Rob Biesenbach 
From finding the perfect mate online to delivering a killer presentation to nailing a job interview — it’s all about “show/don’t tell.” Here I break it down for Stefan Holt on NBC Chicago this past weekend. With references to The Office, Ricky Gervais, Steve Jobs, match.com, Second City, and more. All packed into three minutes, … Read more
A job interview, like every other interaction, is a performance. If you want to succeed, you need to put your heart and soul into it. As usual, Hollywood provides a lesson in how to do that. Among the many classes I took at Second City’s training center was a course on writing for TV and … Read more
Can speechwriting be taught? To an extent, yes. But the key ingredient that separates a good speech from a great speech will always be elusive. I was reminded of this by an NPR story this morning. It described a concept called appoggiatura, which one expert says is the secret to writing a hit song that tugs at the … Read more
All week the message of the Chrysler “Clint Eastwood” commercial has been drowned out by politics, something that took the car company by total surprise. And the criticism offended the dealers, too, who took the step of releasing a statement, denying that there was any political agenda behind it. Now comes this story from today’s … Read more
We hear the complaint all the time — most often, it’s about “the kids these days” — that nobody knows how to write anymore. We can blame bad parenting or inadequate schooling or text messaging, but there’s at least one thing we can do about it: help them improve. It’s called editing and, unfortunately, few … Read more
When it comes to “Communication Don’ts,” lawyers are the gifts that keep on giving. Now I’ve got nothing against lawyers. I’ve worked with hundreds of them – literally. But they are, by nature, conservative and risk-averse. They go for the safe choice. They seek to fit in rather than stand out. (In their marketing and … Read more
If you’ve spent any time at all on match.com … well, I feel for you. Don’t worry, I’ve been there, too. My point is, you’ve probably noticed that a lot of the profiles sound alike. People enjoy long walks, thunderstorms, snuggling on the couch, etc. Human nature, I suppose. And they often describe themselves with … Read more
The RFP process is a terrible way to start a business relationship. It signals from the outset that you’re looking for a vendor instead of a partner. It’s one of those things that communicates without you even being aware you’re communicating. Mostly it communicates that you’re going to be a major pain in the ass … Read more
Most of us know what goes into a compelling story. Relatable characters, dramatic conflict, high stakes. But sometimes the difference between a well-told story and one that puts listeners into a coma is not so much what you put into is as what you leave out. After all, God may be in the details, but not … Read more
The key to being interesting is to take an interest in other people. Years ago I was at a party in New York where I didn’t really know anybody but my then-girlfriend. At some point we each went our own way and I found myself next to the bar with one of her friend’s boyfriends. … Read more