Leap Academy Podcast · Episode 129 · Oct 14, 2025
Robert Glazer
How a Panic Attack Revealed the Secret to a Meaningful Life
Robert Glazer collapsed in his kitchen in front of his son, convinced he was having a heart attack. In reality, it was a massive panic attack triggered by grinding too hard while starting a business, building a house, raising kids, and weathering the 2008 recession. That wake-up call forced him to reevaluate everything: his health, his leadership, and the values that guided his life. In this episode, Robert returns to the show to share how childhood struggles shaped his values, why passion is developed, not discovered, and how to know if you’re climbing the wrong mountain in life. He also reveals the frameworks from his new book to help you align your career, relationships, and purpose with your deepest values.
Robert Glazer is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and global keynote speaker. He founded Acceleration Partners, a 300-person marketing agency, and is the author of eight books, including Elevate and his newest release, The Compass Within.
In this episode, Ilana and Robert discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:09) Growing Up as the “Underachiever” Kid
(05:20) Discovering a Love for Learning in College
(09:00) How Helping One Company Sparked an Agency
(10:30) The Health Scare That Sparked a Wake-Up Call
(14:18) Leading with Transparency During COVID
(16:56) Choosing to Step Aside as CEO
(19:29) Writing The Compass Within as a Story
(22:00) Understanding Core Values
(26:09) The Three Climbs of Success for High Achievers
(29:12) Six Questions to Identify Your Core Values
Robert Glazer is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, and thought leader on business and personal growth. He founded Acceleration Partners, scaling it into a 300-person agency recognized for its values-driven culture. Robert is the author of eight books, including Elevate and The Compass Within, and the Friday Forward newsletter. Known for his insights on leadership, capacity building, and core values, he speaks on stages around the globe and helps individuals and organizations align success with authenticity.
Connect with Robert
Robert’s Website: robertglazer.com
Robert’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/glazer
The Compass Within Website: compass-within.com
Resources Mentioned
LEAP Episode 32 with Robert Glazer: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-reinvention-how-to-elevate-your-career/id1701718200?i=1000660153819
The Six Core Values Questions: robertglazer.com/six
Robert’s Book, The Compass Within: A Little Story About the Values That Guide Us: https://geni.us/values
Free Course: robertglazer.com/compass-leap
Robert’s Book, Elevate: Push Beyond Your Limits and Unlock Success in Yourself and Others: https://www.amazon.com/Elevate-Beyond-Limits-Success-Yourself/dp/1492691488
The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness by David Rendall: https://www.amazon.com/Freak-Factor-Discovering-Uniqueness-Flaunting/dp/1599326698
Leap Academy
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Robert Glazer collapsed in his kitchen in front of his son, convinced he was having a heart attack. In reality, it was a massive panic attack triggered by grinding too hard while starting a business, building a house, raising kids, and weathering the 2008 recession. That wake-up call forced him to reevaluate everything: his health, his leadership, and the values that guided his life. In this episode, Robert returns to the show to share how childhood struggles shaped his values, why passion is developed, not discovered, and how to know if you’re climbing the wrong mountain in life. He also reveals the frameworks from his new book to help you align your career, relationships, and purpose with your deepest values.
Robert Glazer is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and global keynote speaker. He founded Acceleration Partners, a 300-person marketing agency, and is the author of eight books, including Elevate and his newest release, The Compass Within.
In this episode, Ilana and Robert discuss:
(00:00) Introduction
(02:09) Growing Up as the “Underachiever” Kid
(05:20) Discovering a Love for Learning in College
(09:00) How Helping One Company Sparked an Agency
(10:30) The Health Scare That Sparked a Wake-Up Call
(14:18) Leading with Transparency During COVID
(16:56) Choosing to Step Aside as CEO
(19:29) Writing The Compass Within as a Story
(22:00) Understanding Core Values
(26:09) The Three Climbs of Success for High Achievers
(29:12) Six Questions to Identify Your Core Values
Robert Glazer is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, and thought leader on business and personal growth. He founded Acceleration Partners, scaling it into a 300-person agency recognized for its values-driven culture. Robert is the author of eight books, including Elevate and The Compass Within, and the Friday Forward newsletter. Known for his insights on leadership, capacity building, and core values, he speaks on stages around the globe and helps individuals and organizations align success with authenticity.
Connect with Robert
Robert’s Website: robertglazer.com
Robert’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/glazer
The Compass Within Website: compass-within.com
Resources Mentioned
LEAP Episode 32 with Robert Glazer: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-reinvention-how-to-elevate-your-career/id1701718200?i=1000660153819
The Six Core Values Questions: robertglazer.com/six
Robert’s Book, The Compass Within: A Little Story About the Values That Guide Us: https://geni.us/values
Free Course: robertglazer.com/compass-leap
Robert’s Book, Elevate: Push Beyond Your Limits and Unlock Success in Yourself and Others: https://www.amazon.com/Elevate-Beyond-Limits-Success-Yourself/dp/1492691488
The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness by David Rendall: https://www.amazon.com/Freak-Factor-Discovering-Uniqueness-Flaunting/dp/1599326698
Leap Academy
Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.
Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training
46 minutes
Leap PodcastRobert GlazerHow a Panic Attack Revealed the Secret to a Meaningful Life
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About Leap Academy
Where ambitious professionals leap to their next chapter.
Founded by Ilana Golan — Forbes contributor, board director, investor in 100+ companies, and former F-16 flight instructor commander — Leap Academy has helped 70,000 people across 4 continents reinvent their careers and build lasting reputations.
- American Business Awards Startup of the Year, 2023
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company
- Featured on Forbes, Yahoo Finance, NBC, CBS, ABC

Founder & CEO
Ilana Golan
Hosts every episode. Has guided thousands of professionals through career reinventions, leadership leaps, and brand building.
70,000
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$60M
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4
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