Introduction: Make Your Own Cheese by Imad DeirAtany

This book, Make Your Own Cheese by Imad DeirAtany is in response to Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson. Both books are about change management. In the classic, Who Moved My Cheese, when the characters eat up the cheese, the expectation is that they seek more cheese elsewhere. But instead of constantly searching for new cheese, what if they made their own cheese?

That’s the question Imad DeirAtany asks in his book. And it’s a legitimate question. Instead of competing for cheese, make cheese. In both stories, cheese is a metaphor for change.

It offers insights and strategies for personal and professional growth. The book encourages readers to take ownership of their lives and careers. And provides practical advice on how to overcome obstacles, embrace change, and create their own opportunities.

One strength of the book is its practicality. The author provides practical advice and strategies that readers can apply to their own lives and careers. The author also provides examples and anecdotes that illustrate the principles and strategies outlined in the book.

Summary of Make Your Own Cheese by Imad DeirAtany

Make Your Own Cheese by Imad DeirAtany is about being proactive and making a change instead of adapting to it. In this story, there are six characters. The mice, Sniff and Scurry; the little people Hem and Haw, and the new characters, the big people, Mei and Yoo. During the days, these six characters spent their time looking for their own special cheese. This means they were looking for what they liked.

“The mice. Sniff and Scurry, possessing simple brains and good instincts, searched for the hard nibbling cheese they liked, as mice often do. The two Little people, Hem and Haw, used their complex brains, filled with many beliefs and emotions, to search for a very different kind of Cheese- with a capital C- which they believed would make them feel happy and successful.”

The new characters, Mei and Yoo, differed from the others.

“The two Big people, Mei and Yoo, beside their complex brains that filled with many beliefs and emotions, they used their own skills, senses, and their ability to learn and willingness to act differently.”

Although the Big people were looking for cheese like the other four characters, they wanted more and so were looking beyond that. Mei and Yoo are questioners. So they wanted to know where the cheese was coming from. They wanted to know if there was no more cheese, how could they make more? The cheese has to come from somewhere.

They would take home some of the cheese. And take some cheese to store and some to examine. The Little people and the mice were concerned only with consuming the cheese they found. Mei and Yoo bought some books to find out how they could make different cheeses.

If you know the story, Who Moved My Cheese, you know already that one day the two mice and little people found no more cheese at Station C. But Mei and Yoo were uncomfortable not knowing where the cheese was coming from. They didn’t like the idea of depending on some unknown person. What if these unknown people decided they didn’t want to make cheese anymore? Then what?

Yoo and Mei decided one would look for new cheese while the other would be tasked with making cheese. They’re mitigating the risks. But, in the story, when Yoo found ready-made cheese, he’s no longer interested in making cheese and he thinks that the cheese that Mei made tastes awful.

Start somewhere. Be a beginner before you can become an expert. Yoo invests only one week to help Mei improve the taste of the cheese. Eventually Mei consulted with an expert to find out why the cheese he made was awful. The expert advised him that the components he needed to make tasty cheese were in another maze. Mei would have to move to another maze.

Make Your Own Cheese has some very important lessons. Although Mei and Yoo were good friends, they ended up going their own way. Yoo loved the comfortable and the easy, while Mei wanted to make his own cheese. Mei was persistent. He spent a lot of time moving from maze-to-maze in search of the components that the expert told him was necessary to make tasty cheese.

There were days when he was weary, but he refused to give up. One day, he found what he was looking for. He kept on following the instructions that the expert gave him to make tasty cheese. And one day, he succeeded.

Mei never forgot his friend Yoo. He sent a package of the cheese he made. Yoo packed his bags and went to the maze where Mei was in. Yoo recognized his limitations. He didn’t want to make his own cheese. And that’s okay. However, he recommended to Mei that they share their new cheese with the other four characters, and with the world.

In the story, you have another option available to you. And that’s making your own cheese. Many people will not choose that option. Deciding to make your cheese won’t be easy, and you have to be prepared to make sacrifices and be persistent. Are you up for the journey to make your own cheese?

Conclusion: Make Your Own Cheese by Imad DeirAtany

Make Your Own Cheese by Imad DeirAtany offers valuable insights and practical strategies for personal and professional growth. By encouraging readers to take ownership of their lives and careers, the book empowers them to overcome obstacles, embrace change, and create their own opportunities.

With a focus on cultivating a growth mindset, developing resilience, and pursuing passions with dedication and purpose, Make Your Own Cheese offers a roadmap for success in any field. Whether you are just starting out on your journey or looking to make a significant change, this book provides a valuable resource for anyone seeking to create a fulfilling and rewarding life.

Next Steps

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