Better Places - by Robert Rasmussen (Paperback)

About the Book

Explore the transformative journey of embracing compassion and authenticity in the workplace with Better Places. This story isn't just a blueprint for conflict resolution; it's a call to action for nurturing the joyous, collective human spirit through words that heal rather than harm.

Book Synopsis

2024 Global Book Awards Silver Medalist in Business Leadership

Explore the transformative journey of embracing compassion and authenticity in the workplace with Better Places. Robert Rasmussen, Founder and CEO of Agile Six, brings his vision of what a business community can aspire to become. Rooted in the timeless wisdom of Ahimsa, or nonviolence, this heartfelt narrative moves beyond the zero-sum game of winners and losers to reveal the profound impact of our words and actions on the world around us.

Discover the author's personal evolution from a survivor of unrealistic standards to an advocate for compassionate, interdependent communities. Unpack the poignant truths of human connection as the book delves into Nonviolent Communication, Humanism, and the power of willful interdependence, offering insightful lessons and practical tools for fostering empathy and building authentic relationships.

This story isn't just a blueprint for conflict resolution; it's a call to action for nurturing the joyous, collective human spirit through words that heal rather than harm. Better Places is more than a book; it's a testament to the human capacity for love and service, a narrative that echoes the richness of shared experiences, and a hopeful guide for anyone seeking to live a more interconnected, meaningful life.

Review Quotes

"Robert's deeply profound and candid book contains messages that will revolutionize the business world and lead us to choose communal, compassionate values in our businesses and other important structures of society." Readers' Favorite, 5 star review

"The world needs more books like this: books that share the journey to self-management and radical collaboration from the inside, books that give us a behind-the-scenes look at the hard process of unlearning a paradigm of zero-sum competition while building up a new way of seeing the world and the possibilities for a better way to work and live. Robert's story shines with authenticity and vulnerability, and weaves together a personal history of tragedy and triumph with a bevy of cross-cultural insights that few of us will ever experience for ourselves--which is exactly why this book is so valuable, and so very needed in the world today."

Matt K. Parker
Author, A Radical Enterprise

"Robert and his company have won awards for achieving the 'holy grail' of workplace culture: becoming a place where diverse people thrive. So many companies and CEOs aim to build transformational organizations and Robert has done that. His stories, global citizenship, humanity, and compassion shine through in this book which is a must read for today's leaders. Those who pay attention to the learning inside these pages will have the edge as we face the future of work."

Wendy Horng Brawer
Partner and Head of Innovation and Learning, Intune Collective

"Robert's personal journey and experiences provide valuable insights into building better places through compassion, authenticity, and non-violent communication. The stories shared in Better Places, along with practical advice and lessons learned, offer a roadmap for creating positive change in our communities and workplaces. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to transform their leadership style and build more compassionate and inclusive environments."

Traci Walker
Executive Director, Digital Services Coalition

"Robert Rasmussen's book takes you on an inspiring, surprising journey. His own remarkable story is one thread--of traumatic beginnings, healing found in the kind, collective culture of Norway, and a wise, successful return to his home country of America.

Robert weaves his tale together with lessons from key psychologists and organizational thinkers, and includes a stirring account of improved government service as well as the almost-too-good-to-be-true saga of his IT firm, Agile Six. But it is true that he co-founded a firm based on compassion and a commitment to help employees grow into their most authentic selves--a firm that is highly profitable even though it focuses on people and purpose first. The end result is that you truly travel to a new state of mind--one convinced that Better Places to work are both desperately needed and entirely possible."

Ed Frauenheim
Co-author of A Great Place to Work For All and Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection

"Better Places is essential reading for leaders aiming to foster environments where authentic collaboration happens and individuals flourish. I've been researching companies on the cutting edge of effective, human centered organizations for almost a decade. Robert presents a captivating narrative on the transformative power of compassion and community-building. Better Places serves as a guiding light for those in search of genuine, purpose-oriented workplaces and communities. Robert dares to challenge conventional leadership norms by championing self-management, inclusion, and prioritizing purpose over profits, and in doing so illuminates the transformative possibilities of an abundance mindset."

Travis Marsh
Human First Works Co-founder, Trainer, and Coach

About the Author

ROBERT RASMUSSEN is chairman and cofounder of Agile Six, a people-first digital services company serving federal agencies. A US Navy veteran, he began as a network and systems engineer before spending a decade in Norway, where he encountered a work culture that treated employee well-being as a structural requirement rather than a perk. Unable to find an American employer that worked that way, he helped build one. He is the author of Better Places: Building Stronger Communities with Authenticity and Compassion. He writes on human-centered leadership, workplace culture, time poverty, and the choices in front of us as artificial intelligence reshapes work. He lives in Lakeside, California, and remains closely tied to Norway through his wife and family.