Website: www.mike-robbins.com
Mike Robbins is the author of the new book, Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken: Transform Your Life with the Power of Authenticity (Hardcover, Jossey-Bass/Wiley, April 2009) and the bestseller Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation (Hardcover, Jossey-Bass Wiley, August 2007). As a well-known keynote speaker and personal development expert, Mike has inspired tens of thousands through his speaking, workshops, coaching, and writing. He empowers people to be grateful, passionate, and authentic in their work, relationships, and lives.
Prior to becoming an author, speaker, and coach, Mike was drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school but chose instead to play baseball at Stanford University, where he pitched in the College World Series. Mike was drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of Stanford and played three seasons of professional baseball in the Royals organization before arm injuries ended his playing career while he was still in the minor leagues.
After his athletic career was cut short, Mike worked in sales and business development for two Internet start-up companies. He has extensively studied many disciplines of both personal and professional development, and received training from the nationally acclaimed Coaches Training Institute (CTI). Mike uses this background, knowledge, and experience to impact the individuals and groups with whom he works.
Mike has worked with some of America’s top organizations and institutions such as AT&T, Apple Computer, UC Berkeley, Chevron, the U.S. Department of Labor, Wells Fargo Bank, New York Life Insurance, Stanford University, and many others. He is a member of the National Speakers Association and is one of less than 6% of the professional speakers in the world to have earned the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation. Mike and his work have been featured on ABC News, the Oprah and Friends radio network, in Forbes, Ladies Home Journal, SELF Magazine, the Washington Post, and many more.
Mike was born and raised in Oakland, California. He graduated from Stanford with a B.A. in American Studies and a specialization in race and ethnicity. 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 and experiences that he is grateful for.
He is also the author of the audio program, The Power of Appreciation, and a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Single Parent’s Soul and Thirty Things to Do When You Turn Thirty.
Mike is a member of the board of directors 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).
He is passionate about appreciation, authentic expression, bold actions, loving relationships, metaphysics, peace, spirituality, kindness, and personal growth, among many other things. Mike has always had a desire and a talent for positively affecting other people.
He lives in Concord, CA (in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he grew up) with his amazing wife Michelle, their two beautiful young daughters, Samantha and Annarose, and their adorable cats Gouda and Emma.
