haw, saw myself in him. After the cuts, I still had my job, but many colleagues who I had worked with for years and enjoyed seeing, weren’t so lucky. It was a difficult Goodbye.

I reread the book and chose to embrace change. I found a new job at a satellite company. At first, it was exciting, cutting-edge technology, new challenges. But the company was poorly run. The founders were great salesmen, but not strong businessmen. They hired the wrong people to guide their growth. I stayed for a while, but it wasn’t a good fit.

That’s when the lessons from the book came rushing back. It was time to find new cheese. This time, the transition was easier. And I found a job that was truly wonderful.

I try to keep the main lessons Haw learned which he wrote on the wall as he searched for new cheese.  They are:

• “If you do not change, you can become extinct.”

• “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

• “The quicker you let go of old cheese; the sooner you find new cheese.”

I live my life with these things in mind.

We’ve all been Hem or Haw at some point—hesitant, uncertain, hoping things will stay the same. But sometimes, the best thing we can do is lace up our sneakers and go looking for new cheese.

Have you noticed your maze shifting lately? Please share your story

You may want to read the book. Its an older book.  I am not sure the local libraries keep a copy.  If they don't have it, check Amazon, here is the link.