Rob Biesenbach 
Ahhhh, nothing beats that new website smell! Take a look around. I hope you like what you see. It’s the product of eight months of blood, sweat and tears. Well, maybe not blood. At least none of mine. I can’t speak for the programmers and designers. But I think it effectively captures who I am right now … Read more
Oops, we did it again! Biesenbaby 2 (aka, Lily) arrived on the scene at the end of July, which has put a serious dent in my productivity this summer, especially with helping run interference on Biesenbaby 1. Getting Teddy ready in the morning and taking him back and forth to daycare has turned my day into … 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
Last year I attended a conference breakout session on a topic that really interested me. The room was packed with like-minded people, all hoping to get something of value from the program. Then the presenter kicked things off by talking about himself, and only himself, for what seemed like 10 minutes. He walked us through … 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
A smart presenter is prepared for absolutely anything. There are so many details to manage, some of which can make or break your presentation. Why leave anything to chance? That’s why I create checklists. Lots of checklists. I have checklists for: Things to do months and weeks in advance (research audience, create handouts, confirm logistics … Read more
If you’re a fan of Bob Dylan or Patti Smith (or both) this video is must viewing. But even if you’re not, it’s worth watching for some important lessons on how to keep calm when things go off the rails during a presentation. If you hadn’t heard, singer/poet/artist Patti Smith went to Stockholm this weekend … Read more
If your PowerPoint decks are still stuck in the last century (dull, ugly and wordy), audiences may think your ideas are stuck there, too. Don’t sweat it. I’ve got a fix for you. This year I debuted a new talk that has already helped hundreds of conference attendees modernize their slides so they can deliver … Read more