Friday Forward: Inspiration & Motivation to End Your Week Stronger Than It Started

by Robert Glazer

Global business leader and national bestselling author, Robert Glazer, believes we all have a responsibility to each other: to give one another the inspiration and support we need to be our best. What started as a weekly note known as Friday Forward to his team of forty has turned into a global movement reaching over 200,000 leaders across sixty countries and continually forwarded to friends and family. In FRIDAY FORWARD, Robert shares fifty-two of his favorite stories with real life examples that will motivate you to grow and push you to be your best self. He encourages you to use this book as part of a positive and intentional Friday morning routine to get the weekend started on a forward-looking note that will carry you through the week. At once uplifting and deeply thought-provoking, these stories will challenge you to propel yourself outside your comfort zone to unlock your innate potential. By making small, intentional changes, you have the power to create lasting impact, not only in your own life, but also to inspire those around you to do the same. Today is the perfect day to start. Glazer's collection of inspiring, thought-provoking stories gives the motivation and mentorship you need to build a more fulfilling life and career.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Leadership, Business, Audiobook, Management

180 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2020

About the author

Robert Glazer is a globally recognized thought leader on leadership, core values, and capacity building. He helps individuals and organizations clarify what matters most, align their actions with their values, and reach their full potential.

Bob is the founder and chairman of Acceleration Partners, a global marketing agency known for its award-winning culture and leadership. During his time as CEO, he was twice named a Top CEO on Glassdoor.

He is the author of several bestselling books, including The Compass Within: A Little Story About the Values That Guide Us, Elevate, and Elevate Your Team. His weekly newsletter, Friday Forward, is one of the top business publications on Substack and reaches hundreds of thousands of readers around the world. Bob also hosts The Elevate Podcast, ranked in the top one percent of all podcasts globally.

A sought-after global keynote speaker, Bob shares actionable frameworks for building capacity, discovering core values, and leading with authenticity in today’s complex world. In addition to his writing and speaking, he serves as an advisor, board member, and coach to high-growth companies and leaders who want to build stronger cultures and scale with purpose.


Learn more about Bob at https://www.robertglazer.com.

Reviews

[Simona · Rating 3 out of 5]

A neat collection of what started out as motivational emails to the author's team. It's a light read for an afternoon, it doesn't re-invent the wheel, and it gives you some nice thought nuggets here and there.

Pros:
+ short chapters that end with a matching motivational quote (=easy to read)
+ the author brushes on all growth aspects in life (intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical)
+ an interesting new outlook on work/life balance as a concept
+ outright dismissal of the recent life/work/career-hack trend; there is no shortcut around work ethic and being a decent person

Cons:
- LOTS of sports references; it really gets old after a while
- there's nothing profoundly new really
- yet another ardent member of the whole "early morning routine cult" that has crept into personal development books in recent years. I can't see it anymore, this trend needs to go back to wherever it came from

Some highlights:

"Realistically, potential has an expiration date. [...] The question to think about in your own life or organization is where in the future would it be an insult to look back and hear that you had had potential?"

"Where you set the bar has a lot to do with how much you can stand above the crowd."

"Rather than [work/life] balance, what I believe we really want is the ability to be truly present in our work and in our lives outside work. We are seeking meaningful, uninterrupted, "all in" experiences at each end of the work/life spectrum [...]. Work-life integration is more akin to a puzzle where all the different pieces fit together in aggregate. It's an understanding that each day or week might bring a different combination of things to attend to at work or in your personal life, but they total a portfolio of quality experiences."

[Synthia Salomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a helpful book to read now. I am teaching my 8th graders how to develop S.M.A.R.T. goals and I’m always looking for simple strategies to get more out of life. I tell my students often, the only way to get better at reading is to read. The only way to improve your writing is to write. This book reinforces that.

