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The landscape of American farming changed dramatically between 1850 and 1950 due in large part to the introduction of farm tractors. Initially, tractors used steam engines, until these gave way to internal combustion engines in the twentieth century. The turn-of-the-century steam engine tractor is gigantic and primitive looking, using chains on a rotating shaft to steer.

When tractors were introduced, farmers quickly found that engine driven tractors were more economical to use, as compared to keeping animals for tillage, and tractors began selling widely. In many cases agricultural machinery dealers received cattle for the barter for tractors and they and in turn sold the cattle in the meat market. The Farmall is one of early tractors and the most familiar and famous names in tractor history. Tractors were made to be work horses, so niceties were minimal. This included foregoing a fuel gauge.

Tractors are most useful for cultivation purposes, so a tractor or tractors have been a must for farm owners, but tractors are also used in excavation, in manufacturing and industry, or on construction sites. Farm size, availability of labor and custom services, crop selection, and cultural practices, such as choice of tillage system, all affect the selection of an optimum equipment set and, ultimately, the number of tractors necessary to farm. Although demand for tractor power generally increases with farm size, many commercial farms operate efficiently with a single tractor.

Tractors are designed to operate at different travel speeds, but the final drives are not designed for all possible torques theoretically available. The engine may range from about 12 to 120 horsepower or more and tractors over the years have been typically offered in the range of 20 to 400 horsepower. Engine power is transmitted to a gearbox typically having 4 to10 speeds (these transmissions are manually switched via a control lever to determine how fast the tractor can go) and through the differential gear to the two large rear-drive wheels. Some farm tractors can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour, but slow speeds are necessary to give the farmer more control while doing field work.

Farm tractors are designed to be operated with additional weight or ballast when pulling heavy loads to reduce wheel slip. Insufficient ballast can cause excessive wheel slip and increased fuel consumption. Tractors need large tires to avoid compressing the earth, and to avoid digging in. Thus only the rear tires really need to be large and the front tires can be small and smooth unless the tractor has four wheel drive. Tractors used on ground of irregular contours have tracks so mounted that their left and right front ends rise and fall independently of each other. However, soil undulations induce tractor and machine vibrations, reducing driver’s comfort and their capability of controlling the linked machinery.

Tractors are usually used to pull, or in some cases, push objects and are designed to pull either large loads at slow speeds or lighter loads at higher speeds. Field speeds up to 10 mph are typical, but rangeland applications usually vary from 2 to 5 mph. Tractors can be generally classified as two-wheel drive, two-wheel drive with front wheel assist, four-wheel drive (often with articulated steering), or track tractors (with either two or four powered rubber tracks).

Tractors are equipped with a hitching point below the rear axles to prevent roll over. Unfortunately, some people will attach to a point above the rear axle in a foolish attempt to get more weight/traction on the drive wheels and this can lead to disaster. Also, if a tractor is used to free and tow a stuck vehicle, the operator should hitch the vehicles front-to-front and drive the towing tractor in reverse, which minimizes the risk for rollover, by transmitting all the engine power of the towing tractor through the chain to the other vehicle.

To read the rest of this article and see interesting Farmall Tractors click here: Farmall Tractors [http://www.farmalltractors.net]

If you are planning a skiing vacation or maybe you are already at the resort and are preparing for a day of skiing then there is a lot to think about. This is especially so if you are new to winter sports. You need to get your skis, boots and poles. You need to organize your lift pass and then you need to hook up with your ski class. Without these things your day would be unsuccessful, however there are a few other things that people often overlook that can also impact on your day. Here is a checklist of 7 things you may need on the ski slopes.

First thing to take is a trail map. No doubt you have looked at the trail maps that are dotted throughout the resort or even at your pocket version but it is essential that you take it with you when you are skiing. Despite your studies you will need to refer to it at least a few times on the first day. Maybe less as the week goes by but it is always handy to have especially if you take a turn that you are not used to.

Lip balm and sunscreen. The lips are very sensitive to the sun and wind. They are one of the few parts of your body that will be exposed to the elements. Make sure they are protected as chapped lips can spoil your vacation. Take a small tube of sunscreen and top up every few hours or so. This is mainly around the face and ears but this depends on the weather and what you are wearing. If it a pleasant day you may decide to ski in a shirt and will need to protect the shoulders and arms.

