On “The Voice” last night, Reba McEntire gave advice to the contestants that I thought was excellent for public speaking: “If you are not comfortable up there, your audience won’t be comfortable.”

There was a time I feared public speaking and couldn’t get my heart to stop pounding. I started speaking, speaking, and speaking.  Now I have my own business as a professional speaker and even had a gig in Asia.  If you keep speaking, who knows where it will take you!

When you look at your notes, do not say “I’m going to look at my notes so I do not forget anything.”  I admit that I even do this from time to time, but there is no reason for it. Your audience expects you to have notes and refer to them so you can stay [...]

Just because the podium is there, doesn’t mean you have to speak behind it.  Get out in front.  Ask for a wireless microphone, own the stage, Take the Stage and Love It.

The keynote speaker at the convention was great, but every now and then she had to clear her throat and did it right into the microphone. It was distracting and annoying. If you need to clear your throat, sneeze, or cough, or make any kind of funny sounds that will not enhance your speech, then [...]