The first thing one should do is identify your core values to increase your spiritual capacity, then plan to succeed at living your core spiritual purpose. Intellectual capacity lets you follow through on your dreams. Form good habits and your goals will take care of themselves. I’m impressed by a good morning routine. I’m working on mine, although I believe my afternoon routine is impeccable. My bedtime routine could use a lot of work. This reflective practice keeps it on my radar so I know I’ll get where I want to be eventually. I am developing my physical capacity so I can achieve ultimate peak performance.

I did a little bit of sports in high school but not much. I ran track without competition and I took up a little ballet and other forms of dance. Sports benefit the body and the mind. I know for me, physical activity improves my mood and overall esteem. I wish I would have participated more in sports so it would be a natural outlet in my adult life and not such a challenge to try to incorporate. Emotional resilience is the x-factor in overcoming challenges. Thanks to this book, I’m walking away with a sense of urgency to cultivate emotional well-being through reflection and connection. Read this book to be inspired!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short quick read and entertaining as well

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that this book was written in chunks versus as a long read. The author's strategies are written in a way that this book can be put down for awhile and you can easily find the piece of information that you want the next time you pick it up. This is a great resource for anyone looking to change their mindset.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I loved the short chapters with different themes. I learned a lot through this book, and I read it through a hard time in my life, so it helped me find my positivity again. I am really thankful to have received a copy of this book last year. I am a fervent advocate that nothing comes in your life by chance. I thought this book was interesting last year, that why I chose it. Never in a million years would I have known what I am living today, and that this book was the key to find my path again.

I received this book through the Sourcebooks Early Reads Program. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Mark Fallon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of the "Friday Forward" emails by the author. While many of the concepts are basic, they're worth hearing again.

