The story begins with a character, Fred, discovering that their iceberg home is melting. This crisis sets the stage for urgency and the need for change.

Urgency and Change

A small group of penguins, led by Fred, recognizes the urgency and the need for a new direction. They develop a vision for finding a new home and communicate it effectively.

Leadership and Vision

The penguins face resistance from others who are skeptical or afraid of change. The narrative highlights the importance of addressing concerns and gaining buy-in from the entire community.

Overcoming Resistance

Fred assembles a guiding team with diverse skills and personalities to navigate the challenges of change. Each team member contributes to the success of the mission.

Creating a Guiding Team

Clear and transparent communication is crucial during times of change. The penguins use various means, including town meetings, to keep everyone informed about the situation and the plan.

Communication and Transparency

Empowering others to take action is essential. The guiding team encourages individuals to contribute their unique strengths and take responsibility for specific tasks.

Empowering Action

Celebrating small successes along the way helps maintain morale and motivation. Recognizing achievements boosts the team's confidence and reinforces the importance of the overall goal.

Celebrating Small Wins

The journey is not without obstacles, including natural predators and unforeseen challenges. The penguins adapt and problem-solve to overcome these hurdles.

Dealing with Obstacles

The story emphasizes the importance of sustainability. Finding a new home is not just about immediate survival but establishing a foundation for long-term success.

Sustainability and Long-Term Success

The experience of change leads to a cultural transformation within the penguin community. New behaviors and attitudes become ingrained, fostering a more adaptable and resilient culture.

Cultural Transformation

Change is a continuous process. The penguins learn from their experiences, adapt to new circumstances, and remain open to further improvements.

Learning and Adapting

"Our Iceberg Is Melting" by John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber is a fable that uses the story of a penguin colony facing a melting iceberg as an allegory for organizational change.

The revised and updated tenth anniversary edition of the classic, beloved business fable that has changed millions of lives in organizations around the world.   Our Iceberg Is Melting is a simple story about doing well under the stress and uncertainty of rapid change. Based on the award-winning work of Harvard Business School’s John Kotter, it can help you and your colleagues thrive during tough times.   On an iceberg near the coast of Antarctica, group of beautiful emperor pen­guins live as they have for many years. Then one curious bird discovers a potentially devastating problem threatening their home—and almost no one listens to him.   The characters in the story—Fred, Alice, Louis, Buddy, the Professor, and NoNo—are like people you probably recognize in your own organization, including yourself. Their tale is one of resistance to change and heroic action, seemingly intractable obstacles and clever tactics for dealing with those obstacles. The penguins offer an inspiring model as we all struggle to adapt to new circumstances.   Our Iceberg Is Melting is based on John Kotter's pioneer­ing research into the eight steps that can produce needed change in any sort of group. After finishing the story, you'll have a powerful framework for influencing your own team, no matter how big or small. This tenth anniversary edition preserves the text of the timeless story, together with new illustrations, a revised afterword, and a Q&A with the authors about the responses they've gotten over the past decade. Prepare to be both enlightened and delighted, whether you're already a fan of this classic fable or are discovering it for the first time.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

corporateculture

Corporate Culture

habits

Habits

communication

Communication

teamwork

Teamwork

John Kotter

Holger Rathgeber

Our Iceberg Is Melting

The rule is straightforward: when you have an impulse to act on a goal or make a decision, count down from five and physically move. This interrupts hesitation and propels you into action.

Understand the 5 Second Rule

Overthinking can lead to inaction. The 5 Second Rule helps break the cycle of overanalyzing by prompting immediate, instinctive decisions.

Break the Habit of Overthinking

Utilize the 5 Second Rule for various decisions, from getting out of bed in the morning to making healthier food choices. It encourages a proactive mindset.

Apply the Rule to Everyday Decisions

Taking immediate action through the 5 Second Rule builds confidence. Each small victory reinforces a sense of empowerment and capability.

Boost Confidence

Procrastination often stems from the hesitation to start a task. The 5 Second Rule interrupts this hesitation, making it easier to initiate and complete tasks.

Overcome Procrastination

Use the rule to establish positive habits by applying it consistently. It becomes a tool to replace undesirable behaviors with constructive ones.

