The Exceptional Work of John Yunker – Deglobalization & AI: The Calm Before the Storm

©2015 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

As John Yunker says, "While reviewing websites for the 2025 Web Globalization Report Card I was struck by two things:

1. Deglobalization has had a visible (and negative) impact on global websites
2. AI is also having an impact, though you have to look closely to see it

Combined, I believe we are in the midst of the calm before the storm."

Read his entire provocative and insightful report here (don't miss it).

Thanks for your readership everyone.  With this post for April, we are more than 108,000 readers.  In March, we hit over 160K readers!

Pleasing an Audience of One: DJT

©iStock/Victor Aheiv

Gifting all of you this article from The New York Times and reported by Ana Swanson (from Washington).

Many employees believe Mr. Lutnick is focused on an audience of one: the man he refers to as “DJT.” Mr. [Howard] Lutnick often speaks of the president’s intuition, wisdom and prescience; has boasted of having regular Friday night dinners with Mr. Trump; and describes any day that he speaks to the president as a “good day.”

Access entire article here.

We all hope Mr. Trump takes a less aggressive approach to tariffs for the business owners who have built their businesses around international business.

Today in Global Small Business: Rewire Your Decision Making

©iStock/Janie Abolins

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

• How to be a better decider.
• Jewish women entrepreneurs take action.
• How businesses can own their next move.
• Quote of the week:  “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward." – Amelia Earhart
• Tariffs will impact the economy ... and so will uncertainty.
• Why do you need to expand internationally?

Art Is Not What You See

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." – Edgar Degas

Yes. No. Yes. No. We Are Talking China and United States Trade Talks

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After an early wobble (4/24/25 at 4:07 PM ET), markets resumed rising after Chinese officials contradicted suggestions from President Trump and others about tariff negotiations.

Stocks rose on Thursday (4/24/25), and then ...

The rally then paused after officials in China said they were not holding talks with the United States about easing trade tensions. But indexes continued to swing on scraps of information about tariffs and monetary policy, in the absence of concrete developments about the escalating global trade war.

Yes. No. Yes. No.  We are talking about China and United States trade talks.

The Secret Side of YouTube

©iStock/Dragos Condrea

There's a secret side of YouTube, just beyond the guiding hand of the algorithm – and it’s nothing like what you know. The vast majority of YouTube's estimated 14.8 billion videos have almost never been seen. Until now.

There's a hidden world beneath the shadows of YouTube's algorithm.

Who Believes In Angels?

‘Who Believes In Angels? Stories From The Edge Of Creation’ featuring Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt is a candid, 30-min film series capturing thousands of hours of raw footage and ultimately documenting the album's entire creation. 

Offering fans an unprecedented, searingly honest insight into the emotionally turbulent creative process - breakdowns, breakthroughs, tears, torn up lyric sheets and all. ‘Stories From The Edge Of Creation’ marks the first time that Elton has allowed cameras to film his writing and recording sessions while creating an album.

Thanks for the tip Dee Dee Martin of Soothe Our Souls. 

The World Mourns Over the Death of Pope Francis

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The Vatican said Francis, the first pope from Latin America, had died on Monday, April 21, 2025, after a stroke, and revealed that his will requested a simple tomb in Rome.

His love of people and acts of charity will forever be in our hearts.  RIP.

Today in Global Small Business: In China, One of Many Nicknames for Trump Is Chuan Jianguo

©iStock/Peppersmint

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

• Dr. Moira Weigel, an assistant professor at Harvard University is researching a book on e-commerce platforms and writes an Opinion for the NY Times, "When the Chinese Call Him 'Comrade Trump,' It's Not a Joke."  She says, "In China, one of many nicknames for President Trump is Chuan Jianguo. It literally translates as “Trump the Nation Builder.” My best translation is “Comrade Trump.” The joke is that Mr. Trump is a patriotic son of China who is diligently advancing Chinese interests by causing chaos in the United States." 
• The Trump administration received bipartisan criticism on Sunday (4/20/25) for its deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — a Salvadorian citizen who lived in Maryland and was deported to a prison in El Salvador due to an "administrative error."
• Easter truce or hogwash?
• Quote of the week:  “The best way to look stylish on a budget is to try second-hand, bargain hunting, and vintage." – Orlando Bloom
• U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed plans about a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen on a second Signal group chat, this one on his personal phone and including his wife, lawyer and brother, three people familiar with the chat told CNN.  
• Prolonged tariffs could cause a “huge uptick” in short-term sales of used and refurbished devices, especially smartphones, says Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities global head of technology research.

