Who MovedWho Moved My Cheese? My Cheese?

by Spencer by Spencer JohnsonJohnson

The Story of Who Moved My The Story of Who Moved My Cheese?Cheese?

Long ago in a land far away, there Long ago in a land far away, there lived two mice and two little men lived two mice and two little men who ran through a maze looking for who ran through a maze looking for cheese to nourish them and make cheese to nourish them and make them happy.them happy.

Let us meet our cast of Let us meet our cast of characterscharacters

SNIFF SCURRY HEM HAW

Every day the mice and the men Every day the mice and the men would spend time in the maze would spend time in the maze looking for their own looking for their own specialspecial cheese. cheese.

Sniff and Scurry were not quite as Sniff and Scurry were not quite as smart as Hem and Haw, but they had smart as Hem and Haw, but they had very good instincts. They worked very good instincts. They worked hard each day searching for the hard each day searching for the cheese that they liked best.cheese that they liked best.

Hem and Haw would search each day Hem and Haw would search each day for the cheese in which they believed for the cheese in which they believed would make them feel happy and would make them feel happy and successful.successful.

Every morning, each of them would Every morning, each of them would put on their little jogging suits and put on their little jogging suits and running shoes, leave their little running shoes, leave their little homes, and would race out into the homes, and would race out into the maze looking for their favorite maze looking for their favorite cheese.cheese.

The maze was a labyrinth of corridors The maze was a labyrinth of corridors and chambers, some containing and chambers, some containing delicious cheese. But there were also delicious cheese. But there were also dark corners and blind alleys leading dark corners and blind alleys leading nowhere. It was an easy place for nowhere. It was an easy place for anyone to get lost.anyone to get lost.

However, for those who found their However, for those who found their way, the maze held secrets that let way, the maze held secrets that let them enjoy a better life.them enjoy a better life.

Sniff and Scurry used simple trial-Sniff and Scurry used simple trial-and-error methods to find cheese. and-error methods to find cheese. They ran down one corridor, and if it They ran down one corridor, and if it proved empty, the turned and ran proved empty, the turned and ran down another. They remembered down another. They remembered the corridors that held no cheese and the corridors that held no cheese and quickly went into new areas.quickly went into new areas.

Sniff would smell out Sniff would smell out the general direction the general direction of the cheese, using of the cheese, using his great nose.his great nose.

Scurry would race Scurry would race ahead. They got ahead. They got lost, as you might lost, as you might expect, went off in expect, went off in the wrong direction the wrong direction and often bumped and often bumped into walls.into walls.

But after a while But after a while they would find their they would find their way.way.

Hem and Haw also used Hem and Haw also used their ability to think and their ability to think and learn from their past learn from their past experiences. However, experiences. However, they relied on their they relied on their complex brains to develop complex brains to develop more sophisticated more sophisticated methods of finding cheese.methods of finding cheese.

Sometimes they did well, Sometimes they did well, but other times their more but other times their more powerful beliefs and powerful beliefs and emotions took over and emotions took over and clouded the way they clouded the way they looked at things. It made looked at things. It made life in the maze more life in the maze more complicated and complicated and challenging.challenging.

Nonetheless, Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Nonetheless, Sniff, Scurry, Hem and Haw all discovered, in their own way, Haw all discovered, in their own way, what they were looking for. what they were looking for.

They each found their own kind of They each found their own kind of cheese one day at the end of one of cheese one day at the end of one of the corridors in Cheese Station C.the corridors in Cheese Station C.

Every morning after that, they Every morning after that, they dressed in their running gear and dressed in their running gear and headed over to Cheese Station C. It headed over to Cheese Station C. It wasn’t long before they each wasn’t long before they each established their own routine.established their own routine.

Sniff and Scurry continued to wake Sniff and Scurry continued to wake early every day and race through the early every day and race through the maze, always following the same maze, always following the same routine.routine.

When they arrived at their When they arrived at their destination, the mice took off their destination, the mice took off their running shoes, tied them together running shoes, tied them together and hung them around their necks– and hung them around their necks– so they could get them quickly so they could get them quickly whenever they needed them again. whenever they needed them again. Then they enjoyed the cheese.Then they enjoyed the cheese.

In the beginning, Hem and Haw also In the beginning, Hem and Haw also raced toward Cheese Station C every raced toward Cheese Station C every morning to enjoy the tasty new morning to enjoy the tasty new flavours that awaited them.flavours that awaited them.

But after a while, a different routine But after a while, a different routine set in for Hem and Haw.set in for Hem and Haw.

