Love Is Never Wrong

©2026 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Love is never wrong." – Melissa Etheridge

50 Promising Business Ideas for 2026 and Beyond

©iStock/Natalya Kosarevich

If you think you have a great business idea that needs to be shared with the world, you’re in good company. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that more than 5 million new business applications have been filed every year since 2021, and entrepreneurs are on track to continue that trend. 

What are the best ideas for 2026?  They are ones that have clear market demand, the potential for scalability and profit, and the ability to adapt to changing technologies and customer demands.

Find out what those are here.

Meanwhile, celebrate Juneteenth!

We Are Going to Start Using the T

©iStock/leremy

The rise of the world's first trillionaire.  The initial public offering for SpaceX crowned Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. WSJ’s Theo Francis takes us inside the staggering finances of the world’s richest man, and explores what the impact of his new status might be. 

Elon Musk:  And let me tell you, if people had told me this was going to happen, I was like, "Man, you must be smoking some really good crack." 

Theo Francis:  It's pretty striking. I do our annual ranking of executive pay of CEO pay and every year there's a few CEOs who make a hundred million or more. A hundred million. That's a lot of money. And yet I have to remember to use an M and say million instead of B for billion when you're talking about the wealth of people like Zuckerberg and Bezos and Allison and of course Musk when we're going to have to start using the T. It's a really remarkable moment in terms of individual wealth, and I think the real question is: how far does it go?

Listen to or read the entire interview.

The Global Order Has Been Altered

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The global order has been altered, and economies are unlikely to simply pick up where they left off before the U.S. and Israel began bombing Iran.

The framework deal between the United States and Iran sets the stage for an end to the bursts of violence and debilitating disruption of energy deliveries and trade in the Persian Gulf. But don’t expect economies around the globe to simply pick up where they left off before the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on Feb. 28.

The war has set in motion changes that will be hard to reverse.

India's May Trade Gap Narrows as Exports Rise

©iStock/ADITCHAROENKUL 

India's merchandise trade ⁠deficit ⁠narrowed marginally in May as higher exports ⁠offset part of the import bill, while firms navigated volatile energy prices, Middle East disruptions and ​ongoing trade negotiations with the United States.

The data underscores pressure on India to sustain exports and contain import costs as ​it seeks greater U.S. market access, with April-May goods exports nearly flat at $17.29 billion versus $17.21 billion a year earlier.

Today in Global Small Business: The Global Women Presidents Organization

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

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

• Making sure the world knows about the global peer advisory group the Women Presidents Organization for women business owners generating $2 million (USD) in gross annual sales for a product-based business or $1 million for a service-based business.  If that is you, discover what a WPO membership could mean for your business.  Note: I ([Laurel Delaney] have been a WPO Chicago Chapter Chair since 2003 so I know first hand how exceptional the organization is.
• IMF Chief:  We can't repeat the mistakes of globalization with AI.
• Alternatives to the major powers must play a larger role, no matter if the aim is preservation of the existing global order, reform of its institutions, or transformation into a new model of governance.
• Quote of the week:  “These incredible women [business owners] have inspired me every single day. Their drive, resilience, and impact have shaped not only the economy but also communities and generations to come. It has been the honor of my life to help support this global movement for women’s economic development and leadership." – Camille Burns (second from left in photo), CEO, at the Women Presidents Organization
• The Qatar lesson:  In the age of globalization, new tools of influence have entered the arena. In the past, a country’s power was measured by the number of tanks, aircraft, and soldiers at its disposal.
• According to the World Economic Forum, globalization isn’t over. It’s being rebuilt around resilience, regions and intelligence.

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! 

Swimmers On Parade on the Mag Mile in Chicago

©2026 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

In the tradition of the legendary “Cows on Parade” installation, “Monuments of Stillness” consists of 10 sculptures of swimmers along Michigan Avenue by New York artist Carole A. Feuerman.

Cool App: Bouncy Calm Smileys

©2026 Studio B42.  All rights reserved.

This global app is designed to bring smiles to your day and rest to your night.  It's called Bouncy Calm Smileys.

Bouncy Calm Smileys is designed with humanity and kindness in mind with easy to use selections of mindfulness objects that bounce dance play on screen to help bring a playful peaceful mood. Bouncy Calm Smileys is a friendly retro lo-fi affirmation mindfulness app. Choose circles, marbles, raindrops, emojis, affirmations to lighten the day or find rest at night. You choose whether the circle (ball), marble, raindrop, emoji or affirmation solos around the screen or has object friends join in. You can turn on tranquil music or nature soundscape by SoundSei to find a personal sensory meditation. The exclusively built for iOS app's goal is for calm, comfort, ease sleep, find focus, help in relaxation or rejuvenation.

Bouncy Calm Smileys offers full access during the trial, so you can explore all features before deciding whether to purchase it for just $0.99.

Check it out here and bounce your way to smiley play.

The Global Trade Effects of the AI Infrastructure Boom

©iStock/pingingz

According to the Federal Reserve, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a key driver of the global economic outlook, underscored by the unprecedented scale of announced investment commitments aimed at expanding AI-related infrastructure. The AI boom is also increasingly influencing international trade by boosting demand for critical inputs and intermediate goods needed to build data centers. This surge in AI-related investment has already supported international trade since early 2025, with strong demand for critical components boosting exports in key supplier economies.

Looking ahead, AI-related trade is likely to remain an important feature of the global trade landscape as investment in AI infrastructure continues to scale.

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. 

Not Her Mother's Cookies

©iStock/VeselovaElena

Meet Ashley Fields. She is one of the five daughters of Debbi Fields, the founder of the namesake cookie brand, has all of the family’s sweet treat recipes memorized by heart.

But those classic recipes are of little use in her very own baking journey. With her college roommate, Kimberly Anderson, she has co-founded Fields Good cookies, which are slightly healthier than her mother’s and contain ingredients that appeal to wellness-focused consumers.  One variety contains protein, and others claim to boost brain performance or aid sleep.

She's on to something because a recent McKinsey report found that two-thirds of global consumers were willing to pay 10 percent more for healthier alternatives to their regular snacks.

Your next favorite (global) cookies just found you.

Touch the Sky with The Himalayas (Video)

Today in Global Small Business: Iran War Disrupts US Global Small Businesses

©iStock/Tatiana rico

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

• Iran war disrupts US small businesses with shipping complications and higher costs.
• The seven OPEC+ countries, which previously announced additional voluntary adjustments in April and November 2023, namely Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman met virtually on June 7, 2026, to review global market conditions and outlook.
• 6 ecommerce trends that are reshaping online store performance.
• Quote of the week:  “We sought repeatedly to make a deal. We tried. They wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it again. They wanted to do it. They didn't want to do it." – a statement from Trump on Iran strikes
• Global economy in the shadow of the war (April, 2026).
• How SMEs are struggling with new trade restrictions in 2026.

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.