Guest: Robert Glazer
WHY.os: Better Way – Make Sense – Contribute

Robert Glazer is a bestselling author, leadership expert, and founder of a $35 million global company recognized by Inc. and Fortune as one of the best places to work. Known for his books Elevate and Friday Forward, Robert joins Dr. Gary Sanchez to talk about his newest book, The Compass Within—and how knowing your core values can guide better decisions in work and life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to identify your “core values” and use them to make choices that actually fit who you are.
Why high achievers lose direction when they ignore their values—and how to get back on track.
How to lead effectively when your WHY is “Better Way,” without overwhelming yourself or your team.

Listen to this episode of Beyond Your WHY with Dr. Gary Sanchez to learn how to stop chasing what’s next and start building a life that actually feels right.

Get in touch with Robert!

Facebook
LinkedIn
robertglazer.com

Watch Full Episode Here!

00:00 Introduction to the Better Way Why
02:14 The Dual Nature of Better Way
04:11 Balancing Innovation and Team Dynamics
08:46 Understanding Core Values
10:02 The Compass Within: A New Approach to Values
13:24 The Story of Jamie: Core Values in Action
18:10 The Impact of Core Values on Decision Making
19:50 Navigating Challenges with Core Values
24:00 The Importance of Awareness in Leadership
27:46 Getting Back on Track with Core Values
31:42 Writing the Compass Within
36:35 Conclusion and Call to Action

Listen to Full Episode Here!

The Compass Within: How Robert Glazer Finds a Better Way to Lead, Live, and Stay True to What Matters

When “Better” Becomes Too Much

Robert Glazer knows a thing or two about success. He’s the founder of a $35 million global company, a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, and a recognized voice in leadership and performance. His work has been featured in Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur — and he’s even appeared on The Dr. Oz Show. But what makes Robert stand out isn’t just his business track record — it’s how he connects success to self-awareness and values. In his conversation with Dr. Gary Sanchez on the Beyond Your WHY podcast, Robert opens up about his WHY — “Better Way” — and how it’s shaped everything from his leadership style to his latest book, The Compass Within.

The “Better Way” personality is all about improvement — never satisfied, always tinkering, constantly asking, “What if we did this differently?” But Robert’s learned that constantly chasing “better” can also be a trap. “If I try to make everything better,” he says, “I won’t actually make things better.” It’s the paradox that so many high achievers face — progress at the cost of peace. And in this episode, Robert breaks down how he’s learned to balance the two through one simple but powerful idea: knowing and living by your core values.

Core Values Aren’t Fluff — They’re Your Filter

At the heart of Robert’s message is this: your core values aren’t lofty ideals or motivational poster quotes. They’re your non-negotiables — the principles that quietly guide every decision you make. “A great core value helps you make better decisions,” he explains. “It’s the instruction manual you didn’t get.”

Robert’s process for finding those values isn’t about picking words like integrity or family off a list. It’s about reflection — looking at what’s mattered most in your life, when you’ve felt proud, and when you’ve felt completely out of alignment. He says your values usually form early, often in childhood, and stick with you even if you don’t realize it. And when you go against them? You feel it. “You might get out of the tunnel,” Robert says, “but your car will be pretty beat up.”

His new book, The Compass Within, takes that idea and turns it into a story — literally. Instead of writing another how-to guide, he wrote a parable about a man named Jamie, a rising professional who’s stuck in all the wrong places — his job, his relationship, his environment. Through a mentor, Jamie learns to identify what truly matters to him and starts making changes that bring him back to himself. It’s storytelling with a purpose — simple, relatable, and painfully real for anyone who’s ever hit success but still felt off.

The Three Decisions That Shape Everything

Robert says every major turning point in life comes down to what he calls “the Big Three”: your partner, your vocation, and your community. These are the areas where values alignment (or misalignment) shows up the loudest. If any one of them is out of sync, the dissonance creeps in — in your mood, your motivation, even your physical health. He jokes that you can’t live in a place like Newcastle, where people go to the bar at 4 p.m. every day, if your top value is health. You’ll either give in or feel like an outsider.

That’s the power of knowing your internal compass — it keeps you from drifting toward a life that doesn’t fit. “You don’t always get credit when your values line up with the current,” Robert says. “The real test is when your boat is going upstream.” Whether it’s choosing the right team to work with or the kind of person you marry, those “Big Three” choices shape every part of who you become.

Leading from Values, Not from Vibes

As a CEO, Robert learned that leadership without self-awareness creates chaos. His advice? Don’t copy other leaders. Lead from your own values. “You either lead from your values with awareness or without it — and there’s a massive difference,” he says.