Hem and Haw awoke each day a Hem and Haw awoke each day a little later, dressed a little slower, little later, dressed a little slower, and walked to Cheese Station C. and walked to Cheese Station C. After all, they knew where the After all, they knew where the Cheese was now and how to get Cheese was now and how to get there.there.

As soon as Hem and Haw arrived at As soon as Hem and Haw arrived at Cheese Station C each morning, they Cheese Station C each morning, they settled in and made themselves at settled in and made themselves at home. They hung up their jogging home. They hung up their jogging suits, put away their running shoes suits, put away their running shoes and put on their slippers. They were and put on their slippers. They were becoming very comfortable, now that becoming very comfortable, now that they had found the Cheese.they had found the Cheese.

““This is great,” Hem said. “There’s This is great,” Hem said. “There’s enough Cheese here to last us enough Cheese here to last us forever.” Hem and Haw felt very forever.” Hem and Haw felt very happy and successful, and thought happy and successful, and thought they were now secure.they were now secure.

It wasn’t long before Hem and Haw It wasn’t long before Hem and Haw regarded the Cheese they found at regarded the Cheese they found at Cheese Station C as Cheese Station C as theirtheir cheese. cheese. It was such a large store of Cheese It was such a large store of Cheese that they eventually moved their that they eventually moved their homes to be closer to it.homes to be closer to it.

To make themselves feel more at To make themselves feel more at home, Hem and Haw decorated home, Hem and Haw decorated the walls with sayings and even the walls with sayings and even drew pictures of Cheese around drew pictures of Cheese around them which made them smile. them which made them smile. One read:One read:

Sometimes, Hem and Haw would Sometimes, Hem and Haw would take their friends by to see their take their friends by to see their pile of Cheese at Cheese Station pile of Cheese at Cheese Station C, and point to it with pride, C, and point to it with pride, saying, “Pretty nice Cheese, huh?”saying, “Pretty nice Cheese, huh?”

Sometimes Hem and Haw would share Sometimes Hem and Haw would share their cheese with their friends, and their cheese with their friends, and sometimes they did not.sometimes they did not.

““We deserve this Cheese,” Hem said. We deserve this Cheese,” Hem said. “We certainly had to work long and “We certainly had to work long and hard enough to find it.” He picked up hard enough to find it.” He picked up a nice fresh piece of cheese and ate it. a nice fresh piece of cheese and ate it.

Afterwards, Hem fell asleep, as he Afterwards, Hem fell asleep, as he often did.often did.

Every night, they would waddle home, Every night, they would waddle home, full of Cheese, and every morning they full of Cheese, and every morning they would confidently return for more.would confidently return for more.

This went on for quite some time.This went on for quite some time. After a while Hem’s and Haw’s confidence After a while Hem’s and Haw’s confidence

grew into the arrogance of success. Soon grew into the arrogance of success. Soon they became so comfortable they didn’t they became so comfortable they didn’t even notice what was happening.even notice what was happening.

As time went on, Sniff and Scurry As time went on, Sniff and Scurry continued their routine. They arrived early continued their routine. They arrived early each morning and sniffed and scratched each morning and sniffed and scratched and scurried around Cheese Station C, and scurried around Cheese Station C, inspecting the area to see if there had inspecting the area to see if there had been any changes from the day before. been any changes from the day before. Then they would sit down and nibble on Then they would sit down and nibble on the cheese.the cheese.

One morning Sniff and One morning Sniff and Scurry arrived at Station Scurry arrived at Station C and found NO cheese.C and found NO cheese.

They weren’t surprised. They weren’t surprised. Since Sniff and Scurry Since Sniff and Scurry had noticed the supply had noticed the supply of cheese had been of cheese had been getting smaller every getting smaller every day, they were prepared day, they were prepared for the inevitable and for the inevitable and knew instinctively what knew instinctively what to do.to do.

Sniff lifted his nose, sniffed, and Sniff lifted his nose, sniffed, and nodded to Scurry, who took off nodded to Scurry, who took off running though the maze, while Sniff running though the maze, while Sniff followed as fast as he could.followed as fast as he could.

They were quickly off in search of They were quickly off in search of New Cheese.New Cheese.

Later that same day, Hem and Haw Later that same day, Hem and Haw arrived at Cheese Station C. They arrived at Cheese Station C. They had not been paying attention to the had not been paying attention to the small changes that had been taking small changes that had been taking place each day, so they took it for place each day, so they took it for granted their Cheese would be there.granted their Cheese would be there.

Hem and Haw were unprepared for what Hem and Haw were unprepared for what they found.they found.

““What! No Cheese?” Hem yelled. He What! No Cheese?” Hem yelled. He continued yelling, “No Cheese? No continued yelling, “No Cheese? No Cheese?” as though if he shouted loud Cheese?” as though if he shouted loud enough someone would put it back.enough someone would put it back.

