The Importance of Pursuing Your Passion

No matter what you do in life, the key to achieving success and happiness is passion. There are people who have all the money in the world, but they feel unfulfilled. You may set out a list of goals for yourself, achieve them, but find you still feel unsatisfied. When someone feels this way, it’s because they did not find and follow their true passions in life. Unfortunately, many people are discouraged from following their passions because they’re told they’ll never be successful or financially stable. While it’s important to make sure you provide for yourself and your family, you shouldn’t let what someone else tells you stop you from following your passion and achieving fulfillment.

How to find your passion

One of the saddest things is that far too many people never find their passion or are too afraid to pursue it. For a long time, I’ve known that I’m passionate about music, animal rights, and cosmetics. Fortunately, I’ve been able to pursue these passions through Malmsteen Management, the April Malmsteen Foundation, and Medusa Cosmetics. While not everyone can immediately start a business revolving around their passion, you can certainly find a way to pursue it. If you aren’t sure what you’re passionate about, take time to discover it. Think about the causes and hobbies you love and that bring you genuine happiness. What do you enjoy doing that doesn’t feel like work? Your passion is the thing that makes you excited; you want to talk about it and don’t mind putting a lot of time toward it. Once you find your passion, you’re on your way to reaching fulfillment.

The benefits of passion

You’ve likely heard people discuss the importance of passion before, but has anyone directly told you the benefits of finding and following your passion? I know I mentioned that you’ll feel as though you’ve lived a fulfilling life by following your passion, but there are plenty of other benefits as well. By living your passion, you’ll push yourself to do better. Any job can wear on you, but if you’re doing something connected to your passion, it will seem much less like work. Your passion gives you determination to keep working hard and also makes what you’re doing fun, since it’s something you’re invested in. The people you work with will also feed off of your passion and be pushed to achieve more.

How to measure success

Passion is what gives your life meaning. You might be passionate about something that you cannot make your livelihood, but that doesn’t mean you’ll lead an unsatisfactory life. Find work that provides you with time outside of work to pursue what you’re passionate about. Maybe one day, you will be able to turn your passion into your job if you steadily work toward it. Do not feel as though you have to measure success in following your passions by whether or not you’ve made money from it. Simply spending time on your passion is enough to find fulfillment, as long as you regularly take time for your passions.

Conservation Spotlight: Amazon River Dolphin

The Amazon River Dolphin, or the boto, is a type of dolphin that dwells in areas in South America. You can find this dolphin throughout the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Perú, and Venezuela. While the populations of this dolphin are abundant in many areas, there are some areas they’re considered particularly vulnerable, for various reasons. They’re a truly unique species, especially with the beautiful color of their skin. Learn more about the Amazon River Dolphin!

What are they?

This species of dolphin is much like other members of the family, except they dwell in rivers. There are other types of river dolphins located throughout the world, but they’re all different in certain ways. The most unique feature of this type of river dolphin is the pink color of their skin. The Amazon River Dolphins comes in shades of pink and gray. This unique coloration occurs because of their individual capillaries, exposure to sunlight, and diet. There are lots of other small features that also set them apart from dolphins around the world.

Why are they endangered?

Various issues contribute to the threatened status of the Amazon River Dolphin. One of the biggest issues is pollution of their rivers. Without proper regulation, large amounts of pollution enters the Amazon River, which affects all the organisms residing there. These dolphins don’t have anywhere else to go, so they’re harmed by this pollution. The contamination itself can hurt them or it can also kill off their food supply.

The boto’s diet mainly consists of catfish, which is in high demand by fisherman in the Amazon River area. As humans harvest much of the dolphins’ food source, it’s more difficult for them to survive. Some people hunt the dolphins themselves in order to use the dolphin parts as bait (often for the dolphins’ own food source - catfish). Though there are currently high numbers of this dolphin, their population has been rapidly decreasing.

How can you help?