Peaceful Revolution Impossible

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." – John F. Kennedy

Solemn Reflection and Remembrance

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Good Friday is a day of solemn reflection and remembrance of Jesus' crucifixion. Activities include attending church services, praying, fasting, and engaging in acts of charity. Many also choose to observe silence (turning off phones, TV, and other devices), particularly between 12 pm and 3 pm, when Jesus was on the cross.

The Effect of Owning a Pet On Life Satisfaction

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

People all around the world have pets, and it has been shown in many studies that having a pet can have a positive effect on various aspects of health.

A new study examines the impact of owning a pet on life satisfaction. 

The study was conducted by two UK researchers, Michael W. Gmeiner from the London School of Economics and Adelina Gschwandtner from the University of Kent. The scientists analyzed data from the so-called Innovation Panel, a survey from the UK that contained various information on pet ownership and life satisfaction. Overall, data from 2600 households were included in the study, making the sample quite large and the results statistically robust. 

The good news (spoiler alert) for all cat and dog owners: Owning a pet clearly makes its owner happier and more satisfied with their lives in the long run!

I know for me [Laurel Delaney] it does.  Pictured is my Wellington.  Learn more about the results of the study here.

Tulips in The Netherlands

©iStock/Olena_Z

During tulip season, the national flower splashes color through Amsterdam’s parks, canals and city streets, with magnificent displays further afield including the spectacle at Keukenhof Gardens, along with cycling routes through the bulb fields, and events including a flower-festooned Bloemencorso (Flower Parade).

If only all of us could tiptoe through the tulips in The Netherlands right now to break away from all the stress in our world.  So if you can't get away, take a remote break to learn the history of tulips in The Netherlands, when is the best time to visit, what is the top sight during tulip season and more.

Leadership Lessons from Dr. Adam Grant

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Last December, I [Dr. Adam Grant] asked my students at Wharton to nominate and vote on topics for our final class. The runaway top choice was leadership lessons from Elon Musk. It’s become a hot topic among the corporate elite, too. 

As an organizational psychologist, I’ve long admired the boldness of Mr. Musk’s vision, the intensity of his drive and the impact of his innovations in cars and rockets. But the way he deals with people would fail the leadership class I teach at his alma mater.  

Read the entire Opinion in The New York Times here.

Today in Global Small Business: Honoring Passover

©iStock/Elena Senyakaeva

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

• Honoring Passover.
• How Easter is celebrated around the world.
• Exploring Easter around the world.
• Quote of the week:  “Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life." – Janine di Giovanni
• The world's craziest Easter traditions.
• The origin and history of the Easter egg hunt.

Egomaniac or Crazy?

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Any man who wants to be president is either an egomaniac or crazy." – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Many Are Questioning the Wisdom of Tariffs

©iStock/LunaKate

A little late to the table here ... major figures in the investing world are questioning the wisdom of Trump's tariffs.  Some say it is "a mistake" and "masochistic," as Larry Summers says below.

“Trump’s tariffs are the most expensive and masochistic the U.S. has pursued in decades. A very crude estimate of Trump’s tariffs puts the projected loss at US$20 trillion dollars, or well over US$200,000 per family of four.” — Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury secretary, on X.

Costco Rocks and For a Good Reason

©iStock/jetcityimage

With all the recent news about tariffs, members can't help but wonder if they will see prices at Costco go up.

At the company's second-quarter earnings call in March, CEO Ron Vachris spoke to reassure investors and customers at the same time, even as he acknowledged that it's difficult to predict the impact of tariffs. 