““Who moved my Cheese?” he shouted.Who moved my Cheese?” he shouted. Finally, he put his hands on his hips, his Finally, he put his hands on his hips, his

face turned red, and he screamed a the face turned red, and he screamed a the top of his voice, “IT IS NOT FAIR!”top of his voice, “IT IS NOT FAIR!”

Haw just shook his head in disbelief. Haw just shook his head in disbelief. He, too, had counted on finding He, too, had counted on finding Cheese at Cheese Station C. He Cheese at Cheese Station C. He stood there for a long time, frozen stood there for a long time, frozen with shock. He was just not ready for with shock. He was just not ready for this.this.

Finding Cheese wasn’t easy, and it Finding Cheese wasn’t easy, and it meant a great deal more to Hem and meant a great deal more to Hem and Haw than just having enough of it to Haw than just having enough of it to eat every day.eat every day.

Finding Cheese was Hem and Haw’s Finding Cheese was Hem and Haw’s way of getting what they thought way of getting what they thought they needed to be happy. They had they needed to be happy. They had their own ideas of what Cheese their own ideas of what Cheese meant to them, depending on their meant to them, depending on their taste.taste.

For some, finding Cheese was having For some, finding Cheese was having material things. For others it was material things. For others it was enjoying good health, or developing a enjoying good health, or developing a spiritual sense of well-being.spiritual sense of well-being.

Cheese was important to them Hem Cheese was important to them Hem and Haw spent a long time trying to and Haw spent a long time trying to decide what to do. All they could decide what to do. All they could think of was to keep looking around think of was to keep looking around Cheese-less Cheese Station C to see Cheese-less Cheese Station C to see if the Cheese was really gone.if the Cheese was really gone.

While Sniff and Scurry had quickly While Sniff and Scurry had quickly moved on, Hem and Haw continued moved on, Hem and Haw continued to hem and haw.to hem and haw.

Hem and Haw ranted and raved at the Hem and Haw ranted and raved at the injustice of it all. Haw started to get injustice of it all. Haw started to get depressed. What would happen if the depressed. What would happen if the Cheese wasn’t there tomorrow? He had Cheese wasn’t there tomorrow? He had made future plans based on this Cheese.made future plans based on this Cheese.

Hem and Haw could not believe it. How Hem and Haw could not believe it. How could this have happened? No one had could this have happened? No one had warned them. It wasn’t right. It was not warned them. It wasn’t right. It was not the way things were supposed to be.the way things were supposed to be.

Hem and Haw went home that night Hem and Haw went home that night hungry and discouraged. But before hungry and discouraged. But before they left, Haw wrote on the wall:they left, Haw wrote on the wall:

The More The More Important Your Important Your Cheese Is To Cheese Is To

You, The More You, The More You Want To You Want To Hold On To It.Hold On To It.

The next day Hem and The next day Hem and Haw left their homes, Haw left their homes, and returned to and returned to Cheese Station C Cheese Station C again, where they still again, where they still expected, somehow, expected, somehow, to find to find theirtheir Cheese. Cheese.

The situation hadn’t The situation hadn’t changed; the Cheese changed; the Cheese was no longer there. was no longer there. Hem and Haw did not Hem and Haw did not know what to do, they know what to do, they just stood there, just stood there, immobilized like to immobilized like to small statues.small statues.

Hem analyzed the situation over and Hem analyzed the situation over and over again. “Why did they do this to over again. “Why did they do this to me?” he demanded. “What’s really me?” he demanded. “What’s really going on here?”going on here?”

Finally, Haw opened his eyes, looked Finally, Haw opened his eyes, looked around and said, “By the way, where around and said, “By the way, where are Sniff and Scurry? Do you think are Sniff and Scurry? Do you think they know something we don’t?”they know something we don’t?”

Hem scoffed, “What would they know?”Hem scoffed, “What would they know?” Hem continued, “They are just simple Hem continued, “They are just simple

mice. They just respond to what mice. They just respond to what happens. We’re smarter. We should happens. We’re smarter. We should be able to figure this out.”be able to figure this out.”

““I know we are smarter,” Haw said, “but I know we are smarter,” Haw said, “but we don’t seem to be acting smarter at we don’t seem to be acting smarter at the moment. Things are changing the moment. Things are changing around here, Hem. Maybe we need to around here, Hem. Maybe we need to change and do things differently.”change and do things differently.”

““Why should we change?” Hem asked. Why should we change?” Hem asked. “We’re special. This sort of thing “We’re special. This sort of thing should not happen to us. Or if it does, should not happen to us. Or if it does, we should at least get some benefits.”we should at least get some benefits.”

