An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. - Benjamin Franklin.

In todays fast-paced life, the attention span of an average person is less than a minute. Our hands are so full of multitasking that we do too many things at a time and mindlessly keep scrolling reels after reels. Or, we dont do anything at all and just binge-watch a trending series.

While some of this content might be informative, it does not contribute to self-development in the long run. You see, being successful is a choice. And the choice is made up of simple different habits which we inculcate in our day-to-day lives.

The same time which you spend on social media can be spent on the 5-hour rule. Now, this 5-hour rule is a daily habit of some of the most eminent personalities like Bill Gates, Jack Ma, Elon Musk, and even Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin was a firm believer in the 5-hour rule though the concept was coined by Michael Simmons. The rule is that you dedicate at least one hour every day- five hours a week to learning and reading. This one hour can be at any time of the day.

You can wake up in the morning and read a book while sipping hot coffee or just listen to an audiobook while commuting to work. Be mindful that this time is only to be used for learning and self-development without getting distracted. So, how can you implement this rule?

Read: Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX, learned how to build rockets by reading. Bill Gates, on the other hand, is known to read at least 50 books a year and it is said that he carries books with him even on vacations! Just pick up a book and start. Not a fast reader? Read a chapter. New to reading books? Go for books with simple language. But just start.

Reflect: Consuming too much knowledge without reflecting can get overwhelming. Reading or learning should always be followed up with reflection. Try to write down your thoughts after reading the book. You can also write down any questions you may have in your mind and you will notice in the long run that you can successfully reflect on the events of the day and take action accordingly.

Experiment: One of the common things which all successful people have is the confidence to experiment. If Elon Musk wouldnt dare to experiment, SpaceX wouldnt be the first private company to launch a rocket into space and return to Earth intact. If Jack Ma didnt experiment with Alibaba, he wouldnt have been able to secure Goldman Sachs and Softbank as its initial investors. He even recommends applying the knowledge gained from books to real-life scenarios.

Working and learning are two different things: We may learn a few things while we are on the 40-hour work shift. Thats called learning at a job which teaches us how to deal with mundane work problems.

However, this cannot be confused with the learning which we do during the 5-hour rule. One of the absolute necessities of the rule is that you should only focus on learning during that particular time.

Dedicate this time to self-improvement, setting up goals, and being successful. If you are working or doing other things at the time of learning then you are not doing it right.

Focus on improvement: Like mentioned earlier, success is made up of multiple small habits and improvement is one of them. Self-improvement to be precise. Now, many of us might confuse self-improvement with productivity.

Yes, being productive throughout the day is important but being productive without learning, reflection and experimentation is not so useful. It can be challenging to be consistent with learning when you dont get any immediate rewards. But self-improvement doesnt happen in a day. Its a time-consuming process that is sure to delight you in the long run.

Understandably, some of you might struggle with getting into the habit of the 5-hour rule at first. If one hour a day is overwhelming, start with fifteen minutes.

Bill Gates shares his book recommendations every year and our top tip is you pick one. It may be challenging to be consistent at first but you will surely love all the knowledge that will come to you over the due course of time. Give the 5-hour rule a try and who knows you can well be on your way to becoming the next most successful person the world has known!

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Unlock the power of the 5-hour rule used by Bill Gates, Elon Musk - YourStory

The Houston Rockets still have a long way to go before they can beat anyone in a 7-game playoff series. But young stud Jalen Green gives the team a pretty decent starting point to work with.

While his rookie campaign was most underwhelming, it does seem like the kid has the work ethic and attitude to improve his game and become one of the very best.

(via Carlo Anolin of Manila Bulletin)

The Filipino-American guard, in the last season, averaged 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists as a rookie.

My mindset is just to go in and be the very best version of myself on and off the court, said Green, addressing the Philippine media Thursday, Aug. 11, at the adidas Brand Center in Glorietta 3 in Makati City."

Like I said, try to build that winning mentality. Were on rebuild right now, trying to get everyone on the same page, trying to go into the right direction. So I think just tryna keep that mindset, added Green, who made his third visit in the country and the first since being drafted in the NBA.

Just a few years ago, the pockets were competing for championships with one of the game's best players leading the way. That era came with a lot of success for the Rockets, though ultimately failed to deliver a title.

Now, the Rockets are in a full rebuild as they hunt for their next great superstar. With averages of 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, he showed flashes of being that guy for the Rockets, but Green will have to play like that consistently if he really wants to earn max money.

