Learning to evolve with change is a life saving skill. Arnold Toynbee, a historian and author who wrote”A Study of History,” examined the rise and fall of civilizations from the past 2500 years. In his findings he found a common pattern and labeled this theory the “challenge and response.” This suggests that civilizations rise and fall based on how they respond to the challenges around them. These challenges could be environmental, social, political, or external threats. Those that adapt, lean with the change, and innovate in the face of adversity are the ones that survive. Those that ignore what’s going on around them and fail to act effectively, eventually decline and collapse. Toynbee said:
“Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.”
Failing to be aware or choosing not to see the problems, threats, enemies, and approaching crisis’ is self destructive ☠️. His studies found that it’s through creative and adaptive responses to challenges that tribes become nations, and a nation becomes an empire. They survive, prosper, face crisis, evolve, adapt, or eventually disappear with nothing more than a historical legacy.
Histories GOATs sing the same tune, and emphasize the importance of applying the challenge and response theory for businesses and individuals. Charles Darwin the father of evolution theory said:
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
Darwin’s quote reminds of David and Goliath. When the warriors of Israel went against Goliath’s strength they knew death was certain. When David confronted Goliath with his rock and sling, strength was irrelevant. Sun Tzu, one of the world’s most famous military strategist and author of the Art of War said:
“Those who are able to adapt and change in accord with the enemy and achieve victory are called divine.”
Metaphorically anything that can cause harm is an enemy. This could be digital addictions, Frankenstein foods, or choosing a night of fun at the cost of a healthy night of sleep 🛌. Whatever the enemy may be, it’s going to be dynamic and come in many faces. That many faced enemy, is a demon. And to appease it, you embrace it. The ideas and principles for embracing the many faced demon of change can be learned from a short but powerful book called “Who Moved My Cheese?”
The main idea of “Who Moved My Cheese?” is about proactively anticipating, embracing, and adapting to change. The author Spencer Johnson uses a metaphor of mice in a maze searching for cheese 🧀 🐁.
There’s Sniff, who’s a mouse that quickly sniffs out change and is constantly on the lookout for new cheese. The other mouse is named Scurry, who’s similar to Sniff, in the way that he too is quick to take action when the cheese supply dwindles or moves. The other characters are Hem, who’s a person that represents individuals resistant to change and suffer in imagination from the unknown. Haw is another person who eventually learns to lean with change and use that time to seek new opportunities.
Each of the four characters are different representations of the different approaches for dealing with change. Sniff and Scurry symbolize adaptability 🧠 and resilience🛡️. Hem represents resistance and fear of change, and Haw is an example of learning and growth.
The mice that are always chasing the cheese teach us a lesson about the importance of being flexible. This means being open-minded and having a growth mindset. Bruce Lee illustrates the strength of open mindedness and flexibility, by comparing it to the way water adapts 🌊 . He said:
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” 🫖
Being open to new ideas, new teachers and new skills we prepare ourselves to the idea of future proofing.
Future proofing is taking action now in anticipation of unpredictable change in the future. For example, in personal finance it’s recommended to put aside 3-6 months of savings in an emergency fund. Future proofing oneself in a career would come in the form of learning new skills, boosting your resume with experience, networking, and developing hobbies of interests outside of one’s career field. This may be overwhelming, but making efforts on a yearly or quarterly basis will make future proofing more manageable. The key is to do things NOW when things are stable, rather than in chaos defcon mode. When determining what activities to invest in or if there’s a sense of urgency, Johnson points out that:
“Noticing small changes early helps you adapt to the bigger changes that are to come.”
If there are rumors of layoffs at a company, more often there are tell tale signs. If you’re unsure of what those are, Google it and consult your online gurus. If you are impacted by joblessness, this is an opportunity. The book uses the metaphor of cheese to represent where we want to be. That could be more money, job security, work life balance, or a career that excites you. Change is inevitable, and it opens new paths to cheese that you didn’t know existed.
“Movement in a new direction helps you find new cheese.”
Again change is inevitable, it will stampede past us or we can choose to run along. At times we have to be the ones to force change to happen. This can be through the realization of a plateau. Johnson advises to:
“Smell the cheese often so you know when it’s getting old.”
Another scenario that leads to self inflicting change, is eloquently stated by Patrick Bet David who said:
“Change will come only when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.”
That pain comes in many forms.
It’s felt from regret of an unfulfilling life. Living an unexciting dopamine brain soaked existence. Boredom. Suffering from financial hardship. Being a slave to your job because it’s the only thing that gives you meaning. Hitting rock bottom, interpret that as you may. Or doing something dead end with no long term potential.
By embracing change we may find new doors and paths we wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. It puts us in a sink or swim mindset. And when our lives, or even the lives of our families are greatly impacted by our response to change, we realize how capable we really are. It’s about chasing the cheese in every situation. Finding the good, the opportunities, and then pivoting.
Change is inevitable, and you don’t need a crystal ball to know that it’s coming. What steps can be taken to be better future proofed? Whatever those steps may be, act quickly and don’t wait to be acted upon.
Have fun chasing the cheese. Enjoy it when you get it. Toss it when it gets old, and sniff out the new one around the corner.
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