why change shouldn't happen to me. So I was pretty upset at the time.\
Some of their former classmates who had been quiet in the beginning felt more comfortable now and spoke up, including Frank, who had gone into the military.
\want to see it. They kept relocating his people. We all tried to talk to him about the many other opportunities that existed in the company for those who wanted to be flexible, but he didn't think he had to change. He was the only one who was surprised when his department closed. Now he's having a hard time adjusting to the change he didn't think should happen.\
Jessica said, \once.\
Many in the group laughed, except Nathan.
\ \
He added, \ Unfortunately we didn't want to see the changes coming in our business, and now it's too late - we're having to close many of our stories.\
That surprised many in the group, because they thought Nathan was lucky to be in a secure business he could depend on, year after year.
\ Jessica wanted to know.
\its huge inventory and low prices. We just could compete with that.
\ We stayed where we were and didn't change. We tried to ignore what was happening and now we are in trouble. We could have taken a lesson or two from Haw.\
Laura, who had become a successful business-woman, had been listening, but had said very little until now. \thought about the story this afternoon too,\she said. \wondered how I could be
more like Haw and see what I'm doing wrong; laugh at myself; change and do better.\
She said, \curious. How many here are afraid of change?\ No one responded, so she suggested, \
Only one hand went up. \ And then continued, \you'll like this next question better. How many here think other people are afraid of change?\ Everyone raised their hands. Then they all started laughing.
\
\
Michael admitted, \we're not even aware that we're afraid. I know I wasn't. When I first heard the story, I loved the question, \
Then Jessica added, \afraid of it, or whether I like it, or not.
\remember years ago when our company was selling sets of encyclopedia books. One person tried to tell us that we should put our whole encyclopedia on a single computer disk and sell it for a fraction of the cost. It would cost us so much less to manufacture and so many more people could afford it. But we all resisted.\
\ Nathan asked.
\on people door-to-door. Keeping our sales force depended on the big commissions they earned from the high price of our product. We had been doing this successfully for a long time and thought it would go on forever.\
\
\
\
that the 'Cheese' has a life of its own and eventually runs out.
\we didn't change. But a competitor did and our sales fell badly. We've been going through a difficult time. Now, another big technological change is happening in the industry and no one at the company seems to want to deal with it. It doesn't look good. I think I could be out of a job soon.\
\ Carlos called out. Everyone laughed, including Jessica.
Carlos turned to Jessica and said, \
Frank offered, \ I tend to take myself too seriously. I noticed how Haw changed when he could finally laugh at himself and at what he was doing. No wonder he was called Haw.\
Angela asked, \
Elaine said, \
\ \ I see people like Hem in my medical practice. They feel entitled to their 'Cheese'. They feel like victims when it's taken away and blame others. They get sicker than people who let go and move on.\
Then Nathan said quietly, as though he was talking to himself, \need to let go and what do we need to move on to?\
No one said anything for a while.
\wouldn't affect us. I guess it's a lot better to initiate change while you can than it is to try to react and adjust to it. Maybe we should move our own Cheese.\
\
Nathan answered, %under all our old stores and built a great modern store to compete with the best of them.\
Laura said, \that's what Haw meant when he wrote on the wall 'Savor the adventure and move with the Cheese.'\
Frank said, \think some things shouldn't change. For example, I want to hold on to my basic values. But I realize now that I would be better off if I had moved with the 'Cheese' a lot sooner in my life.\
\put in use in your company?\
The group didn't know it yet, but Richard was experiencing some changes himself. Recently separated from his wife, he was now trying to balance his career with raising his teenagers.
Michael replied, \when I should have been looking ahead and paying attention to where we were going.
\ I wasn't a lot of fun to be around. I was in a rat race and I couldn't get out.
\after I first heard the story of \My Cheese?\and saw how Haw changed,\Michael continued, \ And to do it so clearly and realistically that I and the other people I worked with could all enjoy changing and succeeding together.\
\ \Haw ran past his fear and painted a picture in his mind of finding 'New Cheese'. Running through the maze became less fearful and more enjoyable. And he eventually got a better deal.\
Richard, who had been frowning during the discussion, said, \manager's been telling me our company needs to change. I think what she's really telling me is that I need to, but I haven't wanted to hear it. I guess I never really knew what the 'New Cheese' was that she was trying to move us to. Or how I could gain from it.\
A slightly grin crossed Richard's face as he said, \must admit I like this idea of seeing 'New Cheese' and imagining yourself enjoying it. It lightens everything up. It lessens the fear and gets
