Who moved my cheese?

5 years ago, when I first step foot into this company I am working in, I was an innocent, young and vibrant employee, very eager to learn and experience my very first job.

I still remembered, on the very first day I got into my department, there's not enough cubicles left at the area where a majority of my peers were seated. The next thing I knew, I probably fitted the bill as a weirdo thus I was immediately ushered to a reserved cubicle at a different section .I felt as If I was "marooned" there,as my seating area was pretty much isolated from everyone else. The place that I was seated consisted of a bunch of colorful personalities. There was this manager who unfortunately was infected with a stroke a few years back, an expatriate , a Chinese from the States who were based in Penang for a long term assignment, a cheerful Quality Engineer, who in the end migrated to the States after she hooked up with ironically a US ex-colleague of mine. Another guy who was a technician but treated like an engineer, a brilliant but kiasu talent sat just right beside me. There's a couple more quiet and timid but dilligent mechanical engineers too. On the first three days of my life, my life was miserable. I don't have an assigned tasks and worst still I don't even have a PC. Mine you, at that time, we were only allocated with a PC, not new one,ok.. My dinosaur PC was faulty, so it was sent for repair. As I was seated far away from everybody else, I was deprived of even to have some short conversation with my colleagues.

Imagine having to put up with doing nothing for 8 hours a day without a PC during work!
I was practically BORED to death. So I walked down to the Learning Center, which luckily was just a few steps away from where I was seating.

When I saw a rack filled with books, my eyes lit up. At least, I could grab something to read, I thought.As I scoured around, this very book caught my eyes. Interesting, yet appropriate for readings at work as it was applicable to work. So I grabbed it immediately and loaned it for the next few days.

The selection: Who moved my cheese?
The book is really interesting as it creates an analogy/parody to explain situation that may happen to us at work or anywhere or anytime in our life. Just a super short and crude summary. The main storyline focuses on two mice, Sniff and Scurry and two lil' human, Hem and Haw both living in a maze. Their existence is defined by how much cheese they have. They simply love cheese. Their drive is to constantly look for cheese station, the very station with an abundance of cheese supply. The difference in the characters of the storyline relates to their behaviour/attitude towards cheese.

Sniff and Scurry is always on the lookout for other cheese station despite having an abundance in their current station. They knew that supply will one day dwindle. Hem and Haw on the other hand took things for granted, not being aware of the dwindling cheese supply in their station. Once they found the "perfect" Cheese Station , at least it was perfect in their eyes, the will settle there and decided to live at the station for good. They believe that things will be as such forever. They believe that things are as good as it is and the station with such a cheese abundance is a rare find. All they wanted is this, and the felt blessed and lucky to be in such a great station.

Years gone by, and Hem and Haw was enjoying themselves so much that they are not aware of the dwindling suppy of cheese in their station. As such when the cheese supply was running out, they cursed, ranted and blamed each other on the lack of supply and even blamed each other for stealing the cheese. Obviously,their relationship turned sour. None of them could accept the situation that they are in. In fact they're doing nothing about it. All they did is to complain and blame.

In the end, out of sheer desperation, Haw with all his almighty guts, took his first step out of the maze. Hem on the other hand decided to stay put fearing on what he might encounter outside the maze. He prefers to stay on the current cheese station despite the dwindling cheese supply. As Haw ventured out, he was surprised to see that there are indeed some cheese supply here and there in bits and pieces. Not many but more than enough to survive.

Along the way, he also scribbled on the maze wall on the direction and pointers , hoping that Hem would follow his way one day. With some cheese collected, Haw returned to Hem and brought him some new cheese he found in the maze. He wanted to invite Hem to venture into the unknown with him when he gets back. To his surprise, Hem declined the offer and worst still, he refused to try the new cheese! Haw, feeling dejected, yet again ventured out of the maze, this time with more confidence from the experiences he gained previously.

This time, he is venturing further deeper downthe maze. Again, he left his scrawlings all over the maze wall as a guide to Hem. Feeling lethargic due to the long journey and sometimes lack of cheese along the way, Haw was on the brink of giving up when he stumbled upon a new cheese station. This time, the station has an even more abundance of cheese than their previous station! He was simply delighted. Haw stayed at the new station for awhile but learning from his previous experiences, this time around, he is not going to rest on his laurels. He is always alert and constantly on the lookout for new station.

In Haw's heart, he is still pinning for his good buddy,Hem. He hopes Hem will follow his path thus he never stop putting his pointers on the maze wall. On the largest wall in his Cheese station, he wrote this to Hem:

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!
Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again
They Keep Moving The Cheese.

One day, he heard some movements in the maze apparently approaching his station. In his mind, Haw was hoping that it is Hem who has found his way here!

So what is the Moral of the story?

1. That change is inevitable in every scenario.
2. Do not take for granted on all the things we have now.
3. Always on the lookout for alternatives or new opportunity.

Why am I writing this?
Well, it seems that my cheese has been moved lately.
And the fact that this story has ingrained in my mind for a long time to come, and I'm amazed at how true and applicable it is to our daily life ...Please do take some time to ponder on this.

And quoting one of my friend's principle in life which is so appropriate as a curtain closer for my entry today:

"The Only Constant is Change"
..
Always bear this in mind.. :)

Have a good day!