Something to clean your goggles or sunglasses. Sunglasses often come with a bag that doubles as a cleaner so this is fairly easy to cater for unless you have lost the bag a long time ago like me. If you don’t have the bag then any cloth, like a chamois, will do the trick. Obviously you need to be able to see where you are skiing so clear vision is essential. I’d suggest goggles or glasses are essential too as the glare from the snow is too much even on an overcast day. Goggles are best but sunglasses are more comfortable in my opinion (depending on the type of skiing you are doing).

Carry some water and a snack. There are many cafes and rest stops dotted around the slopes and you won’t have to look far to get a drink at the bottom of the slope but a bottle of water is handy if you need a break during a run. It also means you don’t have to stop skiing for too long. As for a snack, I like a chocolate bar and skiing is my excuse to indulge my chocoholic tendencies. Other people may take an energy bar or even a sandwich.

A cell phone is a good device to have on you if you have an accident or need to keep in touch with friends. You need to find out where to meet up for lunch at the very least ! Take your wallet with some form of id and a credit card or small amount of money. You don’t want a heavy wallet weighing you down.

For more skiing and snowboarding tips and reviews of equipment then visit [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com] The site gives advice on things to carry when skiing [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com/skiing/things-to-carry-when-skiing-21/] and types of snow skiing [http://www.snowboardnskiing.com/skiing/types-of-snow-skiing-10/] Adrian Whittle writes on skiing and snowboarding.

Searching the internet for a “summer camp” can yield an overwhelming number of results. Unfortunately, the best camp for you may not be anywhere near the top of Google’s picks; your perfect camp might be hidden on page ten. Right at the top of the search results will be camp directories. Directories appear here as they put the most money into their sites, into their web-ranking. A directory won’t know which camp is best for you.

In the search results there will be web links that relate to one specific camp. You may chose to look at some of these as well as the directories but going camp page to camp page will take too long, limiting your exposure to the camps available. As long as you are aware that the directories are a resource and not an authority, they are the most easy-to-use resource to be found. To understand why they are a resource and not an authority, one should understand how they exist. Directories charge the camps you find on their website for the services they provide. Most have a free listing but these are little one liners with limited information and often in black and white. To be noticed, directories charge camps for top placement, for color, for logos, for video, for ads on the side of the page and ones at the top. Quotes to camps run into the thousands of dollars per year for a listing.

Since your time is valuable, here are some benefits of the directories: you can find camps broken down by religion, by activity, by geography, by residency or day camp. Once you have a general idea of what you are looking for, use the internet to research specifics. For example, if you have decided you want to go whitewater rafting, but you also want to visit a different part of the country, you should hop onto a search engine and type in “whitewater rafting camp in California” (or whatever area you want to visit). Look at each of the sites that come up and make contact with those camps. Find out if they offer shuttle service to and from the local airport (this is something our camp offers). By doing so, you might get to have your proverbial cake and eat it too! This article would be no good if we didn’t have some recommendations to get your questions flowing, so here are some to consider:

1. Is a resident summer camp (one where you stay overnight) for you? If you haven’t spent much time away from home, this can be a scary thought. Feeling nervous is normal. It helps to know that no one is a “pro” at being a summer camp resident – everyone else is nervous, too! So, if this is something that’s exciting, I encourage you to give it a try; you’ll probably love it! If not, if this is simply something you cannot get into, then you should look for a day camp. Day camps can run multiple days but you’re picked up and dropped off each day.

2. Is a church-focused camp a main factor? If yes, then you must make sure you’re searching with the specific church focus in your query. Even the most devout of campers can enjoy a non-church focused camp. Directors and counselors alike have great respect for people of all backgrounds, so don’t allow this factor to keep you away if the camp is perfect in all other respects.

3. Does the camp need to be an all-boys (or all-girls) camp? If so, then make sure you are searching for all-boys camps. If coed is preferred make sure you keep an eye out for this as well. We cannot say which, if either, is better, as we have had experiences with both types of scenarios.

4. This is your summer vacation, so if there is something you want to explore, then look for that in a camp. If you want underwater basket weaving, then you should not enroll in a sea kayaking camp. With this in mind, it is important to look at the activities different camps offer, especially as you begin to narrow your search. Similar camps can still pose great differences. For example, here, in Northern California, there are two water-based camps that are not far apart. One camp is on a lake, the other on a river. They are both priced nearly the same. The river-based camp does nearly all that the lake-based camp does, but the river-based camp also rafts, has off-site excursions such as water parks, pro sporting events and local attractions, at no extra charge! Be sure to really take a look at the camps and compare. And as we always encourage, contact the camps and ask them questions. You can tell quite a bit about the camp by how they respond to you. Always choose the one that makes you the most comfortable.