At the very least, fans should be encouraged by his attitude, which includes dedication and a commitment to self-improvement.

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Jalen Green Reveals Hid Mindset Heading Into Sophomore Season: "Just To Go In And Be The Very Best Version Of Myself On And Off The Court... -...

Michael Olugbode in Beijing

China has called on developing countries in the world to stand up against bullies.

Speaking at the reception and opening ceremony of China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) 2022 for over 70 journalists in Beijing, the Chinese capital, invited by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) to familiarise with China, the Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister, Hua Chunying, lamented that recent visit of the United States Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is an act of bully from America.

Chunying noted that: Chinas development achievements over the past decades have been most impressive. To quote a poem, we have been to the heavens for the moon and to the deep sea for the turtles. Two female astronauts have traveled to space, a real-life version of Change, a fabled Chinese goddess, flying to the moon. The high-speed rail network has shortened many long-distance travels across the nation into one-day trips. I doubt if the finest novelist could imagine 10 or even five years ago the transformation taking place in China today.

She added: Behind all these incredible achievements is an incredible political party, the Chinese Communist Party (CPC). Last year, we celebrated the centenary of the CPC. The CPC has grown from a small party with just over 50 members to the worlds largest governing party with a 96-million-strong membership. Over the past century, the CPC has led the Chinese people to drive out the foreign invaders, end the fighting among warlords and the civil war, gain national independence, found a sovereign country, make foreign subjugation and hunger a history, and build a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

The party is now leading the country on a new journey toward a modern socialist country. Every Chinese is filled with pride about what the country has achieved, and fully supports the CPC. In fact, the CPC, for years, has an approval rating of over 90 percent.

Chunying noted that: The CPC is a peoples party. It represents the fundamental interests of the greatest possible Chinese people, and has never represented the interests of a particular interest group, power bloc or privileged class. From day one, the CPC has made pursuing a happy life for the people its founding mission. It follows a people-centred philosophy, and puts the peoples interests, needs and satisfaction above everything else.

The CPC is a vanguard party. It is keen to learn from past practices. It keeps abreast of the times by developing new theories and strategies based on new situations. It pursues self-reform to seek continuous self-improvement. And it sticks to principles and has flexibility under different circumstances, confronting problems head-on and finding solutions to make things work.

The CPC is an open and inclusive party. It is ready to share, to learn from all advanced things, and engage with all for mutual success and shared progress.

In the online comment from a young Egyptian (Ismail Bashmori), he likened China to the first member of the impoverished family of developing nations to go to university. He called on developing countries to help and support China to keep climbing to the top, as China is the first non-Western country to even come close to reaching a status of ultimate global importance.

His comment touched many Chinese, me included. China has all along been a member of the big developing country family, standing with one another through thick and thin. We shall never forget that it is our brothers and sisters in Asia, Africa, and Latin America who helped restore the lawful seat of the Peoples Republic of China at the United Nations. Today, China is on a better footing. It will do its best to help, so that we all can have a better life.

She recalled that: As President Xi Jinping noted, in the world today, some are faring very well whereas some others are still struggling; this is not a good thing. Only when people all over the world enjoy better lives can prosperity be sustained, security safeguarded and human rights assured. Based on this belief, China has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. We hope to achieve common development through hard work. People in all countries are entitled to choose their own development paths, and deserve a better and happier life. Just as China believes that not a single Chinese should not be left behind on the journey toward common prosperity, no country should be left behind in our common pursuit of greater development.

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China Calls on Developing Countries to Stand up to Bullies - THISDAY Newspapers

An authentic aspirant of life story, delicious food, green future.

Hometown: XiAn, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was trapped in the cable car station on the Mt. Brig in Switzerland above the snowline for a night after 6 hours hiking because I missed the last cable car going down.

Undergraduate School and Major:

Northwestern Polytechnical University, Power Engineering of Aircraft Vehicles, China

University of Southern Denmark, Mechatronics, Denmark

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Commodity Management, Team Lead

IMD classes have been dubbed the Mighty 90 for their talent and versatility. What has been the best part of being in a small class with this group of classmates? The best part to me is bonding and the exposure to diversity. In such a small class, I am closely exposed to different backgrounds which provide me a great learning experience on diverse mindsets and cultures. We are from 40 nationalities, and in group work where we work in teams of 5-6 people, there are usually 3 or 4 different cultures represented. Meanwhile, I have the chance to know everyone and build up a strong bonding in the whole cohort as a group.

