The new series, Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading, aims to define a new kind of workplace in the 21st century. Part 1: A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Building a Great Business, reveals some the 'secrets' and early history of Zingerman's success. The book outlines 18 important ideas including: the power of a well-written and communicated organizational vision, the real purpose of a mission statement, and the benefits reaped from developing a culture of positive appreciation. There are no miracles or get-rich-quick schemes between these pages. Just lots of sound advice on how to develop the tools and work habits that greatly increase a businesses' odds of success, whether you're selling food, fixtures, furnaces and everything in between. In this introduction to the guiding principles of the Zingerman's Community of Businesses, Weinzweig shows how 100-year-old anarchist ideas can become the core of progressive business building in the 21st century.
As a business leader, Weinzweig roots his philosophy in the writings of the early 20th-century anarchists he first studied as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan. The writings of activists who argued against a central organizational authority and advocated for putting power in the hands of individuals have contributed to his new theories of leadership and service. A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Building a Great Business explains why treating individuals with respect and helping them to pursue their dreams and passions actively engages a successful team. In chapters on visioning, positive appreciate and sustainable profits, the book illustrates how giving employees more choice leads to success. Allowing every member of the team to participate in the process of making the crucial decisions that sustain the organization and has been a cornerstone of Zingerman's approach for three decades.
This new series will appeal to anyone interested in the history of business in America or leadership in the 21st century. A Lapsed Anarchist's Approach to Building a Great Business shows how a business with the words "love" and "care" in the mission statement can achieve both profitability and community engagement while striving "to enrich as many lives as we possibly can."
Quotes:
"Zingerman's is a utopian version of corporate America in which the company leaves added value everywhere it does business. Every one of its Community of Businesses leads its category for innovation, excellence, and community-minded citizenship—and each one brilliantly benefits the others. The design is a beautiful virtuous cycle in which each of Zingerman's stakeholders wins: employees grow; customers are delighted; communities flourish; suppliers thrive and profit."
—Danny Meyer, CEO, Union Square Hospitality Group and author ofSetting the Table
[Zingerman's is] "the coolest small company in America." —Inc. Magazine
"Zingerman's is one of my favorite success stories because it proves that doing the right thing—for your employees, your customers, your vendors, and your community—comes back to you over and over. This book is the bible of karmic capitalism."
—Chip Conley, Founder, Joie de Vivre Hospitality and author of Peak
"Zingerman's is the center of my gastro-deli universe."
—Mario Batali, Chef, restaurateur and author of Molto Gusto
"Zingerman's Guide to Good Leading teaches people that with the proper tools, staff can self-manage and improve their lives and the lives of others."
—Jack Stack, Co-Founder and CEO, SRC Holdings Corp. and co-author of The Great Game of Business
"I'm a huge Zingerman's fan! As a customer, I love the authentic food and caring service. As a professor, I learn practical lessons about how to lead and run great businesses. I feature Zingerman's in my MBA and Executive courses as the business model of the future. If you seek greatness, you have to read how Zingerman's does it."
—Wayne Baker, Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan
