Dealing With Change Just Who Moved My Cheese
I’ve often said that the only thing that has remained constant over the past century, and especially the past few decades is the rate of change.
The root source of that saying comes from Heraclitus of Ephesus, a Greek philosopher born in 535 BC.
The rate of change seems to have accelerated over the past century though, and I’m sure that while people living in the 18th century would have thought that they were living in an advanced society, I wonder if we would be able to discern a lot of change in comparison to the previous three centuries if we were able to travel back in time.
I remember sitting in a meeting listening to ae talk on “One World Government” back in 1981, and wondering how are they going to get past issues such as the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, Apartheid and other world issues which had been a constant feature all my life, and for years before.
Of course, just a few years later in 1989, the Berlin wall fell, and Apartheid “officially” ended in 1994.
Since then the internet has really taken off, and as technology has advanced, certain industries have closed down or moved off shore, and the workforce in a number of western nations seems to be in a constant state of change.
How are we dealing with change?
A number of years ago I spoke to a work colleague about “reinventing” myself, and we recently revisited that conversation. I shared that I’d come to the point where I believe that in today’s world, adaptation and “reinvention” is an ongoing process.
I’ve changed direction in life a number of times, learning new skills and taking on new challenges. Sometimes successfully, other times not so much, but I believe that in today’s environment, one needs to change, and to anticipate change!
Change though, especially when it comes to work, can be disheartening, and confusing.
Which brings me to the book by Spencer Johnson MD:
Who Moved My Cheese?
This book was recommended by a friend at a time when I was going through a tough time, and it addresses, in parable form, the issues of change, and how to deal with them. Simply put, we can embrace change, and move with it, or we can stay where we are, and face the consequences.
I might add that change isn’t easy, but that that change doesn’t necessarily mean changing our values and beliefs.
The main points of the book are:
Change Happens, Anticipate Change (be ready to change), Monitor Change (be aware of what is going on), Adapt To Change Quickly, (the faster you adapt, the easier life is), Enjoy the Change!
Be ready to change quickly and enjoy it again, because “They Keep Moving The Cheese”. (Change is constant).
You may have a different take on the book, and I’d love to know what you get out of it.
One thing that stood out to me was the sense of outrage that one of the characters exhibited when the “cheese moved”. I’ve seen that a number of times over the years (and sheepishly admit that I have felt the same way) when change occurs.
I’ll admit too that sometimes, as much as one tries to anticipate change, it can happen without warning. It’s our reaction, and adaptation that counts!
There have been a number of both positive and negative reviews of this book, with many detractors saying that it is, or can be, a tool for management to force workers to go along with change in a mindless fashion. I believe that while that may be the case (and it would be a serious misuse of the book to do so), on a personal level, I find it a great reminder that I need to be ready to adapt!
Adaptation isn’t just for work!
As we move through life, we are faced with many changes, which can include marriage, divorce, children growing up and leaving home, the arrival of grandchildren, retirement, bereavement and many others.
(Stay tuned for my upcoming book on being the only male in a house full of females, it will be a doozie 😉 )
“Who Moved My Cheese” is available on Amazon, and I have included a 16 minute movie of the same title below:
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