Book excerpt: Are you looking to take your public speaking to the next level?Whether you are a brand-new speaker or an established professional, you've come to the right place."Present" Yourself in Public Speaking fills a huge gap in public-speaking education. While most public-speaking books and courses rehash the mechanics of public speaking, this book provides a rare insight into the psychology of public speaking. For example, you may have heard that public speaking is people's number one fear in life. It turns out, most people are usually not afraid of public speaking at all; it's public judgment that they most fear. This fear and ones like it impact people's ability to connect authentically and authoritatively with their audience. The other major player affecting authentic connection with audiences is the "inner critic." Every human being has an inner critic, and everyone who speaks publicly has had to deal with their inner critic on some level. Now factor in the idea that every person in the audience has an inner critic also, and you begin to see the challenge! Using the techniques laid out in this book, Mary Cheyne was able to transform from a shy, self-conscious computer programmer into a world-class public speaker, culminating in a 2nd place win in the 2009 World Championship of Public Speaking, out of 25,000 contestants from 14 countries. She has now been a professional speaker and trainer for the better part of a decade.The insights, tools, and advice in this book, derived from Mary Cheyne's years of real-world experience teaching and presenting to thousands of people, will permanently transform your experience of public speaking. "Present" Yourself in Public Speaking addresses:* Detailed insights about how and why you, as a human, have an inner critic and self-doubt.* Practical tools and processes, so you can snap yourself out of it when your inner critic takes over.* A simple process to eliminate self-doubt as well as concrete ways to build self-trust.* Common myths about public speaking and how they hold you back.* How to be real and relatable to your audience.* An easy-to-follow formula for authentic stage presence.* A long-term inside-out path to public-speaking mastery, so you can continue to improve, no matter what level you are currently at.Are you ready to break through to your best self and shine through authentically on the stage? Are you ready to finally tell your inner critic to shut up, so the real you can speak up?