What Core Values Actually Do

Welcome to episode #1004 of Thinking With Mitch Joel (formerly Six Pixels of Separation).

What does it really mean to lead with values when so much of modern business seems built on quarterly results and surface-level culture? Robert Glazer has spent his career proving that sustainable performance isn't just about financial results. It's about the alignment between who you are and what you stand for. As founder and chairman of Acceleration Partners (a marketing agency), Bob built a company repeatedly recognized as one of the best places to work. Beyond the accolades, he is an author of seven books, including Elevate, Elevate Your Team and his latest, The Compass Within: A Little Story About the Values That Guide Us. In this conversation, Bob explores the central role that core values play in authentic leadership, how formative experiences shape decision-making and why self-awareness is the foundation of both personal and organizational growth. He explains how parables and storytelling can make complex business ideas more memorable, why mentorship still matters in a polarized and tech-driven world and how the rise of AI is intersecting with deeply human questions about meaning, integrity and belief. Bob reminds us that values are not slogans for walls or websites but active forces that define culture, guide behavior and ultimately determine whether leaders and organizations thrive or falter. In an era where data can overwhelm judgment and polarization can fracture trust, his work pushes us to examine whether our actions reflect the values we claim to hold, and how to close that gap. Enjoy the conversation…

• Running time: 57:33.
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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction to Core Values and Leadership. (03:00) - The Power of Parables in Business. (06:01) - Understanding Personal Core Values. (09:06) - The Intersection of Values and Leadership. (11:50) - Authenticity and the Authentic Self. (14:45) - Navigating Values in a Polarized World. (18:00) - The Role of Values in Business Decisions. (20:57) - The Challenge of Aligning Personal and Company Values. (23:50) - Embracing Values in a Complex World. (31:10) - Authenticity in Business Decisions. (33:58) - The Cost of Upholding Values. (35:23) - Core Values and Decision Making. (39:24) - The Evolution of Relationships. (41:31) - Character Development in Storytelling. (44:04) - The Role of Mentorship. (48:12) - AI as a Thought Partner. (53:46) - Cognitive Dissonance and Values.