Creativity Doesn't Wait for that Perfect Moment

©2019 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Creativity doesn't wait for that perfect moment. It fashions its own perfect moments out of ordinary ones." – Bruce Garrabrandt

Christmas Music is Calming and Puts a Smile in Your Heart

As one listener to the music video said, “I realize that there is never a 'perfect time' to listen to Christmas music, you just have to do it b/c [because] life is short and unpredictable. Christmas music is calming and puts a smile in your heart and you instantly feel better. That's a gift!”

We agree.

Make Your Small Business More Productive in 2020! We've Got an App for That

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What are the tools you need to help your team work smarter and more efficiently in 2020?  Don't sweat.

Busy business owners know how important it is to make the most out of every hour of the day. When you own a business, you must wear many hats – which often means running from one task to the next with no time to catch your breath.

Still looking to squeeze more out of your workday? While some apps can be a distraction, rather than an aid, these 10 apps were created to help business owners stay productive.

Guess How Many Small Businesses There Are Worldwide?

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According to Chris Leahy, Vice President, National Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs, Intuit, “There are 800 million small businesses worldwide, 47 million of which are in the United States, and they create two out of three new jobs, yet they often don’t have a seat at the table with policy makers to share their perspectives and stories on how government can help ensure their long-term success and prosperity."

Well what do you know about that?  Leahy goes on to say, "As the champion of small businesses, we saw an opportunity to work more closely with these small business owners to ensure their voices are heard by lawmakers, regulators and administration officials who create policy.”

Learn more about how Intuit hosted their first small business QuickBooks Council in Washington, D.C.

Thought Leadership wegginar® 12/4 with Dr. Kati Suominen: New Iron Laws of Globalization

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

Now more than ever, you must get on top of your globalization game.  How do you start?  Dr. Kati Suominen, a renown global business thought leader, will be sharing her insights with a wegg® presentation on the "New Iron Laws of Globalization," Wednesday, December 4th at 11AM CT.  She will dive into:

• When you take stock of globalization in 2025, what will you see? Find out!
• Ecommerce, 3D printing, 5G, the Cloud, blockchain, and artificial intelligence are bringing about a new wave of globalization that can be the most dynamic and prosperous yet.  Learn why.
• But there are also many challenges to this new era of technology-powered trade.  Discover what those challenges are along with solutions.
• Her latest book, "Revolutionizing World Trade."

The presentation is free of charge thanks to wegg's® generous sponsors but you must register to participate.  To learn more and to register, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2019/11/13/new-iron-laws-of-globalization-kati-suominen/ 

Today in Global Small Business: Solo Businesses Are Brought Into the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

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

• The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2018/2019 have put a stake in the ground with their entrepreneurship studies by incorporating solo businesses into their research on entrepreneurial ecosystems.
• Who cares what Trump wants from global trade.
• Quote of the week: “Gratitude is not the greatest of virtues, it is the parent of all others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero
• China's manufacturing is back in expansion mode.
• Shoppers ring up record Thanksgiving sales online; Black Friday’s (11/29/19) tally to exceed $7 billion, Adobe says.
• Why Small Business Saturday is more important than Black Friday (to UK folks).

Life is Full of Beauty. Notice It

©2019 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, [look forward to the snow] and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams." – Ashley Smith

Global Brand Peppers Eyeware Wants Pittsburghers to Shop Local on Saturday

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Global brand Peppers Eyeware wants to take the Small Business Saturday opportunity to celebrate their Pittsburgh roots. This SBS, they offer a sale which is exclusive to their 412 Store and therefore only accessible to local Pittsburghers.

In case you don't know, Peppers Eyeware is a global lifestyle brand which designs, manufactures and markets affordable polarized sunglasses to consumers.  And don't confuse Peppers with Peepers.  Wow, reminds us of the rhyme:

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
But...
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
How many pickled peppers that Peter Piper picked?"

Anyway, read more about Peppers celebrating Small Business Saturday.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Global Small Business Blog!

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Gratitude is a Universally Good and Global Thing

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How wonderful that countries worldwide have national days of Thanksgiving.  It’s an acknowledgment that gratitude is a universally good and global thing to feel and practice. This holds true for everyone, no matter where we live.

But what if there seems little to be grateful for, or our efforts to be grateful feel hollow and empty?

Read on for the answer.

Blogging Can Boost Productivity and Help a Business Become Global

©iStock/Christian Hors

If you want to be a professional in your industry and get noticed, blogging is the way to go since it is a simple, inexpensive and convenient marketing strategy.  Plus, it's a great way to drive traffic to your business.  Let's face it, all businesses should have a robust online presence, which is interactive and communicates extensively with clients and customers.

Small businesses need consistent online exposure for growth and to attract and retain prospective customers with engaging posts.

Read more about how blogging is hip and of value to businesses. We know this is true because at the Global Small Business Blog we have more than 40,000 readers each month!

Today in Global Small Business: It Can Take 5 Minutes to Ruin Your Reputation

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

• Google has announced an upgrade to CallJoy, the automated, cloud-based telephone customer service agent first debuted back in May.
• In international business, recognize that roles must evolve.
• Quote of the week: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” – Warren Buffett
• Roku is firmly established in the U.S. and it is also available in seven countries in the Americas, but its international expansion is just beginning – and that's where the company's biggest opportunity lies.
• The 2019 holiday e-commerce outlook for small businesses.
• One day, $38 billion in sales.  Who did that?