Aside from classmates, what part of IMDs MBA programming led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Except for classmates, the most important driver for me choosing IMD is the Leadership Stream. I was attracted by the idea of a transformative program and especially on further developing my self-awareness, self-acknowledgement, and self-improvement. All such personal benefits are way more important than knowledge to me. And IMD demonstrated such transformative function by the amazing experiential activities, intensive group work, impressive guest speakers, and discovery trips.

Since I have started, the real learning, real impact aspect of the program has given us the chance to implement all our reflections into our program studies, observe changes in the dynamic and improve ourselves iteratively.

IMD is known for academic rigor. What is one strategy you used that would help a future IMD MBA better adapt to the workload early on? Be prepared and have confidence would be my suggestion. Especially in Module 1, there will be a lot of work to do, cases, calculations, and essays. All professors are amazing and helpful. It is great to have discussions with them either during class or afterwards. It feels like communicating with colleagues and friends with enlightening insights. Please be mentally prepared for hard work and have confidence in yourself and in IMDs professors. And enjoy the hard work and classes!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I was responsible for the procurement of some large steel parts in 2021. Due to the high logistics costs from China to other regions, it was extremely difficult to obtain savings. I coordinated among regional teams, aligned across company synergies, investigated the logistic shipping market with suppliers, and managed to get good savings of around 6% on material costs for the commodity.

Describe your biggest accomplishment at IMD so far: My biggest accomplishment at IMD is that, together with another four classmates in the MBA EI&D Committee, we organized the first LGBTQ+ experience, a sharing event, within the MBA cohort. It was an intimate event. People shared their experience about organizing activities and promoting inclusiveness in working environment, or reflections on previous experiences. I feel extremely proud of the event and the inclusiveness showed among the cohort. One of my classmates said that it set a good ground for people to start talking about this topic more openly.

Where is your favorite hang-out in Lausanne? Why do you (and your classmates) gravitate there? My favorite spot is a narrow track that runs along the lake from Ouchy to Pully (about 4.5 km). That is always my running routine. There are some amazing views throughout all the seasons and a few spots close to the lake that are good for relaxing and self-reflection.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? My suggestion is that if pursuing an MBA is something you want to do, then the sooner the better. I actually wish I could have done it a few years earlier. However, I needed the time to put together the necessary funding beforehand. Then there came a time when I realized that I could not wait any longer or I would miss my chance. I felt the need for a better business knowledge structure and a broader view on how to make business decisions in order to strengthen my leadership. Aside from these skills, I felt that an MBA might also lead to a beneficial career change, but the most important goal is firstly to be a better me.

What has been your best memory at IMD thus far? There are so many memories that I can hardly choose a best. One could be the COP simulation experience, which was organized for MBAs for the first time this year. I was really encouraged by the authenticity and effort Professor Knut Haanaes put into delivering the event. Over the two-day experience, I put myself in the role of certain countries, and their topics became such a reality that I felt both the strong urgency and the complexity of each situation as well. It reminded me to revisit the sustainability topics we face and to emphasise the effort we need to make.

DONT MISS: MEET IMD BUSINESS SCHOOLS MBA CLASS OF 2022

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Meet the MBA Class of 2022: Yu Lin, IMD Business School - Poets&Quants

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Sure, success sometimes is sometimesthe result of whom you know.Still: Long-term success is almost always based onwhatyou know.

That's why most successful people try to be lifelong learners.And (at least try) to take a research-based approach to learning faster and retaining more.

Here's anotherway tolearn faster, retain more information, andimprove your memory: Test yourself.

I know what you're thinking. You don't liketests. Especially when tests are intended to assess:Grades, rankings, hire/don't hire decisions. Taking atestis usually high pressure, high stakes.

But what if a test is low-stakes? What if a test is used to help you, not assess you? Turns out self-testing -- which automatically makes it low-stakes testing -- is an extremely effective way to speed up the learning process.

Partly that's because ofthe additional context you naturally create. Quiz yourself and answer incorrectly, and not only will you be more likely to remember the right answer after you look it up, you'll also remember the fact you didn't remember. Getting something wrong is a great way to remember it the next time, especially if you tend to be hard on yourself.

