Let's Get Real - Mike Robbins ~ On-Demand

Mike Robbins is an expert in teamwork, communication, and the power of appreciation and authenticity. He delivers keynote addresses, leads customized seminars, and works one-on-one in a way that empowers people and organizations to work together effectively and be more successful. Mike has inspired tens of thousands of people to reach new levels of awareness and success, both personally and professionally through his talks, seminars, and writing. He teaches people to be more grateful, appreciative, and authentic with others and themselves. Mike is the author of the bestselling book, Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation (Hardcover, Jossey-Bass/Wiley, August 2007) and the new book Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken (Hardcover, Jossey-Bass/Wiley, April 2009). He is also a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Single Parent's Soul and Thirty Things to Do When You Turn Thirty.

Prior to his speaking, writing, and coaching career, Mike was drafted by the New York Yankees. He turned the Yankees down and instead chose to play baseball at Stanford University. While at Stanford, he was a standout pitcher and he helped lead his team to the Pac-10 Conference Championship and an appearance in the College World Series. He was named to the All-Conference team, nominated as an academic All-American, and voted "Most Inspirational" by his fellow teammates. Mike was drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of Stanford and played three seasons of professional baseball with the Royals before arm injuries ended his playing career at the age of 24.

After his athletic career was cut short by injuries, Mike worked in sales and business development for two Internet start-up companies. He had a great deal of success in a very short time in the dot-com world. When the dot-com "bubble" burst in 2000 and Mike was laid off, it allowed him to follow a deeper passion - helping and inspiring individuals and groups - and opened the door for Mike to start working full time as a speaker, author, and coach.

In addition to earning his college degree from Stanford in American Studies with a specialization in race and ethnicity, Mike has continued to educate himself. He has extensively studied many disciplines of both personal and professional development, and received training from the nationally acclaimed Coaches Training Institute.

Mike has worked with some of America's top organizations and institutions such as AT&T, Apple Computer, UC Berkeley, the U.S. Department of Labor, New York Life Insurance, Stanford University, Chevron, Kaiser Permanente, and many others. He is a member of the National Speakers Association and is one of less than 10% of the professional speakers in the world to have earned the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. Mike has been featured on ABC News, the Oprah and Friends radio network, in Forbes, the Washington Post, and many others.

Mike was born and raised in Oakland, California. He was raised primarily by his single mom and attended inner-city schools growing up. His background and upbringing provided many challenges, as well as many wonderful lessons that he is grateful for. Mike is a board member for two non-profit organizations - Challenge Day (a powerful youth organization that focuses on peace, healing, and personal development for teens) and The Peace Alliance (an organization focused on creating a culture of peace here in America and around the world, as well as a grassroots political campaign to create a cabinet level U.S. Department of Peace).

Mike is passionate about appreciation, gratitude, authentic communication, family, forgiveness, metaphysics, relationships, spirituality, and personal growth, among many other things. He has always had a desire and a talent for positively affecting other people. Whether as class president in high school, a community volunteer, a speaker, a ballplayer, a teacher, or just talking to strangers on the street, Mike Robbins' intention is to make a difference with people wherever he goes.

Mike lives in Concord, CA (San Francisco Bay Area) with his wife Michelle, and their two young daughters, Samantha and Annarose.