Dr. Spencer Johnson, a mind mover rather than a management guru, has written this book. He narrated a story that has changed the thought process of many distinguished personalities from different walks of life.
The Story as I perceive
There are four characters divided in two teams.
Team A – SNIFF, the mice, can become aware of change at an early stage is teamed with SCURRY, other mice, is the action guy.
Team B – HEM, a little man, a common character of our society is teamed with HAW, other little man, who believes in reality.
All of them used to go to a MAZE to get their favorite cheese. They were happy and elated about the life the way it was moving. Many days passed like that and they were over the moon.
But Sniff could notice some changes and could bring it to the notice of Scurry. What was the change? Slowly the supply of cheese started reducing. They jumped into action and started searching a better alternative. They could find a new outlet with plenty of their favorite cheese. They started going to the new place regularly.
On the other hand, Hem and Haw, a pair of little men, used to venture at the same place and were quite happy with the way things were moving. They started living a better life near the cheese station and were proud of the life style. Both were very confident about getting their cheese and even started going to the outlet quite late. In this process they failed to notice the changes. One fine day, they found the cheese station empty. They waited for sometime but cheese did not arrive. They continued to visit that place everyday and tried to analyze the problem and remain hungry for few more days. Ultimately they started starving. Hem is a typical character who is scared of change because change may bring difficulties. But starvation compelled Haw to think but could not convince his partner Hem. Haw started searching for a new outlet of cheese for survivable. In that process he learnt some lessons which he wrote on the wall and he started encouraging himself. He continued to move around the maze and could find one store and could not believe his eyes. To his surprise he could find Sniff and Scurry there who welcome him. Without wasting much time he started testing cheese of different varieties and found some of those even better. He thought about his friend Hem and instead of showing him the store he wrote a message on the wall so that Hem can find himself the new cheese outlet.
what was the message?
Change is the law of life and the cheese is going to be moved from one place to another. One has to anticipate the change and monitor the process. It is better to be conscious of the situation and get ready to get changed quickly with time. Change brings opportunities to taste the better way of living. Enjoy the change and get ready for the next change.
HAW thought
It is better to be aware of the situation instead of isolating oneself in a confined comfort zone. Enjoy the cheese of the new cheese station N but move around the Maze and lookout for the better opportunity.
My views about Change
Change is a natural phenomenon. This is a process and the oldest one that is associated with the universe. Creation of the planets from the sun is the result of this process. And the Planet Earth has changed a lot to become comfortable for the creatures living today on it. This changed process has eradicated many creatures thought to be mightier than the present ones.
Change is something that cannot be stopped. One has to accept it and be a part of it in a responsible manner. Most important is to monitor the process of change. One has to judge whether the change is for the good or for the bad. Very naturally, wise and responsible persons will be associated with the good one. The genius will give new directions to the process.
According to me, in this ever changing world definition for Looser, Survivor and a Champion are as follows:
A Looser - A person who has failed to notice a Change or who is not ready to Change with the time
A Survivor – A person who can cope with the change
A Champion – A person who can initiate a change write a success story
Indian Scenario
Indian Industry
In our country, industries have grown under the protection of regulated economy, artificial shortages and protection from internal and external competition. Due to economic liberalization Indian industry is exposed to global competition. As a result there are new realities at the market place due to shift on business focus and customer demand. Today customer has access to global market and unrestricted options. They ask for quality and service. Price is determine by the market.
It has become a buyers market and we are nervous. Trying to blame others and many of us still not taking any corrective actions. Industry is asking for more and more benefits from the government in stead of improving our productivity, technology, work culture and quality.
This drifting has taken place in last fifty years because we have tried our best to maintain our conservative approach. As a result we have become less competitive than our counterparts in countries like China, Taiwan, Korea etc.
Work Force (including seniors)
A very protected and misguided class is exploited by the trade unions. There are lots of laws to protect us from our negligence and efficiency. Fifty years back these protections were necessary to protect a worker from the sucking industrialists and also from our horrible work culture. But today the situation has changed. Laws are to be modified not only to protect us but also to protect the industries.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Due to known constrain parts of the article posted as comments