In a weird way, what you got wrong can be stickierin terms of memory than what you gotright.

The key is to ensure the stakes are low. Say you're teaching new sales reps how to conduct a product demo. Stop halfway and administer a pop quiz,and the stakes -- since it feels like an assessment, not a learning tool --might not seem so low to the participants. Plus,no one likes to be wrong in front of other people.

But you could pass out a quick quiz, let people take it, go over the answers, and then let them throw away their papers when you're done. Then it's a low stakes test thatfosters learning.

And provides a number of other positive outcomes. A study published in Psychology of Learning and Motivation uncovered 10 benefits of low-stakes testing, whether its self-directedor external. (Again, the key is low stakes.)

1. Testing -- and retrieving -- aids retention. Don't just read, re-read, highlight, and rehearse--quizyourself as well.

If you're learning a presentation, quiz yourself on what comes after your intro. Quiz yourself by listing the fourmain points you want to make. Quiz yourself onsales estimates, or key initiatives,or results from competitive analysis.

That will force you to practice retrieving the information you want to remember, which will make it stickier.

2. Testing identifies knowledge gaps. Test yourself and you'll quickly discover what you don't know. Then you can focus on learning that. (And you'll be more likely to remember that information since you didn't know itthe first time.)

3. Testing helps you learn more the next time you study.Studies show that people who took a test before they studiedretained information better than those whodid not. (Think of it as priming your study pump.)

4. Testing organizes knowledge.Reading is fairly passive. Testing forces you to make connections, or recognizes gaps in your ability to make connections. Testing helps you realize, "Ah -- this goes with that," or "This causes that," or to in some way cluster information so that it makes better sense.

5. Testing helps transfer knowledge to new situations.People who are repeatedly tested are better able to apply what they know to new situations.Think of it as the, "Hmm, this is a lot like that, but with one littletwist" effect.

6. Testing helps retrieve information not tested. Granted, this one seems odd. Still: Take a test, and you'll better remember information that was studied but not tested. (I'm guessing that's the result of the overall memory boost frequent low stakes testing provides.)

7. Testing improves metacognitivemonitoring. Ever read something and at the end realized you don't remember any of it? Frequent self-testinghelps you get better at noticing times when you aren't learning. Or don't really understand. Because you're in the habit of quizzing yourself, you'll more quickly realize that you're likely to get whatever you're trying to learn wrong.

And you'll adjust accordingly.

8. Testing prevents interference from prior material.Try to learn a lot at once and it all tends to run together. Or, more likely, you'll remember what you learned early in the session, but after awhile the rest is justa blur.

Toss in a few quizzes along the way, though, and that doesn't tend to happen.If you need to learn a lot of material, break the session into chunks by inserting a few quizzes. And if you're teaching new employees a lot of material, definitely toss in a bunch of low-stakes quizzes.

Otherwise much of the time and money you spend on training will be wasted.

9. Testing provides feedback to instructors. Research shows the averageinstructor or trainergreatly overestimates how much peoplehave learned. (You know what you'reteaching,so it seems easy to you.) Frequent testing helps you as the trainer know where people stand.

Again, just make sure it's low stakes.And if people struggle, don't imply they don't "get it." Be self-deprecating. Say you need to do a better job explaining, teaching, or training.

10. Testing encourages more learning. Test me once a month and I'll probablystudy only the day before the test. Test me every day and I'll study every day.

The same is true for self-testing. Test yourself often and you'll not only be motivated to learn what you don't know, but you'll also feelgood about how much you have learned.

The result is a virtuous -- not vicious -- cycle of motivation. Testing indicates improvement. Improvementfeels good: It always, always,alwaysfeels good to improve. Feeling good about yourself provides a small doseof motivationto keep putting in the effort.

Which results in moreimprovement, more self-satisfaction, and motivation--and more learning.

That's the real beauty of frequent, low-stakes testing. Not only will you learn more.

You'll alsowant to learn more.

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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The Best Way to Learn Faster and Improve Your Memory Includes 10 Cognitive Benefits, Backed by Science - Inc.

More often than not, policies that directly impact the lives of youth are implemented but no young person was heard during the policy-making process. The latest United Nations Report of Ageism finds that young people continue to report age-related obstacles in several spheres of their lives such as political participation and employment. This tendency prevents us from designing policies that ultimately serve people of all ages.

