e've all heard the saying, "the only thing constant is change." Change may be persistent, but it isn't always welcome. When we're content with various aspects of our work and our lives and change occurs unexpectedly in one of these areas, we may find ourselves unprepared, even thwarted.

Dr. Spencer Johnson, in his best-selling book, "Who Moved My Cheese?", uses a simple allegory to present an effective solution for embracing, adapting to and even enjoying change.

The story of "Who Moved My Cheese?" is set in a maze and depicts the lives of four small beings dealing with unexpected change: Sniff and Scurry, two mice, and Hem and Haw, two "littlepeople." The group shares a great supply of delicious cheese located in a special place in the maze. But then one day the cheese disappears, and the characters are left to find new cheese or starve.

The cheese in the story is a metaphor for what you want in life - perhaps a good job or successful business, money, a loving relationship, a certain possession, health, or spiritual peace of mind. The maze represents the place where you look for what you want - a business or organization, your family or community.

"Who Moved My Cheese?" presents different ways in which the characters handle the dilemma of finding new cheese. The mice are simple and efficient; they don't overanalyze the situation. They simply head off into the maze to find new cheese. The littlepeople are not so quick to respond. Haw takes many, many days to work up the courage to head out into the maze, and Hem chooses to stay behind, hoping the cheese reappears. While hunting for new cheese in the maze, Haw has several moments of insight, such as "the more important your cheese is to you, the more you want to hold onto it," and "movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese." Haw also learns that "the quicker you let go of the old cheese, the sooner you find the new cheese" and "when you move beyond your fear, you feel free."

Along the way, Haw pauses to record his knowledge on the walls of the maze, which becomes literally The Handwriting on the Wall. Haw hopes Hem and others will benefit from what he has learned. He believes that once Hem realizes the old cheese isn't coming back, he will venture into the maze and use Haw's words to lead him to the new cheese. As a reader in search of cheese, you also might benefit from Haw's Handwriting on the Wall, by applying it to either your work or personal life.

For example, if you are an ISO, you know that change is a given in the payment industry. With mergers and acquisitions and the frequent introduction of new products and services and new competitors, you must be always on alert. If someone takes your cheese away, it's up to you whether you are willing and able to move with the cheese and enjoy it!

For more information about "Who Moved My Cheese?" and Dr. Spencer Johnson, visit the Web site, www.whomovedmycheese.com, or phone 1-800-851-9311.

Who Moved My Cheese?

An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

By Spencer Johnson, M.D.

Putnam Publishing Group, New York, 1998

ISBN: 0399144463

94 pages

Price: $11.97