I just finished reading a fantastic short book, Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson that lends a lot of insight into change identification. The story follows four characters– two mice, and two “littlepeople”– who are in search of cheese. The cheese is important to them because it is how they survive. Each character has different personality traits and coincidentally these traits are likely living within all of us. The book really got me thinking because although it is very simplistic, the morals and insights are applicable in various facets of our lives. I started thinking about how I related to the different characters and how change has and will continue to effect me.

Change is an interesting thing because it can either enhance or hinder our performance, and it evokes different thoughts in everyone. Many people fear change because of uncertainty in the future, while others embrace change and allow fear to take a backseat to success. It seems the people who fear change are the ones who are most comfortable; they don’t want to change because they like things the way they are. Change is unfamiliar, new and unplanned, which make them weary of what will come next. Others have an arrogance of success and don’t want to change because things have worked in the past. When we don’t adapt to changing situations, we are setting up for failure. I talked about the concept of overconfidence in an earlier post. Overconfidence in past situations plagues us and clouds our judgement because we are inept to change. In an ever changing business environment, it is key to ensure that you are constantly innovating and looking for the next big thing. Ever wonder why Apple is so successful…?

Not everyone is afraid of change, but may not act because they don’t see it coming. By identifying things that are going on around us and having the vision to search for change will help us ultimately achieve our goals, whatever they may be. Small changes occur around us constantly and we need to be aware of them, ready to strike. The way that I look at it, if you’re not already planning and strategizing what’s next, then you’re lost. One day a big change could happen and you’ll be unable to adapt and change to the situation, rendering irrelevancy in your career, work, relationship, etc. It is those who start early, stay longer and work harder who are destined for success.

Sometimes mold grows on our “cheese” because we’re oblivious to our surroundings and don’t react in time. As I mentioned before, it’s crucial to strategize and create a vision. By imagining ourselves changing, we change. If we envision ourselves in vivid and realistic detail, it lays out a roadmap and an action plan of what we need to do to carry out our objectives.

The author referenced one of the characters in this quote which I thought was a valuable morsel. “He knew he needed to adapt faster, for if you do not adapt in time, you might as well not adapt at all.” I think of it as: Change now, or be changed later.

By looking forward, we see our future and plan for success. So what’s stopping us– why aren’t we able to change? It may be easier to first identify what you want to change. What is your “cheese”? Is it your relationship, your career, your behaviors, habits? First identify what your cheese is, and then ask yourself…
What would I do if I wasn’t afraid of change?
How can I embrace my fears to achieve the desired result?

It’s important to remember…

• Change happens
• Anticipate change
• Monitor change
• Adapt to change quickly
• Change
• Enjoy the change
• Be ready to quickly change again and again (Rinse & Repeat)

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