It’s likely you haven’t heard of the Amazon River Dolphin before, however, now that you know more about this species, maybe you’re looking for some way to help them. One of the best steps you can take is simply raising awareness. Share information, on social media or with people you know, about the boto. The more people realize the impact their actions have on animals, the better chance we have of saving those animals. You can also choose to donate to causes that support helping out these animals and promoting conservation.

Conservation Success Story: California Condor

Conservation efforts are continuously underway to help out various species of animals that are endangered or treacherously close to extinction. Many times, these animals go extinct anyway and there isn’t much we can do to reverse the damage already caused. However, there are times when a true success story occurs. One of the most well-known is the story of the California condor, pulled back from the brink of extinction over the last few years. Along the way, there were many challenges that had to be overcome, but the condors did it.

The plight of the condors

Not an attractive creature, the California condor is the largest bird in North America, though that almost become an outdated fact. These condors once roamed across the western part of the United States, but as humans destroyed their habitat, hunted them, and indirectly poisoned them with lead, the birds were not doing well. They have wingspans of around 10 feet and majestically soar through the sky. They can even live up to 60 years old and are considered sacred by Native Americans.

In the late 70s, the California condor almost became extinct because only a couple dozen of the birds were left. There are various issues that led to this decline, but it’s difficult to pinpoint one overarching reason for the near extinction of these great birds. Researchers have also learned from fossils that the condor populations were significantly depleted even before Europeans came to the United States, likely because they were running out of abundant food sources. When people first began paying attention to the plight of the California condor, the future looked bleak.

Methods used to save their population

At first, no one was sure what to do to help out the California condor. The condor reproduced only after they were mature around eight years old and had one egg every couple of years. Scientists first began removing eggs from nests to raise in captivity, because the loss of an egg often prompted a condor to lay another that year. Soon, there were programs for breeding in captivity as well and the condor received protection from the Endangered Species Act.

By the late 80s, only around 10 condors remained. That was when drastic measures were taken and all birds were taken into captivity. Within a few years, scientists began reintroducing condors into the wild, though noticed captive born condors didn’t function well in the wild and many birds were still dying. Methods of raising the baby condors had to be drastically changed and mirror more closely how adult condors raised their young. Eventually, scientists saw success.

How condors are thriving today

After hard work, the condors are doing better than they have in decades. Now, there are nearly 500 condors and around half of them live in the wild. California condors have even begun laying eggs and raising chicks in the wild. There is still a long way to go for this species to be completely stable, but through careful attention from experts and concerned citizens, condors should be well on their way to frequenting the western skies once again.

Do Zoos Help Endangered Species?

People have mixed feelings regarding zoos; do they actually help the animals or do they mainly entertain humans without focusing on issues in the natural environment? Zoos donate money to conservation efforts, but how much of this money goes to help the animals? Recent numbers show that zoos “contributed some $160 million to conservation efforts in 130 countries,” but many argue the number could be much higher. Others say zoos may help some animals, but they’re ignoring the real program, which is habitat depletion by humans. Though, any help is good and many zoos continue to improve their efforts, especially as more and more join the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), which requires these institutions to follow strict guidelines on the care and efforts made to help animals.

Research projects

The biggest advocates of zoos often mention the amount of research that occurs at zoos and that they’re responsible for funding. The money zoos give to research on animals often leads to us learning much more about those creatures, which can also help us learn how to protect them and keep them healthy. Jane Goodall herself, who did extensive research on wild gorillas, views modern, accredited zoos in a positive light. This research also contributes to increasing the public’s knowledge about endangered animals and efforts to help them. Through visiting zoos and learning about the animals in them and the zoo’s research, patrons may feel more inclined to search out other ways to help endangered species. In order for zoos to be successful, this research must continue to be conducted in a responsible way that works toward reaching the goal of sustaining wild habitats.

