“A timeless parable.”

Patrick Lencioni

New York Times Bestselling Author of The Five Dysfunctions of A Team

“Destined to be a classic.”

Bob Burg

Bestselling Author of The Go-Giver

coming october 14, 2025 Get the companion course for free with your HARDCOVER PREORDER

The Compass Within:

A Little Story of The Values That Guide Us

In a time when so many are questioning their direction and feeling like happiness is out of reach, The
Compass Within offers the key to a fulfilling life that so many people are missing today: core values.

If I asked a room of 100 people to list their core values, only two of them could do it.

That’s why I spent three years writing and editing this book.

About the Book

How do you find authenticity in every area of your life: your relationships, your work and your community?

In this enlightening workplace parable, Jamie Hynes is a high-achieving manager trying to reconcile his ambitions with the ethically murky situations his new boss keeps putting him in. Jamie and his new fiancé, Beth, are also planning their wedding, facing decisions about how they’ll make a life together in a community where Jamie feels increasingly out of place.

Jamie soon meets with Jack Reardon, a forward-thinking CEO who mentors Jamie in a holistic process to discover his core values and decide with confidence what he wants in all areas of life. The process the Jamie goes through is shared in detail so that you can go through the same experience, and get the vital clarity only core values can provide.

Praise for The Compass Within

“Glazer has written a winner! The Compass Within is more than excellent storytelling—it’s a timeless parable that illustrates the power of living and leading in alignment with your core values.”

Patrick Lencioni

New York Times Bestselling Author of The Five Dysfunctions of A Team

"Glazer’s engaging parable illustrates how defining and aligning with core values leads to better choices and a more fulfilling life. The Compass Within is a must-read for anyone looking to make the big decisions in life with confidence and clarity."

Annie Duke

New York Times bestselling author of Quit and Thinking in Bets

"Robert Glazer’s The Compass Within beautifully guides readers to do the introspective work needed to truly live authentically and stay true to their values. His breakthrough book demonstrates conclusively that living in accordance with your core values aligns who we are with the decisions we make in our work, relationships, and communities."

Bill George

Harvard Business School Executive Fellow, author of True North, and former Chair & CEO, Medtronic

"In a world full of noise and uncertainty, The Compass Within is the ultimate guide to clarity and purpose. This life-changing book provides the tools to make decisions with confidence and live a life of meaning and impact."

Jesse Cole

Founder and CEO of the Savannah Bananas and Bestselling Author of Fans First and Find Your Yellow Tux

“The Compass Within is a must-read for anyone seeking deeper self-awareness, fulfillment, and alignment at work and in life.”

Tasha Eurich

New York Times Bestselling Author of Shatterproof, Insight, and Bankable Leadership

“This book—destined to be a classic—should be studied until its wisdom is part of your very being. Then buy a copy for everyone you love who you would like to see live a happier and more fulfilled life, and for every team member whose potential you’d like to help develop to its fullest."

Bob Burg

Bestselling Author of The Go-Giver

"The Compass Within is a gripping parable that will challenge everything you thought you knew about success and fulfillment. A must-read."

Harry Kraemer

Former CEO of Baxter International and Professor of Leadership and Kellogg School of Business

"Robert Glazer's The Compass Within: A Little Book About The Values That Guide Us is a powerful exploration of aligning personal and professional life with core values, delivered through an engaging and relatable narrative. This book masterfully combines introspection and actionable guidance, much like Patrick Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team or Simon Sinek’s Start with Why. With its storytelling approach, it resonates deeply, offering readers a framework for uncovering their values and making choices that foster authentic fulfillment. Glazer’s insight and empathy shine through, making this an essential read for anyone seeking clarity and alignment in a complex and distressing world.”

Jerry Colonna

Author of Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong and Reboot

"A must-read journey into self-discovery and values-driven living; this book is a game-changer for everyone from the student to the CEO."

Asheesh Advani

CEO of Junior Achievement and Author of Modern Achievement

"The Compass Within has the power to transform! Glazer delivers a narrative that is both relatable and powerful and provides a framework that will help you align your core values with their decisions. If you want to lead with authenticity and unlock potential in yourself and others, this book is your foundation."

Liz Wiseman

Bestselling Author of Multipliers and Impact Players, and CEO of The Wiseman Group

"If you have that nagging feeling that you have not yet fulfilled your potential, The Compass Within could be the book you’ve been looking for!"

Brian Scudamore

Founder & CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and Author of WTF?! (Willing to Fail)

"You have three big decisions to make in your life, that will make you or break you. This book shares – through an engaging and entertaining parable – what these three are and how to navigate your way to making the right decisions. It’s a simple yet profound process. Enjoy."

Verne Harnish

Founder of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and author of numerous books on Scaling Up

"Robert Glazer masterfully illuminates how aligning our actions with our deepest values is the essential ingredient to true fulfillment and lasting success. The Compass Within is both a practical guide and a thoughtful parable that encourages readers to courageously choose authenticity over conformity."

Dorie Clark

Executive Education Faculty at Columbia Business School and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Long Game

“The Compass Within is a must-read for anyone seeking clarity, purpose, and deeper alignment in life and leadership. With honesty and insight, Robert guides readers through a powerful journey of values discovery that’s both deeply personal and universally relevant. Whether you're at a crossroads or simply craving more meaning in your day-to-day, this book is a practical, thoughtful companion that delivers both heart and guidance. It will stay with you long after the final page.”

Dr. Marshall Goldsmith

Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.

"A magnificent addition to the pantheon of business parables. Through a masterfully crafted story, Glazer illuminates the path to uncovering our core values—those hidden drivers shaping every decision. For anyone who's ever felt the disconnect between who they are and the life they're living, this isn't just a book—it's your guide to coming home to yourself."

Whitney Johnson

CEO, Disruption Advisors, Global Top 10 Management Thinker, WSJ bestselling author, Smart Growth

“Dial this in! You can’t win the game—at work or in life—if you don’t know what truly matters. This little story delivers a big lesson: when we understand our internal scoreboard, we make better decisions in business and beyond."

Jack Stack

CEO of SRC Holdings and author of The Great Game of Business

"Through a compelling story, The Compass Within reveals how discovering and living by your core values isn’t just a path to success; it’s the key to peace of mind, resilience, and meaningful leadership. This book will change how you make decisions, both big and small."

Howard Behar

Former President of Starbucks Coffee

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Find Your Core Values

The core values discovery process shared in The Compass Within is designed to help any person create their own definitive list of core values and align their life to those principles. To engage more deeply with this work, for yourself or your team, see options below:

Core Values Discovery Course

Join Robert Glazer as he guides you through an exercise to help you create and refine your own written list of personal core values. This on-demand course can be completed in an hour and is available in both a standard option or a live group coaching option.

Learn More

Core Values Workshops

Robert and his team can guide organizations and leaders through the core values discovery process, for both individuals and for organizations. Options include:

Personal Core Values Workshop: This workshop takes your team through the core values discovery process as a group
Organizational Core Values Consulting: Whether you are looking to create new core values for your company or refine existing ones, Robert and his team have a proprietary three-phase process that will help you understand your culture’s strengths and weaknesses and amplify the effectiveness of that culture through your organization core values.