5. Most importantly, don’t assume that you cannot do something. If you find something that peaks your interest but you are unsure of whether it is a good fit for you, then ask the camp! Most camps were designed with your joy in mind; therefore, the activities they offer are ones they are pretty sure you would enjoy. So, if you think a rafting adventure camp sound exciting and somewhere you would like to be, but you are not confident in your ability to participate, then contact the camp. Ask them what is required, tell them your concerns, and dialogue with them. If you are getting the feeling that they would rather not talk with you, then that is a place you do not want to be. If, however, you find they are engaging and care about your concerns, it is probably a good fit.

6. Email the camp, call the camp and dialogue with the camp! I cannot stress this enough. Anyone can write about how great their camp is, and everyone WILL write about how great their camp is, but the decision as to which camp fits you is yours and yours alone. The only way you are going to answer questions and get comfortable with your decision is to make contact. Camps should welcome your email and/or call. You are important, and so is your summer vacation. The right camp will recognize this and help you to find the best fit. The tips above are a good starting point toward finding that camp that is going to help you make BFFs and provide you with memories for years to come. As you see, there is a tremendous variety in summer camping from adventure overnight camps to day camps focused on arts and crafts. This is your time to live it up, take the time to research, be bold, and take a risk on something new. Reach out via email, and go with the camp that responds in a way that speaks to you.

Christopher Pyle is the owner/director of adventure summer camp and whitewater rafting company in Northern California. His entire company philosophy focuses on creating the safest and most encouraging environments for campers and rafters alike. We focus on TEAM, we focus on KINDNESS, we focus on SAFETY, we focus on personal EMPOWERMENT, we focus on COMMUNITY, we focus on SUPPORT. We’re family run, family oriented and wanting to share our place with you.

Public speaking presents such a challenge for many people. In the Book of Lists, public speaking anxiety and making a presentation constitute the number one fear; the fear of dying is number two. Like the old saying goes, “People would rather be in the grave than make a presentation.” You see people sweat, shake, and quiver while they are speaking. Sometimes, employees bypass promotions, and business owners bypass business opportunities rather than give a presentation. I saw a manager who was on the corporate fast track quickly become derailed because she couldn’t complete her presentation in front of senior management.

So what do great speakers do to prepare themselves to be great presenters? They prepare their minds to give a great presentation. That’s right; it all starts in your mind. How can you develop a great speaker’s mindset and start giving outstanding presentations? The following are five secrets for powerful public speaking:

1. Believe It So That You Can Achieve It

I am approached by people who say, “I can’t speak in public,” “I am a bad speaker,” or “I could never speak in public.” Without hearing them speak, I say, “You’re right.” Because once you make those negative statements, they become self-fulfilling prophesies. When you say, “I am a bad speaker,” your subconscious mind is thinking, “Well, he or she said it, so it must be true; so I will act like a bad speaker.” Positive speaking attitude (PSA) is one of the first things I work on during my presentation coachings. Replace the negative speaking attitude with a PSA to master your self talk and improve your presentation skills. Instead of saying, “I am a bad speaker,” say the following:

* “I am improving my public speaking abilities everyday in everyway.”

* “Every opportunity to make a presentation is an opportunity for success.”

* “I am a good public speaker today; and, with continued practice, I will be a better public speaker tomorrow.”

* “I am mastering my presentation skills everyday!”

When you make these positive affirmations, your subconscious mind hears it and says, “Yeah, I am improving,” or “Let me speak because it is an opportunity for success,” or “I am mastering my speaking skills.”

Manage your self talk for a PSA. You will feel a new confident attitude concerning public speaking.

2. Think About What You Want to Accomplish

I will ask the question, “What do you want to accomplish with your presentation?” Many times I will be on the receiving end of a blank stare or the student might say, “I just want them to listen to me.”

Take time to think about what you want to accomplish by giving your presentation. Is it that you want to entertain the audience, do you want to persuade them on an important issue, or maybe you want the audience to take action after hearing your presentation. Going into your presentation knowing what you want to accomplish creates focus and is a big confidence builder.