[Paul Laughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Examples of motivating others from Friday Forward
By Paul Laughlin · January 30, 2021
Have you come across the Friday Forward movement or the success of the hashtag #FridayForward? It’s a global phenomenon of people forwarding to others motivating stories & messages, just to help lift that ‘Friday feeling‘.
It all started with entrepreneur Robert Glazer. One dull Friday in November he decided to do something about improving his morning routine & began sending others a motivational email. Using what he had already collected, he sent stories & quotes he had found motivated him.
The positive response from his colleagues & clients just grew and grew. Events, networks and the power of the social networks continued that momentum. Now, over 5 years later, he has hundreds of thousands of people subscribed to his Friday Forward email & many more continue this practice in their workplace.
I really enjoyed this book, that can be read in a single sitting (it is only 149 pages). It is a great example of motivating others by sharing stories.
How the Friday Forward book can motivate you
So, when I was approached by Rob with a copy of his book, I was keen to have a read. It is also called “Friday Forward” and is very accessible. Rob has curated 52 stories, each with a motivational quote, so you can also use each chapter as a motivational weekly reading. I recommend that approach.
But this is more than just a smorgasbord of random motivational messages. Rob has structured those stories under four key parts of the book. These are the four capacities you are encouraged to develop. Each is relevant to all leaders, including our data, analytics & customer insight leadership community.
Each of those 4 parts starts with a short introduction to explain what Rob means by that capacity. This is worth reading before you react to the naming of each capability. Many are not what you may first assume and each is important to developing a rewarding life & sustainable career.
Part 1: Spiritual Capacity
From the start, Rob makes clear that this language does not refer to religion or any search for spiritual enlightenment, although your own beliefs have a big part to play. Rather, this is your capacity to be clear on what you value most, knowing yourself & living your life based on those insights.
Another way to think about this section is you are starting with the long-term view or the big picture. How do you want to develop your capacity to both think longer-term & prioritise what really matters most? It is also about courage and being brave enough to articulate your dreams as well as seek to achieve them.
In this section you’ll hear stories from:
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Examples of motivating others from Friday Forward
Adam Grant (author of “Originals”)
Philip McKernan (clarity coach)
Mike Sarini (personal trainer)
Amy Krouse Rosenthal (writer of “You may want to marry my husband“) Ray Dalio (author of “Principles”)
Ed Sheeran (musician)
Conor Neil (a personal friend of Rob)
Scott Weiss (founder of IronPort Systems)
Jim Collins (author of “Built to Last”)
Frances Frei (leadership speaker)
Rob’s own life experiences & some shared by his readers
Part 2: Intellectual Capacity
This is not about being naturally smarter than others, but it is about a commitment to keep learning. As Rob puts it, it boils down to your mindset, planning & daily actions.
As a leader, you both need to ensure you plan & manage in response to what happens each day, so that you progress towards those long term values. It also helps to have a growth mindset with regards to your own knowledge & skills. The most resilient & successful leaders also have a commitment to their own continual development & many are voracious readers.
In this section you’ll hear stories from:
Uri Levine (co-founder of Waze)
Steven Covery (author of “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”) Hal Elrod (author of “The Miracle Morning”)
Ann Miura-Ko (venture capitalist)
Charles Duhigg (author of “The Power of Habit”)
Morgan Housel (partner at Collaborative Fund)
Tim Ferris (host of “The Tim Ferris Show”)
Eric Kapitulik (founder of The Program)
Rob’s own life experiences & some shared by his readers
Part 3: Physical Capacity
Be honest, do you neglect your health & wellbeing as a leader? If we are honest, most of us recognise that we should improve our diet, exercise or sleep. In this section, Rob encourages us not to wait until the wake-up call of a health emergency, to recognise the need for a rebalance.
In this section, Rob turns his attention to the need for leaders to focus us here too. As he puts it, “physical capacity is simultaneously crucial and easy to overlook“. So, it’s helpful to hear from both athletes, average people & those who have face health scares – all of whom encourage us to build our capacity in this area too.
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Examples of motivating others from Friday Forward
In this section you’ll hear stories from:
Ester Ledecka & Michael Phelps (olympic athletes) Sean Swarner (cancer survivor & mountaineer) Roger Bannister & Justin Gallegos (runners)
John Foley (cofounder of Peloton)
Andreas Toba (olympic athlete)
Eliud Kipchoge (world champion runner)
Ty Koehn (high school pitcher)
Rob’s own life experiences & including his triathlon
Part 4: Emotional Capacity
Once again we can arrive at this term with preconceptions as to what it means. Out emotional capacity is not fixed & limited to our personality type. As with the other three capacities, we can develop & grow our capacity to be both emotionally aware & overcome limiting beliefs to help others.
In this section, Rob returns to an ‘others orientated‘ view of the world. This is not just Emotional Intelligence for the sake of our own advancement. Rather, he fills this section with stories to inspire us to build relationships, express gratitude & be emotionally helpful where we can make a difference. More leaders like this would make a big difference in business.
In this section you’ll hear stories from:
Dandapani (monk turned business consultant) Warren Rustand (mentor)
Michael Weisser (rabbi)
Conor Neill (public speaking coach)
Ric Elias (founder of Red Ventures) Grant & Gluek (Harvard academics)
Dr Mary-Claire King (cancer researcher) Rob & his family’s own life experiences
Why I’d encourage data leaders to join Friday Forward
Having experienced both weekly readings of this book & a rush to read the rest before sharing this review, I would recommend the weekly habit. Reading just one chapter each Friday can offer both a motivational ‘pick me up‘ and spark ideas that you may well mull on over your weekend and beyond. For that reason, I recommend this book to readers.
But beyond this book, I hope Rob’s actions can act as a spur to data leaders to do something different themselves. There is tremendous power in sharing the stories of real-life experience (both your own & others). I encourage data/analytics leaders to both gather them & share them.
We are all in need of more hope in these challenging times. Let’s join those who Friday Forward (or
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Examples of motivating others from Friday Forward
share in other ways) to help motivate others. If you want to receive Rob’s newsletter (which continues to share Friday Forward stories, you can sign-up here.
What do you think? Do you have a story to share?

