Think back to Speech 1010. How did your speeches go? Were you calm, cool, and collected, so that you actually enjoyed yourself as you spoke in front of the class, or were you a nervous wreck?

Many people get nervous when they speak in front of a group. They might tremble, sweat, or stutter, for example. I am no exception. I took Speech 1010 as a college freshman. My problem was that my speeches went too fast. A speech that was supposed to be five minutes turned out to be about two minutes long, for example. I had prepared for my speech, but I, like many people, fell victim to glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking. I should have taken a few deep breaths and reminded myself that people are just people. What are speakers so afraid of?

One thing they may be afraid of is that the audience will laugh and point at them. They will not, however. It takes courage to stand in front of a group and speak, and they want to hear what you have to say. They may be particularly interested if you are speaking on a topic that they really like, such as earning money from online publishing. They want to see if you have any secrets that you can share with them to help them succeed.

Another thing they may be afraid of is that they will make a mistake. They might mispronounce a term, for example. People are human, and everyone makes mistakes. With research, a speaker can learn the proper pronunciation of the terms in his speech so that he will not be embarrassed.

Finally, a speaker may be worried that he will trip and fall as he steps onto the stage and that someone in the audience will capture his mishap and post it online for the world to see. Accidents do happen, of course, but by getting a good night's sleep the night before a speech, most accidents can be avoided.

The way to become a better public speaker is to speak as often as you can. The more often you speak, the easier it will become. Check online to see if your area has a Toastmasters International. This is an organization that is focused on public speaking. Members speak, and they get feedback from other members, which helps them improve.

By conquering your fear of public speaking, you can grow as an individual, inform and entertain your audiences, and change the world. What do you have to say? An audience is ready to listen.