For nearly three decades, Klemmer and Associates has been a global leader in character-driven leadership development. Founded in 1995 by bestselling author Brian Klemmer, the firm delivers interactive, high-impact workshops that help participants replace limiting subconscious beliefs with empowering ones. From the foundational Personal Mastery program to the four-month Samurai Camp, Klemmer’s courses cultivate Compassionate Samurai — leaders who balance bold execution with integrity, empathy, and service. Operating in 17 countries and trusted by enterprises such as Hewlett Packard and Christie Clinic, Klemmer reports participant goal-achievement rates of up to 85 percent and nearly 50,000 hours of recent community service. The company remains a premier partner for professionals and organizations seeking ethical, high-impact transformation.

The strongest people in the world are those who are the most compassionate. The other face of the same coin: When compassionate people are also strong, they have the power to change themselves, and the world, for the better.

Brian Klemmer understood this essential insight to the core of his being. The popular author, speaker, and leadership trainer was a master at helping others live up to their fullest potential. Through his widely popular books, his coaching programs, and the company he founded, he empowered people from all over the world to become leaders capable of making a difference.

Established in 1995, Klemmer has continued Brian Klemmer’s legacy since his death in 2011. The company has provided transformational, experiential workshops and coaching to tens of thousands of adults and young people through both beginners’ and advanced programs.

The way of the Compassionate Samurai

Much of this training highlights the philosophy and strategy Brian Klemmer laid out in his 2007 book The Compassionate Samurai: Being Extraordinary in an Ordinary World. A No. 1 Wall Street Journal bestseller among business books, this title encapsulates Klemmer’s ongoing approach to leadership development.

In the opening paragraphs of The Compassionate Samurai, Brian Klemmer explained that in general, he had encountered two types of people. There are “kind, caring individuals who can’t make much happen” and “heartless, self-centered jerks with no values who make big things happen.”

A one-dimensional life that partakes too much of either extreme is far less than it could be. Through the leadership courses he developed and that still drive the Klemmer program, Brian Klemmer forged a deeply enriching path between these extremes. This is the way of the highly successful person who retains the equal power of their empathy and kindness. It is the path of the Compassionate Samurai.

Centering personal responsibility

Brian Klemmer divided his book into easily digestible but action-item-rich chapters.

One key section focuses on the importance of grounding any self-development in an ethic of personal responsibility, fully in keeping with the ancient samurai’s code of honor. Brian Klemmer believed that a commitment to personal responsibility is the foundation for building a life of purpose, influence, and results. While easy to articulate, living a life of personal responsibility is challenging. It involves nothing less than acceptance of how all of our actions and decisions produce ripples of impact in the world around us.

Once you have committed to taking personal responsibility in your life, the sense of accountability you feel leads to an expansion of influence. When others see that you follow through, keep your word, and can be trusted, they become inspired by your leadership and more open to supporting you. You become a leader capable of motivating people to achieve meaningful goals. Brian Klemmer believed that this dedication to personal responsibility extends to taking responsibility for the actions of your team as well.

In the book, he told the story of a manager who faced up to his team’s sub-par performance not with excuses or scapegoating, but through publicly accepting responsibility for his team’s shortcomings as their leader. He looked for practical ways to improve the entire group’s performance, through trainings and new strategies to communicate more effectively. His honest confrontation and ownership of the problem improved morale, and with it, productivity, substantially.

The power of commitment

It is clear that a sense of commitment is intimately connected with a sense of personal responsibility. While the average person may keep their word only when it is convenient, the true samurai knows that keeping his word is an irrevocable commitment to both self and others.

In a related chapter, Brian Klemmer provided more detail about the importance of committed follow-through, regardless of circumstances. Defining commitment as the drive to overcome all obstacles in order to keep your promises, he again focused on the practical. More than simply writing down a list of “resolutions,” commitment requires consistent, strategic action directed toward a goal. This mindset forces us to develop a high degree of mental and emotional resiliency in order to overcome obstacles. And it is this type of commitment that moves us from good intentions toward powerful results.

Strategies for unlocking achievement

Brian Klemmer’s book also sets out highly effective strategies for producing results.

Set clear and attainable goals for yourself. Use the power of visualization to understand what your picture of success looks like and keep that vision in front of you. Minimize burnout by breaking down an expansive goal into smaller, clear, and defined tasks. Stay accountable to your vision of success by sharing your goals with key stakeholders in your life. Practice regular self-accountability by reflecting on your failures and using what you learn from them to propel you forward.

Enthusiastic readers of The Compassionate Samurai have described it as a powerful tool for teaching, a “must-read” for all those seeking to improve their lives, and a highly readable book that offers a welcome focus on eternal values like courage and integrity.

As Brian Klemmer himself summed it up, the true strength of the Compassionate Samurai lies in a delicate balance between extremes, empowerment through a 360-degree development of the human personality, and a never ending quest to be, and to contribute to the world, your best self.