3. Visualize Success

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak at an association conference with over five thousand people in the audience. Joy, my wife, was sitting in the audience with our friend Jim who came to hear me speak for the first time. As I was about to speak, Jim leaned over and asked Joy if I was nervous speaking in front of such a large group of people. Without blinking an eye, Joy said, “He was born for this day. He saw this day coming when he first started speaking.”

I visualized that day long before it happened. Whenever I give a presentation, I take time to visualize a successful presentation and positive outcome. The more details I include in my visualizations, the more vivid and real it becomes for me. The night before the presentation I will find a quiet place at home or, if I am on the road, a hotel room, and meditate to start the visualization process. I will visualize my drive to the event, greeting the host and audience, and how my powerful presentation will sound and look on that day. I will also visualize the audience’s positive response to the presentation.

Take time to visualize the details of giving a great presentation. Like the old saying goes, “Fake it ‘til you make it.” If you visualize you are a great speaker, you will take the steps and create opportunities for yourself to become a great speaker.

Visualize that the audience wants to hear your message and they want you to do well. Remember, it’s their time also and they want to receive value out of your speech.

4. Own the Room

Whenever I speak, I “own the room.” I mentally tell myself that for the next thirty minutes, hour, etc., I own the room. The corporation, association, or government may own the building or venue I am speaking in, but during the time I am speaking, I am the owner of the room and the audience will be my guests, my friends. That way I am always in control to give an outstanding presentation.

Think of your speaking area as your house, your home, your castle. When you invite friends into your home, aren’t you in control and want to provide a safe, entertaining environment for your guests? The same is true for your speaking audience; you want to provide a safe, entertaining, and enriching experience for them.

I always say, “Giving presentations is not about me, it’s about you (the audience).” What I mean is that if I am constantly thinking about how I sound, look, and feel while I speak, I am not thinking about what I can share with my audience. Concentrate on the value you will give to your audience members and you will never go wrong.

5. Eat the Elephant

Many times I hear the following:

“I could never speak in front of a group of people, but one-on-one I am fine.”

Well, I ask, “How do you eat the elephant?” Break the elephant into smaller pieces. It is the same when you “digest” the audience. Don’t think of the audience as a whole, think of the audience as individuals ready to hear your message. Concentrate on thinking of your audience as individuals, and your message will come across that way to the individual audience members.

Follow these five secrets for creating a positive mindset for confident public speaking. Overcoming your public speaking anxiety will improve your presentation skills and create new opportunities for you through public speaking.

Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and coach in the areas of presentation skills, leadership, motivation, stress management, customer service, and team building. You can e-mail him at mailto:esykes@thesykesgrp.com, or call him at (757) 427-7032. Go to his web site, http://www.thesykesgrp.com, and signup for the newsletter, OnPoint, and receive the free ebook, “Empowerment and Stress Secrets for the Busy Professional.”

Winter’s grip has lightened. Spring school break has already passed. Every kid scratches and itches to finish this year’s schooling and be released into the summer! But, for parents 2007 summer camp realities are already here.

Choices Galore. Besides sifting through the menu of summer camp program possibilities … from outdoor summer camps with wilderness focus such as Outward Bound or National Outdoor Leadership … to team sports camps like summer tennis camps, lacrosse summer camps summer golf camps summer cheerleading camps and more … to arts and academic programs including summer acting camps, summer dance camps, summer art camp … to special need summer camp programs including ADHD summer camps and even weight loss summer camps combining healthy living and moderate exercise.

Paying The Tab – Cost Saving Tip #1. “Early bird gets the worm” may be the operative cliché to describe what parents need to do, which is pick your summer camp program as early in the year … or even register in the previous year if possible. What do you get? Not guaranteed, but most camps reward early registrants with significant contract discounts of up to 15% or more. Why the discount? It’s all about business, money, knowing their future summer camp program revenue stream, so that their summer camp counselor jobs levels can be determined and the right kids selected.

Picking your summer camp program early may also “save money” not because you’ll get a discount, but that you’ll save real money and a lot of headaches if you fail to get your child a camp spot, and then have to scramble … you could end up literally spinning your wheels and paying 50% more in some make-do situation.

Cost Saving Tip #2 – Think Locally For Great Programs And Lower Overall Costs. The greatest cost factor “variable” may be travel and transportation costs. Living in Maryland and then sending Johnny to Montana’s Glacier Park wilderness may sound cool … but you’re looking at serious money. Yes, you want the “experience of a life time” for Johnny … but money doesn’t grow on trees so if you decide on a distance camp … then you must hustle onto the Internet travel sites and buy your ticket as early as possible, before the “prime time” season rates lock in.