For this years International Youth Day we call on global leaders for more acknowledgement on the youth contributions to solving global challenges and their role as drivers of change. Empowering young people and involving them in debates that shape our future is crucial for a fairer world. And their empowerment begins with accessible skills development opportunities.

The world is surrounded with exceptional young people who have clear visions and courage to drive positive change in the world. One of them is Asiya Mohammed, the Executive Director of Conflict Women Ltd, who helps survivors of sexual and domestic violence to rebuild their lives by facilitating market access for their jewellery and art. The aim is to build an entrepreneurial network and train women in business development through public-private partnerships.

Another example is Thandiwe Chama, a young educational rights activist from Zambia. She believes that education changes lives, stating:

Due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Thandiwes school closed, leaving her and many other children without any access to education. Only eight years old, she organized a march, motivating 60 children to participate and to claim back their right to education. The march was successful and all 60 children were accepted to another school.

Thandiwe continued to fight for childrens rights and is an activist for the welfare and rights of those living with HIV and AIDS. In 2007, at the age of 16, she won the International Childrens Peace Prize for her astonishing efforts and actions.

It is through bold actions like Asiya Mohammed and Thandiwe Chamas that a better future for all can be shaped. Giving young people a voice and a chance for self-improvement through the power of education may ultimately increase youths political participation.

Be part of the international debate and register for the LKDF Forum 2022

The 2022 edition of the LKDF Forum will address what resilience in skills implies in the context of the skills development environment. Experts, training professionals, and stakeholders will provide the necessary knowledge and tools to prepare ourselves for a skills revolution at the individual, organizational, educational system, and private sector levels. The event will bring the perspective of young people and their stories of resilience.

The LKDF (Learning and Knowledge Development Facility) team looks forward to welcoming young participants at the forum and listening to their solutions to address the skills mismatch and build more resilient societies.

Get in touch with the LKDF Secretariat: lkd-facility@unido.org

Follow LKDF on Twitter and LinkedIn

Editors Note:The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of Impakter.comIn the Featured Photo: Youth protesting. Featured Photo Credit: UNIDO/LKDF.

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Involving the Youth in Decision-Making Processes - Impakter

Nathan Fielder in The Rehearsal

Nathan has a problem with lying. He lies a lot.

At this point in the season of The Rehearsal, Angelas line feels less like an accusation and more like an understatement. And thats before we spent much of the episode watching him convincing the young actor playing his make-believe-now-a-kid-again son Adam to pretend hes attending swimming lessons when, in reality, hes learning about Judaism behind Angelas back. (In case youd forgotten, Angela has very, very strong feelings about her faith, as were reminded almost every five seconds in this episode; honestly, if you made a drinking game around taking a shot every time she says Jesus you may not make it through the entirety of Apocalypto.)

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But back to Nathans lying. We could likely say its gotten worse over the course of the season but then episode one ended with him rehearsing a confession of having forced someone to unwittingly cheat only to watch Fielder refuse to disclose that altogether and to offer a pat compliment instead. The Rehearsal is built, in concept and in execution, on a system of lies. Its not just the authentic improv-like impersonations the rehearsals call for but also the many steps that lead to such performances (let us not forget his method of acting calls for some slight stalking).

The murky ethics of the entire enterprise is not for me to assessthough, perhaps you can guess where I standbut thats mostly because Im less interested in such black-and-white discourse and more fascinated by the way the show so clearly wants us to have those conversations. For someone so fixated on how he comes across and carefully attuned to how peoples behaviors can be fine-tuned with enough practice if not with a simple awareness of how theyre going about their livesnot to mention someone who is literally scripting and directing these episodesall of these moments of obliviousness cannot help but come across as building towarda semblance of self-actualization, right?

Story continues

We dont always get to choose what happens in life, Fielder notes toward the end of the episode. We do get to decide if we rehearse for it.

The whiff of self-help rhetoric should give us all pause. Not because the idea of preparing for key events in our life is not a feasible approach toward self-improvement. But because rehearsing, for Fielder, feels like more of a crutch than anything else. Also, that royal we being used is doing a lot of heavy lifting. Very slowly, as weve learned, The Rehearsal has become less a show about helping a collective we (or a singular they) cope with what may happen in life but an excuse to allow Fielder to grapple with his own life decisions (and hangups and insecurities and anxieties). Id say the show is a season-long play on the lengths straight men will go to avoid therapy, but that almost feels like a too flippant riff on that popular meme.

