Vision Provides a Clear Target

Cathie Leimbach • January 20, 2025

Ari Weinzweig, co-founder of Zingerman's, takes vision statements seriously. For him, a vision statement is not just a few lines; it’s often a page or two long, painting a vivid and inspiring picture of the future. He believes that a good vision should describe what people will see and feel when they achieve their goals. It should include details about the environment, the atmosphere, and the experiences that make it special.


Creating a powerful vision is essential for success. It needs to be inspiring and strategically sound, guiding everyone involved toward a common goal. Ari emphasizes that writing down this vision is just the first step. It’s equally important to communicate it effectively so that everyone understands and shares the excitement.


Now, Ari trains others to develop their own vision statements that inspire success. He encourages people to think deeply about their dreams and aspirations, helping them craft visions that motivate and unite their teams. By focusing on a clear, inspiring vision, individuals and organizations can create a strong sense of purpose and direction. Ari Weinzweig’s approach reminds us that a well-crafted vision can be a powerful tool for achieving great things.



As you step into 2025, take an hour or two in a quiet, comfortable place to think about what would make the year ahead your best year yet. What do you want your spiritual life to be like? Your home life? Your work life? If you had an ideal life, what would that feel like? What would you experience? What would you accomplish? Jot down your answers to these questions and review them every day. Staying focused on the important things in your life, will bring more joy to you and enable you to show more love to others. May focusing on your Vision help you experience a Happy New Year!

The Power of Reflective Listening at Work

By Cathie Leimbach • April 22, 2025
Have you ever felt like someone wasn't really hearing you? Reflective listening can fix that problem in the workplace. Reflective listening means truly understanding what someone is saying before you respond. When a coworker is speaking, focus completely on their words instead of planning what you'll say next. Many of us start forming responses while others are still talking, which means we miss important parts of their message. True listening requires patience and practice. To become a reflective listener, start by giving your full attention. Put away your phone, turn away from your computer, and make eye contact. Then, after the person finishes speaking, briefly summarize what you heard. You might say, "So what I'm hearing is..." This shows you were truly listening and gives them a chance to clarify if needed. The benefits of reflective listening are huge. It reduces misunderstandings, builds trust between coworkers, and helps solve problems more effectively. People feel valued when they're truly heard, which creates a more positive workplace. With practice, reflective listening becomes a habit that improves all your work relationships. Remember: listen first, respond second. Your workplace will be better for it.

The Self-Discipline of a Growth Mindset

By Cathie Leimbach • April 15, 2025
A growth mindset means believing you can get smarter and develop new skills through hard work and practice. People with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to grow. On the other hand, a fixed mindset means thinking your talents and abilities cannot change much, no matter how hard you try. People with a growth mindset are more likely to exercise self-discipline to learn new behaviors. This helps us adapt to new opportunities. When we push ourselves to try different approaches, we open doors that would otherwise remain closed. This takes courage and commitment, especially at first when new ways of doing things feel uncomfortable or difficult. Our brains have amazing potential to change throughout our lives. When we repeatedly practice new skills or ways of thinking, our brain creates new pathways that make these actions easier over time. What once felt impossible can gradually become second nature.  The hard part is sticking with new behaviors long enough for them to become normal. This is where self-discipline comes in . By consistently practicing different approaches, what once required enormous effort eventually feels natural. This ability to adapt keeps us growing, helps us keep up with our changing world, and unlocks possibilities we might never have imagined.
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