Reflecting on 9/11

Surprise and Shine: Apple's New iPhone Duo

©2026 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

A new era unfolded at Apple on Wednesday with its new CEO unveiling an iPhone the size of a passport that, well, folds.

The device, called iPhone Duo, represents the most radical physical change to the iconic iPhone since Apple introduced the minimalist glass slab to the world nearly 20 years ago, kicking off the smartphone era.

The iPhone Duo opens like a book, with a 5.4-inch outer screen when folded, and a 7.6-inch internal screen when unfolded. It will start at $1,999 — $700 more than the entry-level iPhone 18 Pro, which the company also announced on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. It will be available starting October 23.

Read the full story here.

wegg® Young Professional Board (YPB) Uvae Event 9/23 in Chicago!

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Hit those drums! 🥁 Today Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® (wegg®) officially launched its new wegg® Young Professional Board – and their first official program under their watch. 

The wegg YPB helps build wegg®'s brand awareness through advocacy, fundraising, event planning, and networking in support of wegg's mission.

Join Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® on September 23rd, 6–8 PM CT, for a cozy evening in Andersonville at Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar – one of Chicago's most beloved wine destinations. Enjoy networking, wine, and delicious bites (cheese & charcuterie to mini lobster cakes and meatballs), plus a conversation with Uvae owner, sommelier, and entrepreneur Lindsey Anderson-Perez.

Proceeds benefit wegg®'s mission to help women business owners expand their enterprises internationally. Event is powered by Wintrust Bank Chicago

Event Co-Chairs: Isabella Kifer and Alexandria Kifer

Learn more and register:

https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/young-professional-board/ (scroll to the bottom to see all YPB members)

Only 30 seats available – register early to reserve your spot. I [Laurel Delaney] will see you there!

The World Trade Center Today Is Now a Part of Daily Life

©iStock/Jehan-Jehan

25 years after the September 11th attacks, lower Manhattan is thriving.  Its population has tripled while media and tech firms have moved in, making the Financial District the envy of other U.S. downtowns.

In 2001, lower Manhattan was shattered. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks killed close to 3,000 people and reduced the World Trade Center to rubble. The Twin Towers’ shocking collapse inflicted such trauma that many wondered if the Financial District could ever recover.

Now we approach the 25th anniversary of this tragic event.  The World Trade Center today is now a part of daily life.

Today in Global Small Business: Reset on Labor Day 2026

©iStock/Rowr

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

• Labor Day was built so you can rest.  Why don't you?  Have a good one everyone 😊!
• Treat yourself to a spa on Labor Day 2026.
• Get out from your mobile screen and start connecting with your loved ones this Labor Day 2026.
• Quote of the week:  Gloria Steinem does not have a specific quote dedicated directly to the holiday of Labor Day, but her life's work focused heavily on redefining labor, challenging workplace inequality, and recognizing invisible work.  After her death on 9/2/26, may she finally RIP.
• The end of summer can bring new ideas to your business.
• This Labor Day, take inspiration from the holiday’s original meaning and inject fun with celebration ideas just right for the office.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!     

I Love the Region Around Lake Geneva

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I love the region around Lake Geneva. The landscape is beautiful, very peaceful, and such a nice place to relax and spend time outdoors. It's always a pleasure to come back home." – Stan Wawrinka

Fierce Feminist Gloria Steinem Dies at 92

©iStock/klyaksun

Gloria Steinem was the personification of the feminist movement, an American journalist and a social movement activist.  She died Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 92.

Learn about the life she lived here.

The US Dollar's Status As the World's Reserve Currency

©iStock/breeze393

Is the world giving up on the US dollar?  America’s national debt recently hit a new milestone of $40 trillion. It is estimated that interest payments on the national debt are now the second largest expense in the US government budget, trailing only social security. 

How was the US able to borrow so much and for so long? 

One answer, according Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff, is the US dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency.

A Global Sell-Off in Government Bonds Pushes Borrowing Costs in Some of the World's Largest Economies

©iStock/Tatsuya Ozaki

A global sell-off in government bonds intensified on Tuesday (9/1/26), pushing borrowing costs in some of the world’s largest economies to the highest levels in decades. The moves threaten to ripple through a wide range of debt, including business loans and mortgages for already-stretched consumers.

A combination of factors are prompting investors to demand higher returns to hold government debt: a flood of borrowing by the world’s richest nations, expanding budget deficits, persistent inflation and few signs that countries are able or willing to take steps to improve these conditions.

Read the entire article here.

Growing Global Markets for Women’s Handmade Craft With Susan Hull Walker (9/2/26)

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Have you ever wondered how to build a global brand without sacrificing authenticity; why purpose-driven businesses have a competitive advantage; and the importance of trust-based partnerships in global business?

Then this is the wegginar® for you.

Susan Hull Walker, Founder and Creative Director, Ibu Movement, will present, "Growing Global Markets for Women’s Handmade Craft," and will discuss all of the above and more.  

To learn more and to register free of charge thanks to wegg's sponsors, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/08/18/growing-global-markets-for-womens-handmade-craft/.

Discover practical strategies for scaling a mission-led business and how women entrepreneurs are reshaping the future of luxury.

Today in Global Small Business: Women-led MSMEs Need Stronger Links to Scale Up

©iStock/MDV Edwards

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

• Women-led micro, small and medium enterprises [in the Philippines] need stronger links to buyers and corporate supply chains if they are to move beyond small-scale operations and compete in larger markets, business leaders said.
• United Airlines to add 10 new international routes starting next year.  See where.
• Special report:  2026 Global Trade Report.
• Quote of the week: “The challenge is not just to float with the current of globalization, but to change its direction." – Mary Robinson
• Tengen has expanded its retail and logistics consumables operations into new verticals as it transforms into a one-stop global operation.
• UPS announced plans to invest $2 billion in its international, healthcare and supply chain solutions businesses through 2028 (requires subscription).

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!     

Why Did I Ever Leave?

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Every time I'm in Chicago I think, 'Why did I ever leave?' This is the greatest city in the world." – Stephen Colbert, comedian and writer