Captive breeding

A program conducted by zoos that gets the most attention is captive breeding. Commonly, zoos livestream the birth of new animals, especially if they’re an endangered species. Zoo attendance typical hikes up after the arrival of the newborn, because everyone wants to see a cute baby animal. Some zoos even let visitors pay to vote on the new animal’s name and then donate related funds to conservation efforts, but how many zoos actually follow this same principle? How many captive breeding births directly help sustain the species’ numbers in the wild?

Reintroduction programs

Alongside captive breeding sits the re-introduction programs, where animals raised in captivity are introduced back into the wild once they’re old enough to fend for themselves. Once again, people have mixed views about this particular strategy to helping endangered animals. You have a few success stories, such as the California condor, though their introduction back into the wild faced plenty of obstacles. However, there are also many stories of how the animals couldn’t function once they were in the wild; most larger animals remain in captivity their entire lives. If done properly and combined, captive breeding and reintroduction programs can help a species, but it’s unclear how feasible the process is for the majority of endangered species.

While zoos have lots of benefits, there are downsides as well, especially when a zoo doesn’t care for its animals in the way it should. Continue doing research into different zoos and the programs they support and provide; you can decide for yourself whether or not zoos are helping endangered creatures!

Best Books for Women Entrepreneurs

When you decide to pursue your dreams of starting your own business, it can seem daunting. You need to break into an industry and compete with lots of other businesses, while also working on the financial, production, and administrative aspects of your business. Fortunately, with hard work and the right amount of research, you’ll certainly be able to make these dreams a reality. A great resource to use in your journey to be a successful entrepreneur is books by other entrepreneurs who have the experience and record of success that shows they know what they’re talking about and have valuable advice to give you. Here are some of the best books for entrepreneurs, especially female entrepreneurs, that are available today.

Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg

One of the most popular books for working women, Lean In was written by the CEO of Facebook and discusses what you’ll need to be a leader and truly successful. Sandberg writes from a personal perspective, but also includes data and other information that backs up her points and ideas. This book focuses on the various challenges and choices women must make throughout their professional and personal lives. It’s refreshing having someone discuss the topics as candidly as Sandberg does.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

While not explicitly focused on entrepreneurship, this book helps you learn the best ways to communicate and interact with other people. Carnegie gives powerful insight into being an effective leader. This advice can seriously help out entrepreneurs, because every business needs incredible leaders who work well with other people.

Shark Tales: How I Turned $1000 into a Billion Dollar Business by Barbara Corcoran

Corcoran discusses her own story in this book and how she went from working as a waitress to launching a billion dollar business. She started with a loan of $1000, eventually worked her way up to appearing on Shark Tank, and finally became the huge success she is today. She gives straightforward advice and makes you feel as though you can achieve anything as well.

The Boss of You: Everything a Woman Needs to Start, Run and Maintain Her Own Business by Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon

Many books for entrepreneurs focus on growing a small business into a multi-million dollar company; Mears and Bacon acknowledge that maybe not everyone wants to create a huge corporation. This book focuses on starting small and then slowly growing in a more manageable way. Check out The Boss of You if you want a fresh look at starting your own business.

Girl Code: Unlocking Secrets to Success, Sanity and Happiness for the Female Entrepreneur by Cara Alwill Leyba

Girl Code focuses on how you can become the best female entrepreneur possible, but Leyba also highlights the importance of working with and raising up other women who work in business. She believes that together, we can accomplish many more goals and help one another achieve greater success. The book will definitely motivate you as you read about personal stories of powerful women working toward success.

How to Be a Successful Female Entrepreneur

Becoming an entrepreneur can be incredibly difficult and even more so if you’re a woman and are trying to break into an industry that’s predominately male. Instead of feeling discouraged, know that there are lots of women before you who have accomplished the same goal and there will be plenty of people cheering you on toward your dream. Many ways exist to be a truly successful entrepreneur, but there are also some vital traits you should possess in order to reach your entrepreneurial dreams.