He also encourages leaders to teach their teams how to “manage them.” If your value is trust, tell your team exactly what earns it and what breaks it. If you’re a “Better Way” type who constantly has new ideas, give people permission to push back. That clarity doesn’t just make you easier to work with — it makes you more authentic. And when people understand what drives you, they can actually follow you.

The Real Takeaway

Robert Glazer’s message is simple but profound: success without alignment eventually cracks. When you know your values, every decision — personal or professional — gets easier. You stop chasing what looks good and start choosing what feels right.

As Robert puts it, “It’s hard to make good decisions without self-awareness… and it’s hard to make bad ones with it.”

If you’ve ever felt stuck, burnt out, or unsure whether your “better way” is still serving you, this episode is worth a listen.

👉 Listen to the full conversation with Dr. Gary Sanchez and Robert Glazer on the Beyond Your WHY Podcast — and find your own compass within.

Get to Know Robert!

Robert Glazer is the founder and chairman of the board of Acceleration Partners, a global leader in partnership marketing. He also cofounded and chaired BrandCycle, which was acquired by Stack Commerce/TPG in 2021. A serial entrepreneur and award-winning executive, Robert is passionate about helping individuals and organizations elevate their performance.
Under his leadership, Acceleration Partners garnered numerous accolades, including Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards, Entrepreneur’s Top Company Culture, Inc.’s Best Place to Work, and Fortune’s Best Small & Medium Workplaces. Robert himself was twice named to Glassdoor’s list of Top CEOs for Small and Medium Companies in the U.S., ranking #2.

Robert shares his insights through Friday Forward, a weekly inspirational newsletter reaching over two hundred thousand readers in more than one hundred countries. He is also the #1 Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and international bestselling author of seven books, including Elevate, Friday Forward, Elevate Your Team, and How to Thrive In The Virtual Workplace. Additionally, Robert hosts the Elevate Podcast, a top 1 percent show on business, performance, and leadership with over three million downloads globally.

His work has been featured in outlets such as Harvard Business Review, The Today Show, Business Insider, Fast Company, Inc., Forbes, and Entrepreneur. Robert speaks to audiences around the world on topics of leadership, culture, and personal and professional development and has also spoken on the TEDx stage.
Outside work, Robert enjoys skiing, cycling, reading, traveling, spending quality time with his family, and overseeing home renovation projects.

To learn more about his writing, speaking, or partnerships opportunities, please visit robertglazer.com.

Guest: Ruari Fairbairns
WHY.os: Contribute – Simplify – Mastery

In this episode of Beyond Your WHY, Rory Fairbairns joins Dr. Gary Sanchez to talk about his personal and professional journey. Rory is the founder of One Year No Beer, an initiative that has helped thousands of people rethink their relationship with alcohol. His experience as a top oil broker in London and his own struggles with alcohol make him a powerful advocate for living a life free of unhealthy habits.

Here are three key takeaways from this episode:

How taking a break from alcohol can boost your energy, productivity, and happiness.
The surprising link between alcohol, stress, and success in high-pressure careers.
Why you don’t need to hit rock bottom to make positive changes in your life.

Listen now to discover how Rory made life-changing decisions that led to a healthier, happier future.

Connect with Ruari!

Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook
oneyearnobeer.com

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Watch the episode here

00:00 Introduction to the Why of Contribute
13:53 Taking a Break from Alcohol and its Impact
25:20 The Importance of Finding Meaning and Purpose
34:16 Understanding the Relationship with Alcohol
37:40 Addressing the Underlying Drivers of Compulsive Behavior
40:32 Alcohol’s Impact on Coping Mechanisms and Stress Tolerance
49:01 Shifting the Conversation: From Sobriety to Control and Reduction
52:11 The Potential to Profoundly Change Lives
56:21 Character Development and Personal Growth

Breaking Free from Alcohol: How Rory Fairbairns Found Success Without It

Rory Fairbairns didn’t just take a break from alcohol—he completely changed his life by doing it. In this episode of Beyond Your WHY with Dr. Gary Sanchez, Rory shares how ditching alcohol led to personal and professional breakthroughs he never expected. As the founder of One Year No Beer, Rory has helped thousands rethink their relationship with drinking, showing that it’s possible to succeed without a crutch like alcohol.

But here’s the kicker: Rory didn’t hit rock bottom. He didn’t lose his job, destroy relationships, or have a dramatic wake-up call. Instead, he made a conscious decision to improve his life, and it paid off in ways he couldn’t have imagined. From thriving in the competitive world of oil brokering to launching a successful global initiative, Rory’s story is a powerful reminder that you can change your life without waiting for a crisis.

