A Boat Tour of Chicago on the Riverfront (Video)

How to Become Instantly More Valuable: Become a Global Leader

The Rise of Women Entrepreneurs in India

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India has been hailed as one of the fastest growing start-up ecosystem in the world, with 11% of adult population being directly engaged in early stage entrepreneurship.

The share of women entrepreneurs in the modern start-up ecosystem is also steadily rising. According to Sixth Economic Census released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, women constitute around 14% of the total entrepreneurship i.e. 8.05 million out of the total 58.5 million entrepreneurs in India.

What does this mean?

Changing trends in the corporate, social and higher education sector are further enabling women to take a leap and realize their entrepreneurial potential.  These include:

• Opportunity
• Education
• Financial freedom
• Access to mentorship
• Social dynamics
• Way forward

Check out more here.

What Would You Do If Your Firm Lost $1.9 billion in a Year?

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Burdened by its persistent loss-making ability, WeWork, an American real estate company that provides shared workspaces for technology startups, and services for other enterprises, could postpone its now controversial IPO until October.  Why?  To get its ducks (offices) in a row.  Here's the scoop.

WeWork is badly in need of more cash, having lost $1.9 billion on revenues of $1.8 billion in 2018. For the first half of 2019, WeWork reported an operating loss of $1.37 billion, more than double the loss for H1 2018. It reported $1.54 billion in revenues in the first half of 2019. The company is on track to exceed its operating losses in 2018.

Feeling the heat from lackluster investor interest and burdened by its persistent loss-making ability, WeWork has some issues.

Indiana Business Owners: Grab Your Grant Money to Export

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Indiana secured a U.S. Small Business Administration grant that that will reimburse local businesses trying to reach global markets, such as on trade missions.  All Indiana firms have to do is apply.

The state of Indiana received a $495,000 State Trade and Export Promotion grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to help small businesses export more Hoosier-made products to markets around the world. It's adding another $165,000 in matching funds, so up to $660,000 in funding will be available to Hoosier small businesses to help them sell their products or services around the world.

Bring on the STEP funding to Indiana and let's open doors to the world for business owners.

Today in Global Small Business: wegg® Workshop 9/18/19 Helps Women Export

©2019 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global™.  All rights reserved.

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

• Learn how to start and grow a global business at the upcoming on-the-ground wegg® workshop held in Chicago and hosted by Associated Bank on Wednesday, September 18, 2019 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Central Time.  The presenter is the fabulous business owner Loree Sandler, founder of Let Them Eat Candles.  To learn more and to register, visit:  https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2019/08/06/a-companys-intersection-with-global-adventure/. 
• Quote of the week: “As young people make decisions about which jobs to pursue, I always tell them that [global] learning is more important than initial compensation – they can't afford not to learn." – Hank Paulson, former Secretary of the Treasury
• According to the most recent International Trade Association data available through the federal Small Business Administration [9/15/19], small businesses represent 97.7% of the U.S. firms that export goods to other countries. In fact, they account for more than a third of the country’s known export value.
• Advancements in machine translation technology are helping consumers, gamers and small businesses.  See how and why here.
• Remembering people we lost to the casualties of 9/11.  It never goes away ...
• In the face of severe competition, McDonald's identifies a big weakness and does something about it. Can it make a difference?

On a Boat That Is Moving Through Water

©2019 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Being on a boat that's moving through the water, it's so clear. Everything falls into place in terms of what's important and what's not." – James Taylor

Life is Good (Podcast)

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Brothers Bert and John Jacobs in the late 80s were living as nomads, traveling from college to college selling t-shirts out of their van.

It wasn't a sustainable living – until one day, they created a new design. It was a simple sketch of a grinning face, with three words printed underneath: Life Is Good.

The rest is history and now Life is Good is more than $100 million in annual revenue.  Listen to the podcast here.

Four Beautiful Ladies with a Lot of Global Talent (Music Video)

Kabbage Customers Are Optimistic About Economy, At Least for Borrowing Money

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As the trade war between the US and China causes global markets to gyrate, investor confidence has become a bit wobbly.

But not everyone is losing their nerve. Rob Frohwein, co-founder and CEO of small-business lending platform Kabbage, says his company’s customers are optimistic [at least for borrowing money]. The Atlanta-based company originated $670 million in loans during the second quarter, a 45% jump from a year earlier.

When companies use the right online technology, borrowing can be handled much more quickly.

Read more about how small business owners are fearless about the US recession, at least according to one online lender.

Is Your Company Making the Most Out of AI?

©iStock/ipopba

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is happening today, transforming companies of all sizes all over the world. Its adoption has driven down costs and made it increasingly accessible to small and midsize businesses.

So how can you leverage AI?  The article below shares three ideas.

Making the most out of AI.

Today in Global Small Business: Best Defense Against Terrorism?

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

• Three ways to market your small business on a shoestring budget.
• Quote of the week: “It was the hardest thing [filming Terminator:  Dark Fate], and the greatest thing,” Hamilton said. “And isn’t that what we want?" – Linda Hamilton, star of Terminator 2:  Judgment Day and upcoming role in Terminator:  Dark Fate
• The best defense against terrorism?  Global small businesses.  
• Has social media become a scapegoat for the broader problems of globalization and the forced deemphasis of community in the place of perpetual bombardment from strangers?
• Why localization is essential for expanding overseas.
• Is the slowing global economy a boon or a bane?