I happened upon this book written by the authors of The One Minute Manager. I think that it sounds like a very lighthearted way to deal with change... see what you think.

Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

by Spencer Johnson & Kenneth H. Blanchard
$15.96 Hardcover (at Barnes and Noble)

Who Moved My Cheese?[/URL]

Change can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your perspective. The message of Who Moved My Cheese? is that all can come to see it as a blessing, if they understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in their lives. Who Moved My Cheese? is a parable that takes place in a maze. Four beings live in that maze: Sniff and Scurry are mice--nonanalytical and nonjudgmental, they just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Hem and Haw are "littlepeople," mouse-size humans who have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found. Most of us reading the story will see the cheese as something related to our livelihoods--our jobs, our career paths, the industries we work in--although it can stand for anything, from health to relationships. The point of the story is that we have to be alert to changes in the cheese, and be prepared to go running off in search of new sources of cheese when the cheese we have runs out.

Dr. Johnson, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and many other books, presents this parable to business, church groups, schools, military organizations--anyplace where you find people who may fear or resist change. And although more analytical and skeptical readers may find the tale a little too simplistic, its beauty is that it sums up all natural history in just 94 pages: Things change. They always have changed and always will change. And while there's no single way to deal with change, the consequence of pretending change won't happen is always the same: The cheese runs out. --Lou Schuler

Mare, having been the recipient of that book along with the rest of my division, I can tell you we all found overly simplistic and condescending.

Yes, change is good and yes, if you see the handwriting on the wall you should look around and be prepared. However, it does not address the fact the "moving cheese" is really layoffs, losing benefits, having to start fresh at the bottom and not from choice. It fosters that mentality of if you stay at a company for many years you must be lazy, not loyal or dedicated.

No one in the maze has to worry about rent, utilities, groceries, child support etc. while they are trying to make the best of a bad situation.

We found nothing cute or inspiring in this book. Especially when a large number of our staff had their cheese unceremoniously moved out the door.

To this day when things are looking grim around the office, one of us will say "I hear cheese being moved"

You want life lessons from animals, read Aesops fables.

Sorry, Jeannie, for the experiences you and your co-workers had with this book. I haven't read it myself, but thought that the review sounded like it might be of interest in a more lighthearted manner. I will have to say that based on your review, I would probably not recommend it to anyone. Thanks a bundle for your input!! I hope you have saved someone the money and aggrivation of finding this out the hard way.

::hugs::

Mare, I showed your post to my immediate supervisor and he cracked up. He could not believe it was still making the rounds. Now mind you, he is the soul of resonableness and always can put a good spin on things. He could not do it with this book.