Summer Collapsed Into Fall

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"And all at once summer collapsed into fall." -- Oscar Wilde

Billions of People Have Been Enriched Through Global Trade

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Michael L. Corbat, CEO of Citi, write an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal, "America Has a Surplus in Services."  He says that arguments about the balance of trade often focus only on goods.  That misses half the equation.

Last year the U.S. trade surplus in services came to more than $250 billion, brining the total trade deficit down to around $550 billion.  the Economic Report of the President issued in February put it this way:  "Focusing only on the 'trade in goods along ignores the United States' comparative advantage in services, which rose as a share of U.S. exports to 33.5 percent through 2017."

Read the full Opinion piece by Mr. Corbat here.

Stop Wasting Time and Start Saving Money on Corporate Travel

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From the travel entrepreneurs who brought you KAYAK, comes a time-saving, money-saving way to manage corporate travel.  It's called lola.  And they have just formed a partnership with American Express Global Business Travel.

Learn more about lola.

What Is Globalization and How Has the Global Economy Shaped the United States?

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What is globalization and how has the global economy shaped the United States?  The Peterson Institute has all the answers with its newly launched and very first microsite, titled "What Is Globalization?" 

This interactive feature explains a term that has become toxic, especially in today's political environment. The goal is to educate the public and clarify misconceptions about globalization's impact. Understanding the relative costs and benefits can pave the way for alleviating problems while sustaining the advantages.

The Peterson Institute's new microsite covers:

• Why historical context is import.
• How trade helps each side.
• Demystifying job effects.
• Measuring the benefits vs. costs.
• The difficulties facing US-China Trade
• How to sustain globalization through policymaking.

Visit the What Is Globalization microsite.

Why Some Emerging Economies Outperform the Rest

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Emerging economies have accounted for almost two-thirds of the world’s GDP growth and more than half of new consumption over the past 15 years. Yet economic performance among individual countries varies substantially.

Why do some emerging economies outperform the rest?  What's the secret to their success?

Find out how high-growth emerging economies and the companies that propel them become outperformers.

Today in Global Small Business: A Few Things You Should Know About Disputes with Chinese Companies

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

• How does a small business deal with potential violence?
• Why students aspire to become entrepreneurs.
• Speaking of students ... how we can prepare students for the future of work in a global society.
• The world is more inter-connected than ever before. It's time to utilize talent from all over the world to help your business grow globally.
• Disputes with Chinese companies ... a few things you should know.
• 24 resources for importing agricultural products.
• Are you pushing boundaries for your business and yourself to do things you are uncomfortable with yet allows you to grow?  

Warm Pizza Box On Your Lap

©2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"There's no better feeling in the world than a warm [Pizano's] pizza box on your lap." -- Kevin James

The Missing Silver Bullet for Women Entrepreneurs

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Even where women are starting businesses at relatively high rates, their profits and growth are constrained relative to their male counterparts.  Take Asia and the Pacific.  They stand to gain 70 percent in per capita income within roughly two generations by eliminating gender disparities in employment, including in the area of entrepreneurship. Increasing women’s entrepreneurship is good for national banks and citizens’ wallets alike.

In Cambodia, for example, less than 1 percent of businesses with more than 10 employees are owned by women, and women’s entrepreneurship rates in South Asia are among the lowest in the world, with less than one in 10 SMEs owned by women. 

What explains this persistent gender gap in entrepreneurship across the region, how can it be overcome, and does it matter?

Read more about the missing silver bullet for women entrepreneurs.

Let's Celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week

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Discover how to get involved in #GEW2018 this November 12-18.  What's Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW)?

During one week each November, thousands of events and competitions in 170 countries inspire millions to engage in entrepreneurial activity while connecting them to potential collaborators, mentors and even investors. Powered by the Kauffman Foundation, the initiative is supported by dozens of world leaders and a network of more than 15,000 partner organizations. GEW is held November 12-18, 2018.

At the Global Small Business Blog, we practice global entrepreneurship every single day of the year.

How do you plan to celebrate?  What will you do to foster entrepreneurship -- join GEW, find an event or create one?

Read more about Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).

Accessible Marketing Automation Options to SMBs Globally

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Here's how ideas start.  Usually it begins with some form of pain and trying to solve a problem.

"I was looking to solve my own pain and at the same time, I could see marketing automation companies in the US were growing fast but were not catering to Brazilian customers," [Eric] Santos [founder of RD] says.

Santos's Brazilian B2B software firm Resultados Digitais (RD) is moving forward with an international expansion plan focused on offering accessible marketing automation options to small and medium businesses (SMBs) globally.

Read more about a Brazilian company's digital marketing plan that targets international expansion.

A Force to be Reckoned With: Global Star Serena Williams

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Serena Williams is a force to be reckoned with.  Under pressure, she displays grace.  When really cornered, she pivots away to a place that brings her even more power:  to herself.

Fact:  Serena Williams has nearly 11 million followers on Twitter, 10 million on Instagram and more than 5 million on Facebook.

Serena Williams is not on this planet for status quo.  Learn how she is redefining what it means to be a global celebrity and star athlete.

Today in Global Small Business: Small Biz Tech News You Can Use

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

• wegginar®:  discover how to offer your international consumers the same shopping experience on your website that you offer to shoppers in the US.  No charge thanks to corporate sponsors  but you must register to participate 11/7.
• 5 things happening in small biz tech news and why it is important to your business.
• Want growth through exporting?  Check out this free workshop 11/14.
• The world is more inter-connected than ever before. It's time to utilize talent from all over the world to help your business grow globally.
• American Express has released its shop small campaign in Australia, featuring 15 small business owners from across Sydney and Melbourne.
• The online marketing plan, authored by Laurel Delaney, that will take you global in a heartbeat.