Create Positive Habits

The rule can be a powerful tool to manage fear and anxiety. By counting down and acting, you override fear-based reactions and regain control.

Manage Fear and Anxiety

Use the 5 Second Rule in social situations to overcome shyness or anxiety. Counting down and taking action can help initiate conversations and build connections.

Apply to Social Situations

Apply the rule to enhance productivity by overcoming procrastination and initiating tasks promptly. This leads to a more efficient use of time.

Improve Productivity

Use the rule for quick decision-making. By counting down and committing to a choice, you avoid overthinking and indecision.

Enhance Decision-Making

The 5 Second Rule instigates a mindset shift from hesitation to immediate action. It trains the brain to respond assertively to opportunities and challenges.

Mindset Shift

Practice the 5 Second Rule consistently to make it a habit. The more you use it, the more automatic and effective it becomes in transforming your life and work.

Continuous Application

"The 5 Second Rule" by Mel Robbins introduces a simple but powerful technique to overcome procrastination and take immediate action in various aspects of life. The core idea is to count backward from five to one and physically move to interrupt hesitation and trigger positive behavior. 

Throughout your life, you've had parents, coaches, teachers, friends, and mentors who have pushed you to be better than your excuses and bigger than your fears. What if the secret to having the confidence and courage to enrich your life and work is simply knowing how to push yourself?Using the science habits, riveting stories and surprising facts from some of the most famous moments in history, art and business, Mel Robbins will explain the power of a &quot;push moment.&quot; Then, she'll give you one simple tool you can use to become your greatest self. It take just five seconds to use this tool, and every time you do, you'll be in great company. More than 8 million people have watched Mel's TEDx Talk, and executives inside of the world's largest brands are using the tool to increase productivity, collaboration, and engagement.In The 5 Second Rule, you'll discover it takes just five seconds to:Become confidentBreak the habit of procrastination and self-doubtBeat fear and uncertaintyStop worrying and feel happierShare your ideas with courageThe 5 Second Rule is a simple, one-size-fits-all solution for the one problem we all face—we hold ourselves back.The secret isn't knowing what to do—it's knowing how to make yourself do it. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial}

productivity

Productivity

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

career

Career

timemanagement

Time Management

Melanie Robbins is an American podcast host, author, motivational speaker, and former lawyer. She is known for her TEDx talk, "How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over"; and her books, The 5 Second Rule and The High 5 Habit, as well as host of The Mel Robbins Podcast.

Mel Robbins

The 5 Second Rule

Small, consistent changes in behavior, or "atomic habits," can lead to significant and lasting improvements over time. Focus on making tiny adjustments for long-term success.

Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results

Habits follow a loop of cue, craving, response, and reward. Understanding and manipulating this loop can help in establishing or breaking habits effectively.

Habit Loop

Shift your focus from setting goals to defining your identity. Habits are more likely to stick when they align with your self-perception.

Identity-Based Habits

Integrate new habits into existing routines by stacking them on top of current behaviors. This minimizes resistance and makes habit formation seamless.

Habit Stacking

Break down habits into tasks that take less than two minutes to complete. Starting a habit with a small, manageable action makes it easier to build momentum.

The Two-Minute Rule

Alter your environment to make desired habits more convenient and undesirable habits less accessible. Designing your surroundings can significantly impact your behavior.

Environment Design

Attach a negative consequence or visual cue to undesirable habits to make them less appealing. This strategy helps in breaking the cycle of negative behaviors.

Make Bad Habits Unattractive

Provide immediate rewards for positive habits to reinforce their development. The more immediate the reward, the more effective it is in solidifying the habit loop.

Immediate Rewards

Monitor and track your habits to create awareness and accountability. Seeing progress encourages continued effort and reinforces positive behaviors.

Habit Tracking

Habits often appear to make little difference in the early stages but compound over time. Be patient, as the most significant changes often occur after consistent effort.

Plateau of Latent Potential

Instead of solely focusing on end goals, concentrate on building systems and processes that support positive habits. Sustainable habits lead to long-term success.

Focus on Systems, Not Goals

Embrace the philosophy of continuous improvement. Small improvements, consistently applied, lead to remarkable long-term results.