Simple solution? In virtually every State and region … across America and Canada … families can select from a wide range of cool, exciting, challenging summer camp programs, all within 1-day’s drive distance.

Ask For Scholarship Aid – Cost Saving Tip #3. If you have modest means … if you’re a single parent … if both parents work full time and can’t afford either time off or extra money, then you need to ask your target camp whether they’ll accept your child at a discounted price! The key here is to “offer” something in exchange for a lower price. All summer camps’ owner-managers try to lower costs while eking out an income over the short summer months period. Be direct. Ask whether your child can join the camp, but … also work for the camp. Cleaning up, preparing food, chopping or carrying wood, doing laundry, drying dishes, whatever. It’s all about creating a value-exchange that means something for your family and the residential summer camp.

Controlling “Sundries” Expenses – Cost Saving Tip #4. Day trips … canteen snacks costs … rentals … any of the normal “temptations” on hand could represent a significant “hidden cost” that parents need to investigate.

Refunds And Sick Child Early Departures – Cost Saving Tip #5. Reputable camps will have clear standards for assisting families who pay “early deposits” then have a change of mind. Make sure that any deposit moneys will be refunded in whole or in part before you make payments. Also, families may save significant money, in the event that your child become ill while at camp, by ensuring that the camp refund policy covers sickness early departure without penalties.

Creating Lifestyle Changes That Work. Explore the practical side of 2007 summer camps … costs … family strategies … plus the many exciting and challenging summer camp program choices opening up around the country and world.

Summer Camps for Teens: http://www.wise4living.com/kidcamp/ Or Sports Summer Camps: http://www.wise4living.com/kidsport/

Author Robin Derry is publisher for http://www.wise4living.com/ a specialty knowledge site that gives insights and solutions for families committed to summer camps, body health, home and gardening projects, unique gift designs, HDTV and home entertainment systems, technology gifts, household, sport, travel, footwear, education, and family legal needs.

No matter how well you take care of your car, all vehicles are bound to need repairs at one time or another. However, you can minimize the cost of repairing these problems through proper maintenance and repair, especially if the problems are minor and can be worked on from the comfort of your own driveway!

Keeping Your Car Safe is Number One

Keeping your car safe for you, your passengers, and other drivers is the most essential do-it-yourself engine repair information to know. The car engine is the core component of any vehicle. A simple error could result in any number of problems. Most people who are new to the do-it-yourself engine repair techniques tend to be quite eager to delve into the problem without taking the proper precautions. For instance, before you begin any form of engine repair, it is essential that you disconnect the car battery. However, many novices forget this step in their rush to fix the problem, which could result in injury or more engine damage.

What Does that Sound Mean?

A sputtering engine can spell disaster especially if not taken care of immediately. In most cases, a faulty engine component is the cause of engine sputter – which can be heard and felt while driving. Decreased engine power and strange noises may indicate a faulty spark plug, distributor cap, rotor, or other engine parts. For example, a hissing sound may indicate engine overheating while a popping sound with slow acceleration can indicate a clogged air filter.

In most situations, one may find the problem lies with faulty spark plugs. Whenever spark plugs require changing, one has to ensure that the engine is completely off before doing anything. Check for any burned spark plug insulation wires. Poor or damaged wires may prevent the spark from reaching the cylinder. If the spark plug’s electrodes are eroded, they will require replacement. When buying spark plug replacements, one has to ensure that they are the best suited for the performance requirements of the engine.

Dealing With Electrical Engine Problems

In modern cars, the engine problems are often of an electrical nature. Electrical engine problems are significantly harder to diagnose and fix, especially for amateurs. However, the basic tools that one should have to diagnose problems are the engine’s car manual and an auto scan tool.

The auto scan tool scans the electrical problem and traces it back to the source. The source is indicated by a code which is further explained in the manual. However, if one is still unable to deduce the electrical problem, you should know when to call the repair shop and ask an expert.

Click here to learn more about car repair – including tips and advice from automobile professionals. BuckheadImports.com is the Southeast’s premiere import car maintenance and performance enhancement garage. When caring for your car, the most important thing finding someone you can trust to do the best work and provide you with the right information.

