Although I have yet to read it, I’m pretty confident in recommending both new and existing food and non-food entrepreneurs read Ari Weinzweig’s new book: A Lapsed Anarchist’s Approach to Building a Great Business: Zingerman’s Guide to Good Leading, Part 1 (“behind-the-scenes “secret” stuff that goes into making a very special, sustainable business of any kind”)
Hearing Ari speak yesterday in the “Small Giants” part of a great Enlightened Business teleconference, I marveled that he had taken the time to sit with me in the deli after just returning from a trip, demonstrating how well he manages: that he didn’t need to manage.
He shared that from the get-go, the team agreed to expand locally vs. grow geographically. The result is Zingerman’s community of businesses.
On the call, Ari imparted his one bit of advice that if you do anything, define your company’s vision following 4 principles:
- It should be inspiring.
- Strategically sound, doable while being hard to achieve which I take to mean if it’s too easy, it’s probably not that inspiring or grand a goal.
- Document the vision in writing.
- Communicate and teach the vision.
These are the “clif” notes. His book tells the full story.
Zingerman’s Mission in Action
A few pics from my September tour of Zingerman’s businesses…may I call it the Disneyland of business? I’d never encountered so many helpful and smiling people, clearly empowered and loving what they do. The captians refer to the mission statement above:
Selling food that makes me happy…
Giving service that made me smile…
and cajeta ice cream that mde me keep smiling from the Creamery…
Showing love and care in all their actions…
In passionate pursuit of their mission… (love the passion in the branding and graphics!)
enriched my life by showing that a successful business can have an honor box…
and by giving me great coffee from Zingerman’s Coffee Company, one of the businesses…
“It was good.”
Read more how Zingerman’s defined their vision in their newsletter (PDF) or get the book to learn how letting go of your anarchic tendencies can bring you success. (Or something like that.)
