{"id":3269,"date":"2014-01-06T21:53:08","date_gmt":"2014-01-06T21:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chicagoland.b2bmulti.wpengine.com\/?p=3269"},"modified":"2023-01-18T20:34:19","modified_gmt":"2023-01-18T20:34:19","slug":"has-your-cheese-been-moved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.b2bcfo.com\/phil-elworth\/has-your-cheese-been-moved\/","title":{"rendered":"Has Your Cheese Been Moved?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently re-read the book Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson which is an interesting story about change.\u00a0 Cheese in the story represents whatever you hold dear and thus if something changes then your cheese has been moved.\u00a0 It could be your business, your family, a spiritual journey or a hobby.\u00a0 The story depicts 4 different characters and describes how each of them handles change.\u00a0 They are identified as follows:<\/p>\n

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  1. Sniff- this character is always on the lookout and sees change coming a mile away. \u00a0The risk is that you may see change coming but can you pull the trigger and execute?<\/li>\n
  2. Scurry- does not see change coming but when it happens he charges ahead with almost any course of action.\u00a0 The risk is that you move too quickly and in the wrong direction.<\/li>\n
  3. Hem- refuses to see that change has occurred, over analyzes what has happened and waits for everything to get back to normal.\u00a0 This behavior will often freeze a business in its tracks.<\/li>\n
  4. Haw- does not see change coming either and refuses to believe it at first, but then realizes what is happening, laughs at himself and moves on.\u00a0 The risk here is that you wait too long before you execute on the change to the detriment of your business.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Do any of these characters describe you?\u00a0 The bulk of the story centers on Hem and Haw.\u00a0 How at first they are caught off guard by the change, then how they analyze what happened and finally the course of action each of them takes.\u00a0 In my experience as a business advisor, I have witnessed business owners who represent each of these four character types and I can honestly say that dealing with change is often not easy.<\/p>\n

    To start looking for new cheese, to stay with the intent of the book, start by understanding that something is not the same as it was before and that this often invokes feelings of fear.\u00a0 So start by asking yourself the question; what would I do if I weren\u2019t afraid?\u00a0 Then imagine yourself enjoying the results you achieve by making the change.\u00a0 What you are afraid of is usually not as bad as what you imagine it could be.\u00a0 Since change is inevitable be ready to laugh at yourself and move on.\u00a0 Sometimes the first thing that needs to change is your own behavior or view of the situation.\u00a0 Remember:<\/p>\n