Stefano Grossi
Buckhead Imports
404 816-9606

Public speaking skill is just like any other skill in that the more success that you have, the more self-confidence in public speaking that you develop. The more failures, or perceived failures, that you experience, the more public speaking fear that you are going to experience. The nervousness or anxiety that you feel when you present is normal, but experiencing that public speaking fear for the rest of your life definitely isn’t.

Where does Public Speaking Fear Come From?

Think about any skill that you have developed in your life. For instance, you didn’t come out of the womb knowing how to ride a bike, drive a car, play a musical instrument, or work your iPhone. The first time that you tried any of these activities, you probably experienced some type of discomfort or nervousness. The key to gaining self-confidence in these, or any skill, is to have some type of success where you grow. If the early stages of the skill development are wrought with failures, though, the self-confidence will diminish. For instance, if someone who had never driven a car before gets behind the wheel of a car all by himself or herself (no teacher or coach), then there is a good chance that this first experience is not going to go very well. If the first attempt to drive is on a freeway, then that fear, just like public speaking fear, is going to be huge. At the end of the drive, the person might say something like, “I never, ever, want to experience that again!” If a boss forces the person to attempt the skill years later, that fear is going to grow.

Public Speaking Skill is Developed through Success

A better way to learn a skill is to start with something less risky. In the car example above, most people start in a parking lot with a parent or a coach. Once the confidence increases a little, then the new driver might move to making right-hand turns around a neighborhood. Then move to left-turns. Then maybe get into a higher traffic area. The freeway is last. If you are trying to develop public speaking skills and eliminate public speaking fear, you’ll want to take a similar approach.

Start with something less risky like speaking up at the staff meeting. Most managers or executives want input on ideas or problems during staff meetings. Develop a habit of speaking up at least once during these discussions. Next, volunteer to give a report on a project at a staff meeting. Once you get more comfortable with these types of public speaking opportunities, try something more risky. Maybe ask questions as an audience member in a bigger presentation. Remember that just as when you tried more complicated things in learning to drive, at every stage you experienced more nervousness, when you got to the freeway, the parking lot felt really safe. The same thing will happen with public speaking fear. As you start to experience more complicated presentations, the easier presentations become second nature.

A Public Speaking Coach can Speed Up Your Confidence Growth

Just like the parent or coach who taught you step-by-step how to drive a car, a good public speaking coach can shave a lot of time off your learning curve. For instance, if you went in the parking lot for your first driving experience, it might take you a while to learn how to park correctly. The hardest part would be that you would have very little frame of reference to compare your skill with, so you may not know when you are doing a good job. That questioning that you would have in the back of your mind would cause nervousness. One of the most important parts of coaching is having someone tell you when you did the skill correctly. By the way, you don’t have to go out and find a professional business coach or public speaking coach. Just look for someone who you think presents very well in front of a group and ask the person to watch you and give you feedback. A lot of toasting clubs use this type of coaching.

If your time is short, though, you might want to hire a professional coach. A good public speaking coach can help you develop public speaking skills in a day or two that would take most people years to develop and keep you from developing bad habits. For instance, when I was in my twenties, I wanted to learn how to play golf. I was broke, so I bought some cheap second-hand clubs and went down to the municipal golf course. After a few months, I got pretty good, but I had a terrible slice which hurt my range quite a bit. When I played with friends, I was always two or three strokes behind the group. Eventually, I just figured that golf wasn’t my game, and I stopped playing. Years later, I tried taking it back up and went to a golf-pro near my house. I asked him how long it would take me to become competitive. He said, “Well, if you had come to me in the beginning, maybe a few months, but now, it’s going to be much harder.” When I asked him why, he explained to me that because of my slice, I had developed a habit of turning my body differently to correct the symptom. I knew my ball was going to drift, so, over the years, I just changed my aiming point. My body had become used to that swing, that I had to unlearn that habit before I could re-learn a more proper swing.

If I had just practiced early on with feedback from someone who could already do what I wanted to do, I could have saved myself some time and frustration. In public speaking skills, you can too. Look for a mentor who has already eliminated his/her fear and let that person coach you. Your coach will help you eliminate your public speaking fear much faster.

Doug Staneart is author of the book Fearless Presentations and founder of the Fearless Presentations 2-Day Public Speaking Seminar that is offered in 50 major cities around the world. He has written hundreds of free public speaking tip articles that are all available on his Public Speaking Skills blog.