It Just Blooms

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.” – Koshin Ogui

Elevate Your Business With An AI Video Translator

©iStock/Pikusisi-Studio

According to CIO Look, AI video translation employs advanced machine learning algorithms to automatically translate spoken or written content in videos from one language to another. By leveraging natural language processing (NLP) and deep learning techniques, AI video translators can accurately interpret and convert audiovisual content in real time, eliminating the need for manual translation efforts.

Should you consider using an AI video translator at your global business?  First, you need to think about the benefits – from expanding your reach to boosting efficiency.  Access more benefits here.

Understanding the Mechanics of Entrepreneurship

©iStock/JLco - Julia Amaral

Derek Lidow, a Princeton professor and former corporate executive says:  "Forget the myth of the hermetic genius working in the garage on the next world-changing startup. It’s time to upgrade that thinking and pay more attention to how much entrepreneurial innovation is woven into the fabric of daily life."

Lidow is the author of The Entrepreneurs: The Relentless Quest for Value, which analyzes the factors that give rise to entrepreneurs—and, in turn, the important social changes brought about by their innovations. In a nod to the thinking of the political economist Joseph Schumpeter, Lidow writes that entrepreneurship is “a vastly underappreciated, potent force of social change.”

Read on to understand the mechanics of [global] entrepreneurship.

Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak's Formula For Happiness

©iStock/jetcityimage

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak cited his working relationship with Steve Jobs and a simple math equation while advising University of Colorado at Boulder 2024 graduates on how to be happy in business and life.

Want to know what the formula is?  Find out here.

5 Awe-inspiring Places to Visit in Japan

©iStock/Mr Saryanto

I've [Laurel Delaney] traveled to Japan many times and on every trip, I find something new to appreciate.  

Travel journalist Kristin Braswell feels the same.

The first time I landed in the country in 2017, I was enamored by Tokyo’s glowing skyscrapers, Kyoto’s quiet kissatens (cafes) and countryside hills blanketed in electric shades of orange and fuschia that flashed like neon lights aboard the country’s famous bullet train. And though the bustling streets and quiet corners of the country are reason enough for a visit, it’s the culture of excellence upheld in Japan, from a simple exchange with a store clerk, to a carefully crafted omakase experience, that always inspires me the most. 

Read five awe-inspiring itineraries through Japan.

Today in Global Small Business: U.S. Trade Policy Is at a Crossroads

©iStock/Bulat Silvia

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• U.S. trade policy was once fairly simple.  Not any more.  It's at a crossroad.
• How a global biopharma leader became a leader in ethical AI.
• Website globalization in 3 stages.
• Quote of the week:  "When it comes to international trade, the question is, who is going to write the rules, the United States or China? And my vote is the United States." – John Barrasso
• A beginner's guide to e-commerce SEO in 2024.
• Grants, loans and other resources for small businesses.

I Want Them To See It Whether They Want To Or Not

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. Most people in the city rush around so, they have no time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not." – Georgia O'Keeffe

Premier Gathering of Women Entrepreneurs: Women Presidents Organization Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum 5/15/24

©2024 Women President Organization.  All rights reserved.

The Women Presidents Organization (WPO) Entrepreneurial Excellence Forum (EEF), the premier gathering of women entrepreneurs who lead multi-million-dollar businesses, will be held on May 15-17, 2024, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

This three-day forum will gather over 700 distinguished women business leaders for a transformative experience brimming with invaluable connections, insightful guidance from industry experts, and cutting-edge perspectives essential for navigating the dynamic global business landscape.

I [Laurel Delaney] will be attending and hope to see you there!

Online Buying Grows But 67% of Consumers Face Delivery Problems

©iStock/SARINYAPINNGAM

In Descartes's third annual consumer sentiment study of ecommerce, it shows that home delivery online buying grows, but too many consumers still experience delivery woes.

The study shows that 39% of respondents made more online purchases in the period surveyed this year compared to last year, and that 57% made purchases in at least one new product category this year. While the study revealed that consumers in every demographic are increasing the volume and frequency of their online purchases, 67% of those surveyed encountered delivery problems.

Read the study here.

Banking On Women Who Go Global

©iStock/Antonio_Diaz

International Finance Corporation's (IFC's) white paper, “Banking on Women Who Trade Across Borders," underscores the critical need for gender equality in international trade and trade finance.   Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® also understands and actively supports empowering women in international trade.  For those who don't know, wegg® educates women business owners to level the playing field for women interested in taking their business to the next level through globalization.

Despite the documented positive impacts of women-owned businesses on economic growth and poverty reduction, a significant gap remains in understanding how international trade intersects with female participation, particularly in accessing trade finance. Drawing from interviews across Africa and Latin America, the report explores the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs and proposes solutions.

Download the report here.  It's time we all bank on women who go global.  They are our future, especially the younger generation.

No Firm Is An Island

©iStock/Nuthawut Somsuk

No firm is an island.  Proof is in this article.  Collaboration, joint ventures and quasi mergers are the keystones for expansion in an ever-evolving global economic landscape.  Industry giants such as Disney, Ford, and Microsoft are charging ahead with a fresh strategy for global growth amidst the ongoing challenges in commerce.

All of these moves serve as a great reminder that a company doesn’t have to buy a stake in or acquire 100% of a company in order to unlock synergies and gain access to know-how and market access.

Read the article, "How to Build a Global Business in the 21st Century" at The Economist (requires free trial subscription).

Today in Global Small Business: Recap of Warren Buffett’s Comments at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting 2024

©iStock/jetcityimage

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Full report on the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting 2024.
• US campus protests:  Final memories for some students.
• A quick view of what Lumiere is capable of (Google AI generating video service).
• Quote of the week:  "If you are lucky in life, make sure a bunch of other people are lucky too." – Warren Buffett (2024) 
• Look out Shopify and say hello to Swap, for DTC players in e-commerce.
• Economic outlook from OECD: Steady global growth expected for 2024 and 2025.