Mike,

>>< lol > !!!! Personally, I get so nervous every time I speak, I would never choose to present a topic that I didn't feel confident about.
>
>I realize that I'm in the minority, but am I the only one that can get in front of a crowd and have no reservations about speaking, even if I'm not fully prepared? Maybe experience has a lot to do with it (I used to preach 20 minutes every Sunday morning, ready or not), but can't this be learned? I figure it's like playing in a band: it's not how well you play the material, it's how well you recover when you make a mistake.


No, you're not the only one. I don't get that nervous anymore. I think that in a general sense it's just like anything else in that it's learned. However I also think that you need to have something to say. <g> I've been asked to do the announcements at the church I attend for three weeks and, quite candidly, I've found myself more nervous doing that than, say the morning lesson. I've never done announcements before so I'm more nervous.

Now.. Here's the trick to public speaking: Everyone gets butterflys. The trick is teaching them to fly in formation. <g>