Seize the Moment

Seize the moment.  Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.  ~Erma Bombeck

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.

Small Businesses Doing Cross Border Business in 2013

The World Bank Group publishes the Doing Business 2013: Smarter Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises which assesses regulations affecting domestic firms in 185 economies and ranks the economies in 10 areas of business regulation, such as starting a business, resolving insolvency and trading across borders.

The report marks the 10th edition of the Doing Business series. Over the past decade, these reports have recorded nearly 2,000 regulatory reforms implemented by 180 economies.

One key finding out of several:

•  Besides Poland, nine other economies are recognized as having the most improved ease of doing business across several areas of regulation as measured by the report: Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Burundi, Costa Rica, Mongolia, Greece, Serbia, and Kazakhstan.

Learn more here.

(Download Full Report Now)

Illustration credit:  World Bank Group 

What Exactly Is Globalization?

We had The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy where an economist, Pietra Rivoli, examined the markets, power and the politics of world trade - sorting through and encouraging us to understand how free trade and protection have most certainly changed our world.

In the commentary recently published in The Wall Street Journal, The Economics of a $6.75 Shirt, Rubana Huq (managing director of the Mohammadi Group, a garment manufacturer and exporter in Dhaka, Bangladesh.), provides a detailed analysis of the economics of a $6.75 shirt made in Bangladesh and as it relates to Bangladesh's minimum wage.

The recent tragedies at several Bangladeshi garment factories have claimed hundreds of lives—and focused international attention on this important but often overlooked industry. Yet greater scrutiny has not led to greater understanding, raising the prospect that any proposed solutions will have serious unintended consequences for this industry and the four million people it employs. 

Read the entire commentary here (be sure to read the comments - very telling).

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.  (Go global t-shirt - made in USA).

Raising Kids Who Are Global

The Ruff Ryders' first lady emeritus Eve, who recently dropped her first album in 11 years, Lip Lock, gets candid about the downside of fame and also mentions how she wants to raise her kids.

I’d rather raise my kids globally than exclusively in the U.S. There is so much culture and history in Europe. We have culture in the U.S. but you have to look for it. A lot of the kids I’ve met in Europe are more mature because they’ve gotten to travel. In an hour, you can be in a different country. I’m going to be one of those crazy parents who wants her children to speak three languages. They’re going to hate me, but they will love me for it in the end.

Read the entire article:  "Eve:  The "Women Are Complex, Too"

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Alibaba Success Story: Ask a Lot of Questions

Profiled company:  Eatwhatever

Global Tilt by Ram Charan

I'm a big fan of Ram Charan (my favorite book of his is Execution:  The Discipline of Getting Things Done).  He has a new book out, "Global Tilt," and he doesn't let us down in continuing to offer great insights and solutions in the world of business.

Click here to purchase.

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney "Global TILT"

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

"Life isn't a tiptoe through the tulips." ~ Shannon Hoon

Photo courtesy:  ©2013 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

A Guide to Landed Pricing in Global Trade

In my first blog post for Pitney Bowes (client), I explain what a landed price is, why it is essential in global trade and how you can put it to use to increase your profits.

What Is a Landed Cost and Why it's Essential in Global Trade

Photo courtesy:  Chicagobox1

Avoid These 10 Going Global Mistakes At All Costs

Conducting business in the global marketplace is not the same as it is at home in a local market. Here are 10 common mistakes that occur when going global and how you can avoid them.

Note:  I wrote the article below for the MasterCard Business Network and it is based on experience.

Going Global:  The Top 10 Mistakes Many Small Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Photo courtesy:  cityofsound

Live Discussion: How to Do Business in BRIC Countries

Join the Guardian Small Business Network between 1:00-3:00 p.m. today, May 15th, for tips on exporting your products to Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC).

Sign up here for details.

During the discussion you'll find out:

• The benefits of trading with the BRIC countries.
• Country-specific business culture, practice and regulations.
• What support is on offer to help your company.
• Experiences of small businesses who already export to these regions.
• Any other advice you'll need to get started.

Photo courtesy:  F H Mira

China and the United States Both Want to Maintain An Open Global Trade Regime

Li Zhongzhou, former director general of MOFCOM and former UNCTAD division director writes the following commentary:

Seeking a win-win scenario in trade between China, US

Editor's Note: US exports to China significantly outperformed export growth to the other top 10 US trading partners including Brazil by 180 percent, but US primary interests still lie in securing access to potential Chinese markets. The US-China Business Council looks at China as a $250 billion market for US companies with still greater potential for further growth.

 Illustration credit:  AK Rockefeller

A Sign It's Time to Go Global

It's never just one sign telling you to "go global!"  So how do you know when you are in the ready state?  It starts with a rapid growth stage with your business–doubling sales weekly over the past year, for instance–and then you’re ready to model that success into continuous growth through global expansion.

Here's an article I drafted for the MasterCard Business Network Blog.  See if your business is ready to take on the world.

6 Signs Your Small Business is Ready to Expand Globally

Photo courtesy:  Gwan Kho