[Joseph Pepe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friday Forward was an enjoyable, short read on ways to improve your life (and your impact) as a partner, colleague, friend, or family member. The way the book came to fruition is an interesting story; the author would send out these simple thought-provoking memos to colleagues to help motivate them and prepare them for the upcoming week. The feedback was so positive that he kept it going, grew it and then ultimately put it in book form. Below are my main takeaways:

The author speaks of improving 4 main capacities: Spiritual, Intellectual, Physical, Emotional.

1. Spiritual Capacity: Raising values in children - parents should be focused on the "why" behind disciplining their children and the explanation behind it. Praise the behavior or character over the action itself (ie "be a helper" as opposed to "please help" or "don't be a cheater" as opposed to "don't cheat"). You can't be good at everything. Some things will fall by the wayside. You need to be OK with that.

2. Intellectual Capacity: Maintain a growth mindset. Set long term goals but remember that short term goals and habits compound over time. There is no such thing as an overnight success. Commit to excellence and try to be "world class" in all you do. You must understand how to say no and not let others monopolize your time. Goals vs Standards (must have standards every day).

3. Physical Capacity: Must prioritize your own health, sleep, and fitness over other things. Recognize the value of team sports and sacrificing for the greater good. Be resilient, persistent, and set log term goals.

4. Emotional Capacity: Seek to understand people's motivations. Be gracious. Rose-Thorn-Bud method: Ask family over dinner table what was the best part of their day, the worst part of their day, and what they are looking forward to tomorrow. Ask your team what is working, and what is not working and be open to feedback. Be open to doubt and uncertainty - it opens you up to new ideas and challenges your assumptions. Strong relationships are critical for a long life.

There are many great takeaways from this book and I would recommend it for anyone looking at simple ways to improve themselves, their relationships, and their impact on others. It's also a great book to give to a colleague or friend - simple read with valuable insights.

[hudapages · Rating 4 out of 5]

10th November 2022 at 23:24

“Don’t get overwhelmed. Starting small is often the best way to create lasting change and impact.”

Friday Forward by Robert Glazer was an enjoyable read as it contains many short topics with positive messages and insightful stories on how we should each be living our lives and managing our relationships better. Everything in this book applies to your personal and professional life. Broken into four areas - spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional capacity, it uses the same method in which we seek, acquire and develop the skills we need to perform at a higher level.

These four parts;
* Spiritual Capacity: evaluate who you are, have a purpose and destination for your life, determine your core beliefs and values
* Intellectual Capacity: improving how you think, learn, plan, and execute with discipline; setting and achieving goals
* Physical Capacity: improving your health, well-being, and physical performance; dealing with stress and managing obstacles
* Emotional Capacity: relates to how you respond to challenges and create deeper and more transformational relationships

I got a lot out of the book, and I think the author structured it thoughtfully. This book is suited for a coffee table, or you can read it as part of your morning routine. Each chapter is around two or three pages, and you can finish it in one sitting. The points are simple, practical, and effective. I would recommend it to people who need a shot of inspiration to improve themselves—a very simple read with valuable and inspirational stories.

[Tess Waresmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friday Forward started as an authentic experiment and morphed into an amazing collection of motivating and thought-provoking stories and reflections. If you need some inspiration or a break from the crushing monotony of bull shit social media influencers start here. If you have a morning routine that includes reading, Friday Forward is the perfect addition. Robert's short-form inspirational stories and thoughtful and honest takeaways are guaranteed to make you reflect on your own life not just as a leader but also as a person. You won't regret buying this book and it is a perfect gift for someone you care about in your life.

[Alisa Cohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of Bob's newsletters is fantastic. I found it to be an incredibly insightful and informative read, learning from the stories he selected to include. Breaking them down into his four types of "capacities" makes for great referencing when you are feeling low on inspiration intellectually, spiritually, physically, or emotionally. The honesty which Bob writes is refreshing, and it's easy to connect with a writer who shows you who they really are, and how they've grown from what they've learned. This is a wonderful book, and I highly recommend it!

