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All 16 learnings · one per slide
Who Moved
My Cheese?
Spencer Johnson, in bytes
16 key learnings from a short parable about dealing with change.
16 learnings · ~40 sec eachSwipe →
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Who Moved My Cheese?, in bytes
16 key learnings from Spencer Johnson's parable about two mice and two 'little people' facing change in a maze. Each takes about 40 seconds to read. Swipe, use the arrows, or your keyboard.
Who Moved
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Learning 1 · A Gathering
A Reunion
The story
Former classmates meet and one shares the story, which they then discuss in their own lives.
Example
A classmate named Michael tells the story, saying it changed his attitude to change at work.
Takeaway
The story is a mirror.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 2
The Maze
The story
Two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two little people, Hem and Haw, search a maze for cheese.
Example
Cheese might be a job, a relationship, money or health.
Takeaway
Cheese stands for what we want in life.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 3
Change Happens
The idea
One day the cheese is gone. The mice quickly move on; Hem and Haw complain.
Why
The mice had noticed the cheese supply shrinking day by day.
Takeaway
Expect change.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 4 · The Story
Haw Laughs at Himself
The story
Haw finally laughs at his fear and sets off into the maze.
Example
He realises how silly it is to keep returning to an empty station.
Takeaway
Humour helps you move.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 5 · The Story
Hem Waits
The story
Hem refuses to leave the empty station, waiting for the cheese to return.
Spot it
Waiting for things to go back to how they were.
Takeaway
Waiting doesn't bring the cheese back.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 6
Anticipate Change
The idea
Watch for signs that change is coming.
Example
The mice noticed the cheese getting old before it ran out.
Try this
Ask: what might change in my work this year?
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Learning 7
Let Go Quickly
The idea
The sooner you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.
Example
Sniff and Scurry left at once and found new cheese sooner.
Takeaway
Don't cling.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 8 · The Story
Writing on the Wall
The story
Haw writes lessons on the maze walls for Hem to find.
Example
'Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese.'
Takeaway
Share what you learn.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 9
Fear Holds You Back
The idea
Haw asks: what would you do if you weren't afraid?
Example
Haw realises his fear was worse than the reality of the maze.
Reflect
What would you do?
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 10 · The Story
Imagine the New Cheese
The story
Picturing himself enjoying new cheese helps Haw keep going.
Why
A clear picture of the goal makes the effort feel worthwhile.
Try this
Picture the good outcome of a change you face.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 11
Enjoy Change
The idea
Savour the adventure of change.
Example
Haw starts to enjoy exploring the maze.
Takeaway
New cheese can be better.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 12 · The Story
Smell the Cheese Often
The idea
Check regularly whether things are getting old.
Example
Checking whether your skills still match what your job needs.
Takeaway
Notice small changes early.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 13 · The Story
Change Again
The idea
Be ready to change quickly and again.
Example
When Haw finds new cheese, he keeps watching for signs it will run out.
Takeaway
Change is constant.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 14 · A Discussion
Discussion
The story
The classmates discuss which character they've been at work and home.
Example
One classmate admits he'd been a Hem, resisting change at work.
Reflect
Are you Sniff, Scurry, Hem or Haw?
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 15 · A Discussion
Simple Isn't Easy
The idea
The book's lessons are simple, but applying them takes courage.
Example
Knowing you should adapt doesn't make the first step any less scary.
Takeaway
Simple advice can still be hard.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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Learning 16 · The Story
Over-Analysis Slows Us
The idea
Like Hem and Haw, people can overthink while the mice simply act.
Example
Hem and Haw debated what happened while the mice were already searching.
Takeaway
Sometimes act more, think less.
Who Moved My Cheese? · Spencer Johnsonbooksinbytes.in
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All 16 learnings complete
That’s all 16 learnings.
Cheese moves. Are you Hem waiting, or Haw moving on?
Abhay Kumar JaiswalFCA · PMP® · Workday Financeabhayjaiswal.com
Summaries in my own words. Read the book for the full stories.
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Summaries are written in my own words for learning. Read Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson (1998) for the full stories. More Books in Bytes