But then, how else to explain his decision to use Angelas rehearsal as a place where he can avoid falling into the same old habits that plagued his previous relationships? I will say, him recognizing such patterns (while talking to his parents, no less!) and in the context of a show where he controls pretty much every single aspect of his environment (love that drone shot where you see the fake snow offering a visual sense of his insularity) was a moment that made me wonder if I shouldnt think of Fielder as some Gotham villain-in-the-making (hey, he now owns his own HBO-funded bar!) and instead as a melancholy loner. But then, once that empathetic feeling flares up, Im left thinking that he is still in control here. He has an entire cast at his disposal. A crew who have and will build him whatever he desires. The backing of HBO, even.

Nathan Fielder in The Rehearsal

I am curious, of course, to see how Fielders now self-involved project will come to an end. Is there yet another meta twist coming? Will we get to witness him learning something about himself many of his viewers (and critics and fans and reviewers and recappers) have maybe theorized already? Will this ouroboros of a docuseries eat itself as Fielder play-acts parenthood for no other reason than maybe he feels he should?

Are these too many questions? Should I be offering more trenchant critiques of a show that seems expressly designed to constantly enrage and engage its viewers? Perhaps. But for now Id rather sit with my thoughts and keep wondering how Fielder is going to wrap this whole thing up.

Wanting to pivot away from a discussion about Judaism with a benign question like Whats your favorite movie? only to have Angela answer Mel Gibsons Apocalypto(!) broke my brain. Is this a you cant make this up moment? Because it was almost too perfect.

Such moments, whether scripted or not do get at one of the aspects of The Rehearsal I havent had a chance to dig into too much: This is a very funny show. Sure, its humor is sometimes very cringey and most definitely feeds off a sense of discomfort in its viewers, but I do find myself outright cackling several times per episode. (The line I watch Key & Peele! had me howling, as did the makeshift Dr. Fart sketch which made me think Adam could grow up to become a great TGS staff writer.) And, however you feel about Nathan, he does make for a great straight man.

Okay, I know that had Fielder not decided to upend Angelas rehearsal wed likely have focused on it more, but its kind of bonkers how she barely adhered to the mock-reality of her parenting rehearsal, right? Right? Its in those moments when I am left wondering what we might have learned about Angela and her approach to the rehearsal if the show allowed for more conventional talking heads/confessional moments. Instead, because she was constantly forced to play a role and only do so when Nathan was around, it was (as he points out in voice over) hard to tell when she was role playing and when she was actually (and truly) committed to the bit.

Also, can we give it up for Anna LaMadrid, who really nailed her performance as Fake Angela? I need these various actors to find a way to turn their perfect impersonations into better gigs.

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Mom and Dad argue on The Rehearsal - Yahoo Entertainment

FREDERICK, Md. (PRWEB) August 11, 2022

Steps to Success is the annual signature event of the Frederick Womens Business Network! From its earliest beginnings, the vision and purpose of this event is to connect professional women and provide opportunities for personal and professional growth.

As an integral part of Steps to Success, participants will have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions that are designed to INFORM each woman with tangible tools to accelerate the growth they desire. Additionally, they will be able to ENCOURAGE peers by sharing insight around the experience they bring to the groups focus and receive SUPPORT needed to move forward as they take their next STEPS TO SUCCESS!

The WBN seeks out the best facilitators who lead group discussions in a wide variety of topics that include business growth initiatives, womens health, and personal development. In these sessions, like-minded women support everyones desire for self-improvement.

For our 15th annual Steps to Success event, our Keynote Speaker is Monica Pearce, a trailblazer and the owner of Tenth Ward Distilling Company.

Breakout session speakers include:

Michelle Nusum-Smith - owner and principal consultant at The Word Woman, LLCPeggy Maganelli - agent at RE/MAX ResultsCasey Clark, MBA, M.A. owner of C Clark ConsultingMichell Bell, Esq. - founder of MC Bell Law Firm, PLLCRachel Collins - owner of Living Well Financial CoachingChristina Brockett, MS, CNS, LDN - owner of Encompass integrative WellnessJudy Buchanan, MBA - owner of Judy Buchanan EnergyLaTisha Boyd-Potts, MSW, AMHFA, YMHFA - owner of Grouplady Life Skills Consulting, LLC

About Womens Business Network of Frederick - The Womens Business Network of Frederick is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inform, encourage, and support women in their quest to grow their businesses. It was designed for women just like you. Those who want to improve their health and self-confidence and to feel empowered. Additionally, those who want to simply belong in a group of like-minded professionals who provide unconditional support. All while gaining tools and insight to help them grow in their profession.

