Rob Biesenbach

Through their constant tinkering, Facebook has foisted a lot of unpopular features on us over the years (Ticker, anyone?). But to me, the worst is the new Story function. Excuse me, “story.” Those should read as air quotes. The biggest, most sarcastic air quotes you’ve ever seen. Dr. Evil-style air quotes. Why has this feature earned … Read more

Have you ever been caught tongue-tied when someone says, “So tell me about yourself” in a job interview or asks, “What’s your story?” at a networking event? This Friday I’ll be conducting a free webinar that will help you tell your story in a way that makes a strong first impression and get the results … Read more

Few things test my patience like listening to a meandering story that wanders from tangent to tangent without ever getting to the point. Learning to focus your story on the essentials may be the hardest part of storytelling, which is why I compare storytelling to a tree. That means when you’re telling a story, you want … Read more

In my last post I talked about the importance of telling original stories. One of the best ways to be original is to tell personal stories derived from your own experience. Some of my clients are reluctant to do this. They’ll say that nobody wants to hear their stories. Which isn’t true. Especially if you’re … Read more

Everyone wants to stand out from the crowd, but you can’t do that by telling the same old stories people have heard a million times. That’s why it’s important to tell original stories. Our stories are what set us apart as individuals. They communicate who we are and the values we hold dear. They make … Read more

When I lead storytelling workshops, someone inevitably says their work or their business is too complex to capture in a story. That’s when I point them to Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink, Tipping Point and other bestsellers. I once watched Gladwell keep a ballroom full of people on the edge of their seats with an hour-long … Read more