To all RexRoundtable Members: REX has added a major training component to its Roundtable member services. Seven workshops to enable you to use the brains you hired. A partnership of Rex Roundtables for Executives and ZingTrain, the internationally famous training arm of the Zingerman's Family of Businesses. Many of you know about their extraordinary business from their INC Magazine article—The Coolest Small Company in America—Jan 2003 by Bo Burlingham. This company was the trigger that led the author to search out other companies that decided to become great instead of big. Bo Burlingham (same editor that wrote the Inc. Magazine cover article on Joe Cirulli) reported his research and insights in Small Giants. One of the rare books that reports on extraordinary small businesses instead of the usual business school books, articles and training based on the same 170 large public companies such as Disney, HP, GE, etc. Zingerman's Deli has grown into a multi faceted business with over $35 million in revenue. They have focused so well on being great, that the usual fears of competition have dwindled. In order to support their growth and greatness, they developed their own approach to training for small businesses. They offer a dozen distinctive workshops. Seven of these apply equally to all small businesses. They cover many of the topics we regularly address in REX Roundtables such as open book management, leadership and customer service. Best as I can tell, there is no other constellation of seminars like this anywhere else in the world. Banish the image of sterile banquet rooms, bad coffee and uninspired PowerPoint presentations. Their seminars are held in a dedicated training space close enough so you can visit their many businesses in action. Here are the benefits in their training which will be of great value to all REX Roundtable members: Extremely well thought out training which is built on practical experience and strong management models like the Adizes materials many of you know well. Free of academic theory and history; these workshops get right to the point. Highly engaging; no Power Point and little lecturing. Very sophisticated and deep yet easy to grasp. The same workshops work for front line staff and CEOs. Readily available so you can rely on their programs for training new staff year after year. You will sit side by side with Zingerman execs and associates in these trainings as well as rubbing shoulders with owners and staff from other industries. WHY TRAINING? In all the big company consulting I have done the impact and implementation was always improved when we ran parallel training programs. When the Sabre System of American Airlines was a client, I led over thirty workshops for staff. One of the challenges whic as a Roundtable Member is how to take the ideas from the Roundtable back home and implement them. Training your staff is one of the primary ways of doing this. REX is focused on Roundtables not training. Now we have RexZingTraining® to provide the highest quality, right on target training for you and all your staff. As REX members use this training we will also develop a common language and focus for many of the key elements of your success. We will be announcing the courses and prices shortly. And all REX Roundtable members will be receiving a discount. SIGN UP NOW The first workshop which I recommend for you is Small Giants: Creating A Vision of Greatness. Special guest presenter, Bo Burlingham, author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big, joins Zingerman's co-founder, Ari Weinzweig for this powerful ZingTrain seminar. I will also be attending this workshop for the second time. Are you struggling with how to grow your business? Do you feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of "opportunities" that confront you? Does the idea of growing as big as you can, as fast as you can, leave you uninspired (and exhausted)? In researching his book, Bo Burlingham uncovered a whole group of companies that chose alternative routes to success. Learn what qualities distinguish these organizations and explore whether or not the Small Giants' path is a viable route for you. And learn how to use an elegantly simple process of visioning to unite your company in its daily activities through a common and inspiring vision. This powerful tool can be used for the whole company and in each department as well as for any new project. Zingermans' has figured out how to make visioning really work for you. WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS and SIGN UP at ZingTrain.com. COME EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT On March 9th in San Diego, before IHRSA REX is planning to have Maggie Bayless, head of ZingTrain present a unique approach to Customer Service (especially for those who have tried and are frustrated with Fortune 500 Customer Training approaches or lost steam on your FISHing). This will be part of a special REX Roundtable Event for all members. ROUNDTABLES AND ZINGERMANS Rex will be coaching ZingTrain partner, Maggie Bayless, to lead a mixed industry Roundtable for all the companies that use the Zingermans approach to business as presented in their many workshops. Participants agree the workshops are fabulous and have been crying for a follow up process to help them implement what they learn back home. ZingTrain has selected the REX Roundtable model to do this. As usual we are open to questions and comments to improve everything in REX Roundtables. Will Phillips, President and CEO REX Roundtables for Executives. Recommended ZingTrain Seminars The Zingermans Experience—An overview of the systems and culture. Small Giants—Led by author Bo Burlingham and Zingerman’s CEO Ari Weinzweig, CEO of Zingermans. This seminar explores a simple visioning process to focus an organization’s energy and behavior to achieve the desired results. Leading With Zing—An innovative approach to lead and manage that cuts bureaucracy, decreases frustration and increases job satisfaction and improves bottom line results. Fun, Flavorful Finance—The Zingerman’s approach to Open Book Management. Helps manage in all types of economic environments, reduces leadership stress and gets everyone on board driving financial results on a daily basis. The Art Of Giving Great Service—Tangible tools for stunning service. An amazing differentiator. Bottom Line Training—Learn how to train your staff in a new and different way. Simple and effective tools to develop clear expectations and engage everyone in improving the business. Working With Zing—Building people systems that support your values and culture. How to hire, coach and manage employees. These Seminars are 2 days long, occur in Ann Arbor {allows you to see the training in action at Zingermans eight businesses} and cost $975 each without the REX Discount. Registration—Contact ZingTrain directly at 734-930-1919 or ZingTrain.com. Tell them you are a REX Roundtable member. In house seminars customized to your company are available. More seminar details at ZingTrain.com.