The WBN exists because we want you to have the tools to succeed and to give opportunities for sisterhood. We are all working professionals and small business owners, volunteering our spare moments to share our success stories, to help you become more proactive, and to support your dreams.

For more information about Womens Business Network of Frederick and how you can support their mission of helping women in the Frederick County community, call visit https://wbnfrederick.org/. You can also connect with the Womens Business Network on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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Women's Business Network of Frederick is Holding the 15th Annual Steps to Success Event - PR Web

A self-taught artist has crafted a colorful menagerie of fanciful and realistic origami creatures. Some are palm-sized, some life-sized, and all represent the artists personal philosophy: If it makes you feel happy, go for it!

Romanian artist Patrick Alberto Vraja, 25, grew up in the city of Sighetu Marmaiei and recalls being entranced by paper art as a child.His first creations included cute dinosaurs, animals, and everyday objects. Today, he crafts animals, human figures, and mythical creatures with jaw-dropping attention to detail.

I recently started going for more realistic origami because I feel like real life is as beautiful, or even more, than fiction, Vraja told The Epoch Times. I feel like realism in art can be tougher to achieve, so I took it as a challenge for myself and my growth.

Growth lies in simple things: shaped feathers, different wings, a different pose. Not everything has to be flashy, at least thats what I think.

Vraja shares his creations on Instagram and TikTok, and says his take on a design by the artistKatsuta Kyohei titled The Blakiston Fish Owl is by far his best fold yet. Its alsohis largest work to date.

He said he wanted his creation closer to a real-life owl. His first challenge to complete the incredible owl origami was trying to actually fold all that paper, he said.Vraja completed the owlon Jan. 18, after close to 25 hours of work spread across several days.

Then I actually brought it upon myself to look at owl anatomy so I could achieve realism. It was a lot of back and forth with the folding I just went full freestyle mode,' he said.

While each of Vrajas creatures is crafted by scoring and folding a single sheet of paper up to 5 feet in length, those sheets can be comprised of two layers of thin, malleable 25 gsm paper, glued together with a cellulose-based glue to make the paper resilient and better-purposed for sculpting.

Vraja alternates between tissue and Wenzhou rice papers, claiming tissue is very accessible, and rice paper is higher quality but more expensive.

At the age of 7, in the absence of the internet, Vraja was introduced to origami by his mother, toward whom he is grateful to this day.

I think my very first origami was a jumping frog or a beaked airplane that does tricks while flying, he recalled. I didnt do a lot the first years; I just folded and folded, until it became a habit.

Everything changed with the internet. Vraja found a website offering simple to intermediate origami tutorials, and made replica designs using cheap A4 printer paper.

For what I was working on, it was enough, he reflected. We all start somewhere, and Im proud of those times.

After folding everything the website had to offer, Vraja moved over to YouTube for more inspiring content. He remains in contact with some of these same content creators today.

Entering school, Vrajas designs graduated from simple to more complex. He discovered a love for dragons, folding over 100 dragons through his high school years during lunch breaks, or whenever he was anxious or bored.

Vraja slowly fine-tuned his technique and believes theres still room for improvement on the smallest details. Theres no such thing as perfect, but overall Im very happy, he said.

The artist, who moved from his hometown to Cluj Napoca to finish his studies in public administration, and works in retail,doesnt know exactly how many paper artworks he has folded, but claims the number is in the three digits. Describing himself as a calm and patient person, he considers origami training for my mind.

He advises others: Be original, be yourself! Nothing bad will ever come from that. If you have something that you enjoy doing, no matter how big or small, do it. Dont focus on peoples negative opinions Im living proof that if you keep doing something you like, if you just give it any time of your day, youll reach a point where youll be content and happy.

So far its been 18 wonderful years. Some filled with constant work, some with breaks for different reasons, but I always come back to it, excitedly, no matter what! I consider origami my place where I can relax and find myself.

Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter

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PHOTOS: Self-Taught Artist Makes Incredible Origami Creatures From Single Sheets of Paper - The Epoch Times