Take risks

If you’re embarking on your own business venture, you won’t get anywhere without taking measured risks. Avoid being too timid to take risks, because your business will either stagnant or fail entirely. While you shouldn’t be afraid of failure, it’s important that you learn from it and do better the next time around. Decide what risks your business can handle and could provide a benefit to your company.

Assert your worth

Because you’re attempting to start your own business, you’ll be dealing with people wondering whether or not you’re worth the investment. You might face even more skepticism because you’re a woman. Know your own worth and do not be afraid to show it. Talk about your skills and areas of expertise and do not be afraid to show off what you know. The more confident you are in your own value, the more likely other people will see it too.

Find a female mentor

This tip is especially important if you’re young or just starting out in your industry. Find a female mentor you respect and has lots of business experience and then ask her to mentor you. A woman who’s been in your shoes will be able to give you valuable advice and support that can help you achieve your goals.

Be knowledgeable

Since it’s likely people will question how much you know about what you’re doing, it’s vital that you are knowledgeable about the industry and topics you’re working with. While you can’t know everything, you must understand the basic facts of your industry and what it takes to run a business. Read as much as you can and talk to lots of different people for advice.

Always improve

No matter how much of an expert you are in a specific field, you can always improve the amount of knowledge you have. If you feel you’ve reached the pinnacle in one area, move onto something else that can enhance your business skills and take your company to the next level. Always strive toward the next level and make yourself continuous goals in various areas.

Have faith in yourself

Finally, female entrepreneurs often face more self-doubt than men who are pursuing the same goals. If you begin to feel discouraged, remember that you’ve been working hard and preparing yourself for being an entrepreneur and it’s normal to have some doubt or questions. Learn to have faith in yourself and you’ll be able to accomplish your goals!

The Importance of Helping Endangered Species

Some people wonder why we need to worry about different species going extinct when there are so many other types of animals in the world. It may not seem like a big deal if a few kinds of insects or mammals are no longer around. People argue that creatures have always gone extinct and it’s the natural order of life. Unfortunately, research shows that extinctions are happening at a rate that is not natural and most likely directly related to human activities. It’s up to us to help sustain the environment around us and make sure the other creatures that inhabit our planet continue to exist. By helping endangered species, we’re upholding a balanced ecological web; this goal is important for many reasons.

Balanced biosphere

Likely the most important reason we need to work to protect endangered species is that they help balance our biosphere. The biosphere is the combination of all ecosystems that exist on Earth. For an ecosystem to remain balanced, all species contributing to that ecosystem need to be present and doing their jobs. For example, without predators in a forested area, deer populations usually swell to outrageous numbers, causing property damage and car accidents, along with other issues such as overgrazing native plants. Most species have much smaller influences in ecosystems, many of which we still do not understand. It’s important to help this balance remain as much as possible to avoid any serious consequences.

Medical advancements

Many organisms have made incredible contributions to medical advancements and helped us develop technology that saves human lives. Penicillin was created from a simple fungus that people paid little attention to until it’ medical value was revealed. Toxins from various plants have been proven to possess great medicinal value and help with certain illnesses. We’ve learned incredible treatments from small species and there are millions more left to discover. For example, only 5 percent of the oceans have been explored and water covers 70 percent of the Earth. There are likely many more species we have yet to find that can contribute to medical advancements and possibly cure serious diseases.

Healthy agriculture

In order to produce agriculture, healthy ecosystems are vital. Insects such as bees pollinate the plants, which would have to be done by hand if these insects go extinct. When there’s less variety in a type of agriculture and the plant or animal contracts a disease, it can wipe out the entire species. Multiple types of plants or animals contribute to genetic diversity, which allows them to adapt and often prevents diseases from destroying their entire populations. By having various types of a single plant, for example, scientists are more likely to be able to find traits from one strain of plant that can be used to create more sustainable, higher producing, or disease resistant crops