[Quinns Pheh · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is preventing you from achieving your dreams and getting the most out of life? The author thinks that we all may be surprised just how much can be accomplished if you cultivate the four capacities well- spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional. We should all learn to leverage inspirations to our best interests, both collectively and individually. After all, we live in a world full of inspiring people and stories.

[Raymond Goss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read. Many short topics with positive messages and good ideas to make life and work better. The book is divided into four areas: Spiritual Capacity, Intellectual Capacity, Physical Capacity, and Emotional Capacity, providing insight in areas that most readers will find relevant to them. This book is probably something that I can re-read in the future to see if I'm doing what I can to help others. There were a few examples like the Rabbi dealing with the KKK leader that was inspiring.

[Stewart Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspiring collection

For those new to the author or like me a follower for years, this is a great collection of thoughts and observations. Sometimes the pieces set of lightbulbs, other times they ring long forgotten bells and some times they go off like a fire alarm. Whichever it is for you will make an impact!

[Cristian Marrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I ever came across this author. Just by reading the introduction I was hooked. I’m not telling you his story. 52 Friday email entries to his employees and friends. Wow the messages are incredible and heartfelt. Definitely something to invest your time in. When you’re reading this book, find the Warren Buffet quote.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and easy read with small chapters based on the author’s weekly email that started internally with his employees and grew substantially beyond his company. Nothing earth shattering but a somewhat interesting collection of ideas and motivational concepts. It was a great book while traveling as it was easy to pick up for a few minutes here and there.

[Liz Sieloff simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice simple read of short motivational stories. I get his emails every Friday and often send to others for Inspiration. My previous boss sent them to me and now I’m sharing the love. Simple concepts and great reminders.

[Rosie McKerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I loved sharing the stories with my team. I did a vision board by the four capacities and will definitely read Elevate next year! The stories were engaging and encouraging, and it became the focal point of my day to read and summarise.

[Mansoor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Good:
Good book, few motivational stories, liked the chapter and day to day style,

The bad:
Author talks way tooo much about himself, didnt pick it as autobiography
Some chapters contradict other chapters

Would recommend the book tho, good read, 3 stars

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of short inspirational messages aimed towards encouraging capacity building.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read

Very motivational. Enjoyed Glazer’s perspective on leadership and the qualities that help build our capacity to be better. Would recommend to anyone.

[Swati Rai · Rating 4 out of 5]

cultivating the four capacities – spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional is the biggest take away. When all are together is when you accomplish the most !

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done with Blinkish summary - quite a few useful points. Didn't read actual book

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this little motivational book! I think there were some wonderful insights packaged in bite-sized little essays that felt authentic and personal. I didn't feel as though the author was trying to sell me on a program, but really cared about his readers living a more vital and enriching life. It's the kind of book that I would like to read a chapter a day of in my morning routine and try applying just that one concept to my day. That said, I will be reading this book again and absorbing more of it this time, because I think it is less effective as a "read-cover-to-cover" kind of book. I missed a lot the first time simply because when there are 40 to 50 seemingly randomized "ideas", it's hard to retain most of them. A live-with-it book, rather than a one-and-done.

[Nabilah Imran · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspirational

I love that this book contains a lot of short story. It’s like a can of motivating candies that you can take anytime you need them

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice bite sized chapters to help give a little boost of motivation and encouragement.

[Ming's fantasy myth library · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy to read and inspirational

[Danny Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice uplifting book that made me feel hopeful.

[Joseph Rwabose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 150paged quick read that contains short stories that may inspire your next move.

I liked his breakdown of the 4 key capacities/categories of life we all ought to build up & fan into flame

[Joe J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple but important lessons taught by Robert from an idea he had to send out weekly positive messages and emails on Fridays. I enjoyed it and strongly suggest it in whatever your career field is.