Continuous Improvement

Atomic Habits" by James Clear is a bestselling self-help book that delves into the science of habits, providing actionable insights to build positive habits and break detrimental ones.

The #1 New York Times bestseller. Over 10 million copies sold! Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. If you're having trouble changing your habits, the problem isn't you. The problem is your system. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don't want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change. You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Here, you'll get a proven system that can take you to new heights. Clear is known for his ability to distill complex topics into simple behaviors that can be easily applied to daily life and work. Here, he draws on the most proven ideas from biology, psychology, and neuroscience to create an easy-to-understand guide for making good habits inevitable and bad habits impossible. Along the way, readers will be inspired and entertained with true stories from Olympic gold medalists, award-winning artists, business leaders, life-saving physicians, and star comedians who have used the science of small habits to master their craft and vault to the top of their field. Learn how to: <ul><li>make time for new habits (even when life gets crazy);</li></ul><ul><li>overcome a lack of motivation and willpower;</li></ul><ul><li>design your environment to make success easier;</li></ul><ul><li>get back on track when you fall off course;</li></ul>...and much more. Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.

education

Learning & Education

James Clear is the author of "Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones" He writes about habits, decision-making, and continuous improvement at jamesclear.com. His website receives millions of visitors each month and hundreds of thousands subscribe to his popular email newsletter.His work has appeared in the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Time, and on CBS This Morning. He is a regular speaker at Fortune 500 companies and his work is used by teams in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Learn more at jamesclear.com

James Clear

Atomic Habits

The book emphasizes that change is a natural part of life and is inevitable. It is essential to accept that things will not always stay the same.

Change is Inevitable

Successful individuals and organizations anticipate and prepare for change. Instead of being caught off guard, develop a mindset that expects and embraces change.

Anticipate Change

People react to change differently. The characters in the story represent different approaches to change, from immediate acceptance to resistance and fear.

Reacting to Change

Adaptability is a crucial factor in navigating change successfully. The ability to adjust one's mindset and approach when faced with new circumstances is essential.

Adaptability is Key

Change often brings new opportunities. Instead of clinging to the past or resisting change, look for ways to leverage new situations for personal and professional growth.

Embrace New Opportunities

Fear of the unknown can hinder progress. The book encourages readers to face change without fear and to view it as a chance for adventure and discovery.

Don't Fear Change

Holding onto the past can be a barrier to future success. The characters learn that dwelling on what was lost prevents them from moving forward.

Let Go of the Past

The "cheese" in the story is a metaphor for what people want in life, whether it's success, happiness, relationships, or fulfillment. The story encourages readers to reflect on their own "cheese" and how they pursue it.

Cheese as a Metaphor

The characters learn the importance of regularly monitoring the environment for changes. This proactive approach helps in staying ahead of potential challenges and adapting quickly.

Monitoring Change

Being flexible and open to innovation are key components of adapting to change. The characters who successfully navigate change embrace creative solutions and are open to trying new things.

Flexibility and Innovation

The book underscores the importance of taking personal responsibility for one's own happiness and success. Rather than blaming external factors, individuals have the power to control their reactions and choices.

Personal Responsibility

Embracing change involves continuous learning and self-improvement. The characters who succeed are those who actively seek new knowledge and are willing to evolve.

Continuous Learning

"Who Moved My Cheese?" encourages readers to reflect on their attitudes toward change and provides valuable insights into navigating the uncertainties of life and work with a positive and adaptable mindset.

Summary

"Who Moved My Cheese?" by Dr. Spencer Johnson is a motivational business fable that uses a simple allegory to convey profound messages about change, adaptability, and embracing new opportunities. 

THE #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER WITH OVER 28 MILLION COPIES IN PRINT! A timeless business classic, Who Moved My Cheese? uses a simple parable to reveal profound truths about dealing with change so that you can enjoy less stress and more success in your work and in your life. It would be all so easy if you had a map to the Maze. If the same old routines worked. If they'd just stop moving "The Cheese." But things keep changing... Most people are fearful of change, both personal and professional, because they don't have any control over how or when it happens to them. Since change happens either to the individual or by the individual, Dr. Spencer Johnson, the coauthor of the multimillion bestseller The One Minute Manager, uses a deceptively simple story to show that when it comes to living in a rapidly changing world, what matters most is your attitude. Exploring a simple way to take the fear and anxiety out of managing the future, Who Moved My Cheese? can help you discover how to anticipate, acknowledge, and accept change in order to have a positive impact on your job, your relationships, and every aspect of your life.

