If just the thought of a “business seminar” puts your brain on snooze, we get it. The term brings on visions of stuffy rooms, mediocre food and endless presentations for us too!

But our ZingTrain seminars really are different—they’re designed to stimulate creativity to inspire real change. The Zingerman’s Experience, in particular, is a good starting place for any business owner, or really anyone who wants to learn the “secrets” that led to Inc. Magazine to call Zingerman’s “the coolest small business in America.”

Here are 6 (really good) reasons to attend The Zingerman’s Experience seminar :

1. You’ll learn all about what makes us tick—and how you can make your organization what you want it to be.
In other words, you’ll hear all about “Zingerman’s 12 Natural Laws of Business.” The 12 Laws are the reason Zingerman’s has become what it is today: a successful business with highly engaged employees. You can learn them, too, and adapt them to your organization. You’ll hear our take on connecting with customers, visioning, growing a great staff, good finance, and the benefits of servant leadership.

“I think our biggest takeaway was our need to re-do our vision, so that we know where we are going as a company. It is meant to inform all of our decisions, and knowing where we are going is key,” says Sarah Worley of Biscuit Love (maker of Bon Appetit’s “Best Sandwich of 2015), who took the seminar with her husband and business partner Karl Worley.

2. The seminar is always co-taught by Ari Weinzweig.
Ari is the co-founder of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses, which means he was there at the very beginning and you get to hear all about the story of how the businesses evolved pretty much from the epicenter of it all. Besides, Ari is great presenter—he’s always candid about the mistakes (mistakes can be beneficial!) that have come with success, and he leads attendees through soul-searching exercises that have the potential to enrich every type of organization. There are also plenty of opportunities to ask him your burning questions.

3. You’ll realize that even the most successful businesses aren’t perfect (a.k.a. Zingerman’s Natural Law #9)
It’s true. There’s no such thing as a perfect organization, and every single one—no matter how successful or well meaning—faces challenges. Getting creative with those challenges and growing a staff that can work past them is what makes for a resilient business. You’ll hear about some of the obstacles we’ve faced, the network of peers that you’ll meet in the seminar will also help you gain perspective and assess the strengths and weaknesses of your own organization.

4. You’ll meet (and learn from) people in different kinds of industries
At the a recent installment, in addition to folks from chocolate shops and bakeries, we also had people from the automotive industry, a kid’s dentistry group, and even academia.

When asked why she thought the seminar might apply to her daily work, Dr. Vicki Johnson-Lawrence, an assistant professor in Public Health and Health Sciences at University of Michigan-Flint, explained, “I’ve seen many academic teams work tirelessly to develop a structure that carried meaning for all of the people involved, from the overwhelmed student to the incredibly busy faculty lab director. Zingerman’s has successfully engaged and excited people across their organization to really care for the success of the organization, and I want to build a culture and team with these same attributes”

5.You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Zingerman’s
The Zingerman’s Experience includes tours of Zingeman’s Deli, Bakehouse, Creamery, Coffee Company, Mail Order and Cornman Farms, so you’ll get to experience the “vibe” at a host of very different Zingerman’s businesses and see how we work day to day. We’ll take you on a field trip to Zingerman’s Deli for lunch. During the two-day seminar, you’ll also interact with many of our employees, not just on the tours, but during an intimate panel discussion. Even better, you’ll be able to ask just about every employee you meet just about anything you like.

J.J. Pastrami Special

6. You’ll eat so much good food!
Breakfasts and lunches are catered by none other than Zingerman’s Deli and Zingerman’s Roadhouse.  Treats from Zingerman’s Candy Manufactory, Creamery, and Bakehouse are served throughout the two days. Coffee from Zingerman’s Coffee Company will keep you energized and open to inspiration. And perhaps the best part, you’ll have dinner at Zingerman’s Roadhouse where you’ll have a chance to meet co-founding Partner Paul Saginaw and maybe even some of the other Zingerman’s Managing Partners.

If you’re interested in attending The Zingerman’s Experience or any of our other seminars, visit the ZingTrain website for more info—or give us a call at 734-930-1919.