[originaltext] In public speaking, the watch word is preparation. Most of us

In public speaking, the watch word is preparation. Most of us tend to put things off, at least occasionally. It’s so easy to put things off especially those things we do not look forward to doing.  So if the speaking engagement is several weeks off, we may feel that we still have plenty of time. But as the day draws closer, we begin to panic. Don’t let this happen to you. Start preparing as soon as you’re given or accept the speaking assignment. You have much to do and to do it right will take time. How much better your speech will be and how much better you’ll feel if you have taken the time to do it right! When you are prepared, you have gathered the needed data, determined what is appropriate to the listener’s understanding and acceptance levels, organized the ideas so they flow logically, selected examples and other supports for your ideas and made them interesting to your listeners, developed a great opening that you know will capture the attention of even the daydreamers in your audience checked out the room where you’ll be speaking and requested any feasible changes you wish in the set-up of the room If you are prepared, you are confident that you can best convey your message to your listeners. If you waited until a few days before your presentation to begin to prepare, or worse, yet, the day before, no doubt you’ll be anxious and with good reason. And now there is not enough time to engage in more than a superficial attempt. Both you and the audience will feel uncomfortable, like retirement planning. It is never too early to start preparing for your presentation. So, start preparing right away.