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

strategy

Strategy

Spencer Johnson, M.D. left behind a medical career to write short books about life. The most famous was “Who Moved My Cheese?" published in 1998. The book became a publishing phenomenon and a workplace manual. Over 50 million copies of Spencer Johnson’s books are in use worldwide in 47 languages.Dr. Johnson's education included a psychology degree from the University of Southern California, a M.D. from the Royal College of Surgeons and medical clerkships at Harvard Medical School and the Mayo Clinic.

Spencer Johnson

Who Moved My Cheese?

Identify and prioritize tasks based on their importance. Tackle high-priority tasks first, especially those that contribute significantly to your goals.

Prioritize Tasks

Address your most challenging and important task early in the day. By doing so, you set a positive tone for the rest of the day and prevent procrastination.

Eat the Biggest Frog First

Use time blocking to allocate specific time slots for different activities. This helps in staying focused on one task at a time and avoiding multitasking.

Time Blocking

Clearly define your goals, both short-term and long-term. This clarity provides direction and motivation, making it easier to prioritize tasks.

Set Clear Goals

Divide large tasks into smaller, more manageable sub-tasks. This makes the workload less overwhelming and helps in maintaining a sense of progress.

Break Down Tasks:

Recognize that not all tasks are equally important. The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, suggests that a small percentage of tasks contribute to the majority of results. Focus on the vital few tasks that yield the most significant outcomes.

Apply the 80/20 Rule:

Overcome procrastination by taking immediate action. The longer a task is delayed, the more challenging it becomes to start. Break the cycle by starting tasks promptly.

Avoid Procrastination

Visualize the successful completion of tasks. This positive visualization can boost motivation and create a sense of accomplishment.

Visualize Success

Recognize your limits and be willing to say no to tasks that don't align with your priorities. This helps in avoiding overcommitment and burnout.

Learn to Say No

Continuously seek ways to improve your efficiency and time management skills. Experiment with different techniques and strategies to find what works best for you.

Shift your focus from being busy to achieving results. Measure success by the impact of your efforts rather than the amount of time spent on tasks.

Focus on Results:

Be proactive in managing your time. Set clear boundaries, minimize distractions, and establish a routine that supports your productivity.

Take Control of Your Time

"Eat That Frog!" by Brian Tracy is a motivational and practical book on time management and overcoming procrastination. The title metaphorically suggests that if the most challenging task of your day is comparable to eating a live frog, you should tackle it first thing in the morning. 

The motivational classic with more than 1.5 million copies sold will help you stop procrastinating and get more of the important things done—today!   There just isn’t enough time for everything on our to-do list—and there never will be. Successful people don’t try to do everything. They learn to focus on the most important tasks and make sure those get done. They eat their frogs.   There’s an old saying that if the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re done with the worst thing you’ll have to do all day. For Tracy, eating a frog is a metaphor for tackling your most challenging task—but also the one that can have the greatest positive impact on your life. Eat That Frog—Snapshots shows you how to organize each day so you can zero in on these critical tasks and accomplish them efficiently and effectively.   In this fully redesigned and illustrative edition, Tracy explains how you can use technology to remind yourself of what is most important and protect yourself from what is least important. But one thing remains unchanged: Brian Tracy cuts to the core of what is vital to effective time management: decision, discipline, and determination. This life-changing book will ensure that you get more of your important tasks done—today!

Brian Tracy is Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of individuals and organizations.He has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 5,000,000 people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the US, Canada and 55 other countries worldwide. As a Keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year.Brian has studied, researched, written and spoken for 30 years in the fields of economics, history, business, philosophy and psychology. He is the top selling author of over 45 books that have been translated into dozens of languages.

Brian Tracy

Eat That Frog

Establish a reliable system to collect all tasks, ideas, and commitments. This could be a physical inbox, a digital tool, or a combination of both. The goal is to ensure that nothing is left to memory, freeing the mind for more focused thinking.

