The Larsen Group

February 24, 2008

“Voices of Transition:  The Cheese Gang and Elmer”

The Handwriting on the Wall, as experienced by Hem, Haw, Sniff and Scurry from “Who Moved My Cheese?” (including For Kids version)

by Dr. Spencer Johnson

1. Having Cheese Makes You Happy
   
2. Change Happens – they keep moving the cheese
3. Anticipate Change – get ready for the cheese to be moved
4. What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
   
5. Monitor Change – smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old
6. When you stop being afraid, you feel good!
   
7. Adapt to Change Quickly – the quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you can enjoy new cheese
8. Imagining your new cheese helps you find it!
   
9. Change – move with the cheese
10. Enjoy Change! – savor the adventure and the taste of new cheese
11. Be Ready to Quickly Change Again and Again – they keep moving the cheese

Lessons from Elmer, the Plaid Elephant, as summarized by Dr. Larsen from author David McKee

1. Most herds of elephants are all the same color and the members can be quite happy together
2. A plaid elephant can cause a lot more fun and laughter in the herd
3. But the plaid elephant can become tempted to try and be like everyone else
4. And if he does hide who he really is, not only is he not happy, but the herd is going to miss something HUGE – they may forget how to have fun and laugh
5. So when the plaid elephant allows his plaid to show again, the herd most likely will know to celebrate plaid, and realize they couldn’t live without him – just the way he is!