"Our team remains agile and our goal will be to minimize the impact of related cost increases to our members," he said, adding that only around one-third of Costco products sold in the U.S. are imported from other countries, and less than half of those are items coming from China, Mexico, and Canada.

By the end of the year, Costco will have more than 900 locations worldwide.  Here is a list of the locations opening soon: 

• Stuart, FL, April 2025
• Ardeer, Australia, April 2025
• Minami Alps, Japan, April 2025
• Pyeongtaek, Korea, June 2025
• Malmo, Sweden, July 2025
• Midland, TX, July 2025

Global Small Businesses Are Feeling the Greatest Pain Right Now From Tariffs

©iStock/TatyanaGI

Bill Ackman wrote in a Sunday post on X that the U.S. risks fueling an “economic nuclear war” should the administration’s onslaught of tariffs proceed against dozens of countries.

Ackman, who runs the New York City-based hedge fund Pershing Square, suggested that President Trump consider a 90-day pause of the policy to allow time for negotiations, and he underscored how the country’s [global] small businesses “will experience much greater pain” compared with larger companies.

It's Not Candy Land, It's Game of Chicken

©iStock/ptasha

A day before Donald Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs are scheduled to kick in, the US president appears locked in a high-stakes game of chicken [or maybe Candy Land?], with the world's economy hanging in the balance.

Some nations labelled "worst offenders" are scrambling to make nice with the White House to end this game before it reaches a potentially devastating climax.  China, in contrast, is playing a different game, one of retaliation and resistance.

Meanwhile, Trump has pressed ahead, even as some allies – in Congress and on Wall Street – wonder if he's going too far.

Today in Global Small Business: SNL's Latest Episode Where Trump Provides an Update On His Recent Tariffs

©iStock/Ray Orton

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

• Oh, have some fun with SNL's latest episode where Trump provides an update on his recent tariffs.
• Trade.gov is still up and running.  Here's the part I like best:  Are you experiencing a trade barrier?  Go here.  Is there anyone who is NOT experiencing a trade barrier right now?
• EXIM is still up and running – doing its best to keep America strong.
• Quote of the week:  “There is one and only one social responsibility of business—to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits.” – Milton Friedman
• SBA's Office of International Trade is still up and running.
• Defiant Trump vows to stay the course as countries scramble over tariffs.

Winter Hibernation is Over

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Winter hibernation is over – let's catch up!" – common informal expression, not attributed to a specific person

Globalization is Not Dead But It's Evolving

©iStock/Wirestock

Get a glimpse of what NY Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman has to say in, "I Just Saw the Future.  It Was Not in America."

It would take years for American car companies to replace the global supply chains they depend on and make everything in America. Even Tesla has to import some parts.

With the new era of protectionism, consumers will pay more and have less choice.  Eliminating foreign competition, well, makes me [Laurel Delaney] think we will each be sewing our own Nike running shoes, if that's your brand. 

Globalization is not dead but it's evolving.

Be Who You Are on Your Way Out, Sadly Not Before

©iStock/farres tariq

The former Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, will likely deliver the deciding vote on a resolution to block a national emergency used to justify the new tariffs on Canadian imports.

Sen. Mitch McConnell privately indicated to Sen. Tim Kaine he would back the Virginia Democrat’s resolution to undo President Donald Trump’s Canada tariffs.

What does it mean?  We'll soon find out.  

The Decline of the Expert?

©iStock/Makhbubakhon Ismatova

Want to understand a medical diagnosis, learn how to export, challenge a legal contract, or make sense of an economic forecast? Traditionally, your only option was to trust a trained professional.  But now, AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and others are changing the game—offering clear, confident, and accessible answers to complex questions. 

This democratization of knowledge has tremendous potential.  But it could also be the decline of the expert?

Connect, Learn, Have Fun and Export!

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Join wegg's next wegginar® with award-winning exporter Joan Laureano, President of Nosotras Boutique Fashion Group tomorrow, Wednesday, April 2nd at 11 AM CT.  Free of charge thanks to wegg's sponsors.

To learn more and to register, visit:  My 10 Biggest Lessons in Exporting.