Capture

For each captured item, clarify what the next actionable step is. If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately. If it requires more time or planning, decide on the next specific action needed to move it forward. This eliminates ambiguity and makes tasks more manageable.

Clarify

Once clarified, organize tasks into categories. Use context lists to group tasks based on the tools, location, or energy level required to complete them. Prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency, and maintain separate lists for different aspects of your life or work.

Organize

Regularly review your task lists to stay on top of commitments. Conduct a weekly review to reassess priorities, update lists, and ensure that everything is in order. Reflecting on your tasks and commitments helps prevent things from slipping through the cracks.

Reflect

With a well-organized system in place, engage with your tasks in a focused and present manner. Make decisions on what to work on based on your current context and priorities. By having a clear system, you can confidently choose the most important and impactful task at any given moment.

Engage

"Getting Things Done" (GTD) by David Allen is a time management and productivity methodology that provides a systematic approach to organizing tasks, managing commitments, and reducing stress. 

In today's world, yesterday's methods just don't work. In Getting Things Done, veteran coach and management consultant David Allen shares the breakthrough methods for stress-free performance that he has introduced to tens of thousands of people across the country. Allen's premise is simple: our productivity is directly proportional to our ability to relax. Only when our minds are clear and our thoughts are organized can we achieve effective productivity and unleash our creative potential. In Getting Things Done Allen shows how to: Apply the &quot;do it, delegate it, defer it, drop it&quot; rule to get your in-box to empty Reassess goals and stay focused in changing situations Plan projects as well as get them unstuck Overcome feelings of confusion, anxiety, and being overwhelmed Feel fine about what you're not doing From core principles to proven tricks, Getting Things Done can transform the way you work, showing you how to pick up the pace without wearing yourself down.

David Allen is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. David Allen has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. David Allen's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

David Allen

Getting Things Done

Find activities that bring you joy and fulfillment, aligning with your deepest interests and desires.

Discover your passion (What you love)

Cultivate and hone your talents, investing time and effort to become proficient in areas that resonate with your passion.

Develop your skills (What you are good at)

Identify ways to use your skills and passion to make a positive impact on others and the world around you.

Contribute to the world (What the world needs)

Seek avenues where your skills and passion can be monetized, allowing you to sustain a living while pursuing your ikigai.

Attain financial reward (What you can be paid for)

"Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" introduces the concept of ikigai, a Japanese philosophy emphasizing the pursuit of a purposeful and fulfilling life. The book explores the convergence of passion, vocation, mission, and profession, guiding readers to discover their unique "reason for being" and achieve a harmonious and contented existence.

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • 1.5 MILLION+ COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE “Workers looking for more fulfilling positions should start by identifying their ikigai.” ―Business Insider   “One of the unintended—yet positive—consequences of the [pandemic] is that it is forcing people to reevaluate their jobs, careers, and lives. Use this time wisely, find your personal ikigai, and live your best life.” ―Forbes Find your ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) to live longer and bring more meaning and joy to all your days. “Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.” —Japanese proverb   According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai—a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai—where what you love, what you’re good at, what you can get paid for, and what the world needs all overlap—means that each day is infused with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning. It’s also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there’s no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they’ve found a real purpose in life—the happiness of always being busy. In researching this book, the authors interviewed the residents of the Japanese village with the highest percentage of 100-year-olds—one of the world’s Blue Zones. Ikigai reveals the secrets to their longevity and happiness: how they eat, how they move, how they work, how they foster collaboration and community, and—their best-kept secret—how they find the ikigai that brings satisfaction to their lives. And it provides practical tools to help you discover your own ikigai. Because who doesn’t want to find happiness in every day?

philosophy

Philosophy

Hector Garcia was born in Spain in 1981 and has been living in Tokyo since 2004. During his spare time he writes aGeekinJapan.com, one of the most widely-read blogs in the world in Spanish and in English, as well as books about his experiences in Japan. He is the author of the bestsellers: Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life and A Geek in Japan. You can find more of Hector's musings at ageekinjapan.com

Héctor García

Francesc Miralles Contijoch is a Catalan writer, essayist, translator, and musician.

Our Iceberg Is Melting

The 5 Second Rule

Atomic Habits

Who Moved My Cheese?

Eat That Frog

Arun shanmugaraj