Q. How can I become more comfortable talking about my business?

A. Practice, practice, practice. I've given so many presentations and public speeches...since becoming a business owner. You always want to position yourself as the expert in your field. If you do that people will want to hear what you have to say. You've heard about having a thirty second elevator speech? A one minute elevator speech and so on? What's an elevator speech? It's what you'd say about yourself or your business if you only had :30 in an elevator. What would you say in such a short amount of time to let someone know what it is you do. This doesn't mean you say you're a industrial engineer who works for a manufacturing company who makes widgits. That tells me nothing. Perhaps instead you say you're an expert in efficiencies in a manufacturing setting, you ensure things run smoothly from one process to the next, you're a vital link between designers & production workers. The company you work for makes equipment for the entertainment industry. Hmmmm...interesting. As with anything take any chance you get to practice your speech, to family, to friends...get out there and network, network, network.