““Why should we get benefits?” Haw Why should we get benefits?” Haw asked.asked.

““Because we’re entitled to our Cheese,” Because we’re entitled to our Cheese,” Hem claimed.Hem claimed.

Haw suggested, “Maybe we should Haw suggested, “Maybe we should

stop analyzing the situation so much stop analyzing the situation so much and just get going and find some and just get going and find some New Cheese.”New Cheese.”

““Oh no, Hem argued. “I’m going to Oh no, Hem argued. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”get to the bottom of this.”

While Hem and Haw were still trying While Hem and Haw were still trying to decide what to do, Sniff and Scurry to decide what to do, Sniff and Scurry were already well on their way. They were already well on their way. They went farther into the maze, up and went farther into the maze, up and down corridors, looking for cheese in down corridors, looking for cheese in every Cheese Station they could find.every Cheese Station they could find.

Sniff and Scurry didn’t think of anything Sniff and Scurry didn’t think of anything else but finding New Cheese.else but finding New Cheese.

It took a long time and a great deal of It took a long time and a great deal of scurrying and sniffing, but Sniff and Scurry scurrying and sniffing, but Sniff and Scurry made it to a place in the maze in which made it to a place in the maze in which they had never ventured before.they had never ventured before.

Sniff and Scurry made it to Cheese Station Sniff and Scurry made it to Cheese Station N. They squealed with delight. They N. They squealed with delight. They found what they had been looking for; a found what they had been looking for; a great supply of New Cheese. It was the great supply of New Cheese. It was the biggest store of cheese the mice had ever biggest store of cheese the mice had ever seen.seen.

Whereas, Hem and Haw were feeling Whereas, Hem and Haw were feeling the effects of their situation.the effects of their situation.

They were becoming frustrated and They were becoming frustrated and angry and began to blame one angry and began to blame one another for the situation they were another for the situation they were in.in.

They each imagined Sniff and Scurry They each imagined Sniff and Scurry finding New Cheese and enjoying it finding New Cheese and enjoying it without their friends Hem and Haw. without their friends Hem and Haw.

Out of total frustration, Haw yelled, Out of total frustration, Haw yelled, “Let’s go, let’s go find New Cheese.”“Let’s go, let’s go find New Cheese.”

““No,” Hem quickly responded. I like No,” Hem quickly responded. I like it here. It’s comfortable. It’s what I it here. It’s comfortable. It’s what I know. Besides it’s dangerous out know. Besides it’s dangerous out there.”there.”

““No it isn’t,” Haw argued. “We’ve No it isn’t,” Haw argued. “We’ve run through many parts of the maze run through many parts of the maze before, and we can do it again.before, and we can do it again.

““I’m getting too old for that,” Hem I’m getting too old for that,” Hem said. “I am going to stay right here said. “I am going to stay right here until they put my Cheese back.”until they put my Cheese back.”

How do you How do you suppose the story suppose the story

ends?ends?

In total sadness, Haw decided that he In total sadness, Haw decided that he must be the one to begin looking for New must be the one to begin looking for New Cheese, or else both would perish.Cheese, or else both would perish.

So, he came out of Cheese Station C and So, he came out of Cheese Station C and began his journey to find new cheese.began his journey to find new cheese.

When he went out in the maze he found When he went out in the maze he found it dark and scary, time came when he it dark and scary, time came when he thought of returning back.thought of returning back.

But gathered strength and moved on, he But gathered strength and moved on, he thought that Hem would come after him.thought that Hem would come after him.

So on his way he wrote some So on his way he wrote some interesting things on the wall, interesting things on the wall, thinking that it would help Hem find thinking that it would help Hem find his way.his way.

Then slowly and slowly he reached Then slowly and slowly he reached Cheese Station N where he found Cheese Station N where he found Sniff and Scurry enjoying the cheese.Sniff and Scurry enjoying the cheese.

Haw waited for his friend but he Haw waited for his friend but he never reached the cheese station.never reached the cheese station.

What We Learn From The What We Learn From The Writings On The WALL???Writings On The WALL???

THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALLTHE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL

Change Happens They Keep Moving the Cheese

Anticipate Change Get Ready For The Cheese To Move

Monitor Change Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old

Adapt To Change Quickly The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese

Change Move With The Cheese

Enjoy Change! Enjoy The Taste Of New

Cheese!

Be Ready To Quickly Change

& Enjoy It, Again, And Again!

So Keep Moving The So Keep Moving The CHEESECHEESE

Brilliant Efforts By:-

Indransh Gupta