Rob Biesenbach 
Tomorrow morning I embark on a 36-hour marathon of travel and speaking and it couldn’t have come at a better time, as I believe I’m coming down with yet another Teddy-related virus. I can handle minor illness with a bit of Tylenol Cold and adrenalin, but a scratchy throat could prove to be a real … Read more
If you’re giving a presentation, storytelling can help you break down walls with your audience, earn their trust and, ultimately, influence them to do the thing you want them to do — accept your idea, approve your budget, invite you back, or hire you on the spot. But storytelling is a tool that should be … Read more
Have you ever told a story that bombed? Or that just didn’t get the response you were hoping for? Don’t feel bad — it happens to everyone. But if you want to keep it from happening again, you need to diagnose what went wrong. Chances are, you made one (or more) of these fatal storytelling mistakes. … Read more
This week, Teddy turns three months old. And with Karen’s return to work, it’s also his first full week of day care. For me that means I’ve got the house to myself again. It also spells the end of any dream I had to enter the lucrative and rewarding work of professional daddy blogging. It … Read more
What did I do on my summer vacation? I had a baby! Well, my wife did, actually. It’s been a little over two weeks and I still can’t quite believe it. As a Facebook friend said: I am still amazed that they handed me the baby, just like that. No special degree or anything. I’m a … Read more
Have you ever met anyone who admits they’re a bad listener? I haven’t. Most people seem to think they’re great listeners. But I haven’t found that to be true. And I should know — I’ve long been a bad listener. But I’m getting better at it, and I believe anyone can learn how to be a better … Read more
Every audience has one thing in common: they want to know, “What’s in it for me?” If your speech or presentation is all about you, you’ll never grab and hold their interest. So whether you’re presenting to a group of coworkers around a conference room table or to a thousand strangers in a ballroom, there … Read more
In a camera-phone world, there is still a time and place for a professionally shot and edited video. But on occasion, a DIY approach is good enough — and even preferable. I’ve done it for professional purposes once — and, as with so many things, that makes me feel qualified to advise others. So here’s what I learned … Read more
I’ve done a couple of speeches where events beyond my control cut seriously into my allotted speaking time. If you’re ever in that situation, here’s what to do and what not to do. The Best Laid Plans … I construct my presentations meticulously. If I’ve got an hour-long time slot, then I know I will … Read more
What is it that made Mr. Spock one of the most beloved TV characters of all time? It certainly wasn’t his logical side. If he were all-Vulcan, all the time, that would get old fast. No, what made viewers love Mr. Spock was the occasional glimpse of humanity he showed us. Now Spock was only … Read more