The Alcohol Trap in High-Pressure Jobs

One of the standout moments in the episode is Rory’s raw honesty about how alcohol was woven into his daily routine as a top oil broker. He describes the culture of long lunches where wine flowed freely and how not drinking was almost seen as a career risk. “I believed my business would crumble if I stopped drinking,” Rory admits. But the opposite happened—his business grew by 50% after taking a break from alcohol.

This experience hits home for anyone who’s felt pressured to drink in social or work settings. Rory challenges the notion that alcohol is needed to fit in or build connections, especially in high-stress careers. Instead, he found that showing up clear-headed gave him an edge, especially when his colleagues were battling hangovers.

You Don’t Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Change

One of the most valuable lessons from Rory’s story is that you don’t need to wait for a catastrophic moment to make a change. Many people think they have to hit rock bottom before reassessing their drinking habits, but Rory is proof that’s not true. He wasn’t in a crisis when he decided to step away from alcohol; he simply wanted more out of life. “The truth is, if you’re regularly consuming alcohol, it’s already costing you,” Rory says in the episode.

This idea is crucial because it encourages people to evaluate their habits before they spiral out of control. Even a short break from alcohol can lead to massive improvements in health, relationships, and productivity. Rory emphasizes that this decision is within reach for anyone willing to get real with themselves about the role alcohol plays in their life.

Reconnecting with Purpose

Another key takeaway from the episode is how Rory’s decision to stop drinking helped him reconnect with his purpose. During the interview, Rory talks about the power of finding your “why” and how living with intention led to greater happiness and success. “I found that when I got back to my purpose, everything clicked. The noise in my head about alcohol started to fade,” he says.

For Rory, giving up alcohol wasn’t just about health—it was about aligning his life with his deeper goals. Whether you’re struggling with drinking or not, Rory’s advice on finding purpose applies to anyone looking for more meaning in their daily life. This is about more than quitting a bad habit; it’s about setting yourself up for long-term success by living in alignment with your values.

Ready to Make a Change?

Rory’s story is a reminder that we all have the power to make big changes before things fall apart. You don’t have to wait for rock bottom to step away from unhealthy habits, whether it’s drinking, stress, or anything else holding you back. The episode is packed with valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their life, health, and relationships.

If you’re ready to explore how changing your relationship with alcohol (or any habit) can unlock new levels of success, listen to the full episode of Beyond Your WHY with Rory Fairbairns. Don’t wait for the crisis—take control now.

About Ruari Fairbairns

OYNB is a company with a powerful mission to completely transform the relationship people have with alcohol. There’s no denying that alcohol abuse has profound negative impacts on society and the lives of individuals– it’s estimated that poor alcohol habits cost the UK economy $52 billion and the US economy $250 billion.

OYNB provides transformational programs where people can get awareness about their drinking habits, along with the support, education, and coaching they need to make a change. To date, **OYNB content has been seen by over a billion people globally** (including over a million podcast downloads), and they’ve **helped hundreds of thousands of people in 158 countries to reshape and rethink their relationship with alcohol**.

# About Ruari Fairbairns

**Ruari Fairbairns is the founder and CEO of OYNB**, a leading figure in the health and well-being space. He was awarded Great British Entrepreneur of the Year for Scotland and Northern Ireland 2020, with OYNB also being named *The Spectator’s* Economic Innovator of the Year in the UK. Known for his passionate advocacy for healthier living, Ruari has been instrumental in steering OYNB to the forefront of the alcohol-free movement, inspiring over 100,000 people worldwide to reassess their relationship with alcohol, and strive to become the best version of themselves.

Ruari’s story

Born on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, from an early age Ruari harboured a deep-seated determination to make an impactful mark on the world. He left school at 15 to start his first business, and eventually landed in London where he carved out a successful career as a senior oil broker. However, he quickly found himself immersed in a binge-drinking culture, leading him to the profound realization that alcohol was causing him more harm than good.

Taking a transformative break from alcohol, Ruari witnessed significant improvements across various aspects of his life: he became healthier, happier, more productive, and a better father and husband. Motivated by these personal improvements, he embarked on a mission to help others experience the same positive changes. In 2015, he launched One Year No Beer (OYNB), to help people reassess their relationship with alcohol. The initiative quickly went viral, attracting over 20,000 sign-ups in its inaugural year. And so OYNB was born, with its core values deeply rooted in the supportive online community established by its initial members.

Today, Ruari takes immense pride in the fact that OYNB is recognized as a leader in preventive behaviour change, with ambitious plans to diversify into numerous other behaviour-change models beyond alcohol. His previous experiences, particularly the harmful alcohol culture he encountered during his tenure in London, continually drive his work.

Anything else we should know?:

More about our main program, Complete Control:

The Complete Control program is an 8-week program designed to help high-achievers, business-owners, entrepreneurs, and top professionals change their relationship with alcohol to optimize their health, well-being, relationships, and business performance.