Contempt Is the Trumpian Way. But It's Not the American Way

©iStock/asiandelight

Frank Bruni is a contributing Opinion writer who was on the staff of The Times for more than 25 years.  He writes, "I Hold Pam Bondi in Contempt."  Worth a read.

Artemis II Launched From the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 4/1/26 (Video)

The Iran War: Serious Harm to the Global Economy

©iStock/Makhbubakhon Ismatova

Opinion Columnist for The New York Times Thomas L. Friedman writes:  This [Iran war] is imposing serious harm on the global economy, including the U.S. stock market, and Trump has no clue how to get out of the mess that he has created by starting a war without thinking through the implications.

What to do?  Read Mr. Friedman's entire opinion here.

"Feel the Heat" to View the Artemis II Moon Launch

©iStock/3DSculptor

The first crewed mission around the moon in more than 50 years is coming up – target date is April 1, 2026. 

Thinking about getting tickets?  Tickets for viewing packages were released by the Kennedy Space Center and for purchase directly through the center’s website.  The “Feel the Heat” package, which offers the closest viewing point at 3.5 miles from the launchpad, sold out within hours. Other tickets for viewings at the privately run main visitor complex eight miles away were also sold out.

You can sign up for email notifications (see link below) on the space center’s website for the latest information about the launch.

Learn more here about the best viewing spots, including online.

Today in Global Small Business: Unlocking the Growth Equation for SMEs in Africa's Fragile Markets

©iStock/Hibrida13

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

• Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in fragile Africa need growth capital to thrive. Investors are constantly seeking promising businesses to invest in.
• Expand globally with confidence.
• Quote of the week:  “The African is my brother but he is my younger brother by several centuries." – Albert Schweitzer
• Small businesses wither under Trump’s tariffs: ‘It’s hard to breathe’.
• Five small businesses that helped knock down Trump's tariffs.
• How to boost exports?  Learn from France.

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Hands Off Chicago and 'No Kings' Protest 3/28/26

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Organizers expect the 'No Kings' protests to draw millions of Americans into the streets March 28, 2026.  As Trump would say, "It's going to be the BIGGEST ever!"

Chill

Linguistic Inclusivity

©iStock/Alvin Man

The lack of French in Air Canada's chief executive Michael Rousseau’s speech about the deadly collision at LaGuardia Airport reignited a debate over linguistic inclusivity in Canada.

His speech reignited a debate over linguistic inclusivity, a contentious issue in Canada. Particular scrutiny falls on Air Canada, which still bears special obligations from its origins as a state-owned carrier before it was privatized. Mr. Rousseau has faced criticism throughout his tenure for speaking little French.

One Canadian lawmaker said he could have read from a teleprompter. He could have shown his sensitivity to this issue and his will and intention to respect the French language and Francophones.

More importantly, we extend our condolences to the victims of this awful incident.

Meet the Recipient of the 2026 Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership®: Wendy Shen

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

And the recipient of the 2026 Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® is Ms. Wendy Shen, CEO, FLOMO/Nygala, which offers products for “everything you need to celebrate” as well as business services like global sourcing and third-party logistics/supply chain management.

Read the news release (3/24/26).  Learn more about the award and Wendy's background here.  Past recipients can be found here.

On behalf of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®, congratulations! Ms. Wendy Shen stands as a shining example of global leadership at its finest.

Can Someone With Zero Coding Experience Use Claude Code to Build Stuff?

©iStock/Robert Way

This is a question that was asked on reddit:  Can someone with zero coding experience actually use Claude Code (or similar) to build stuff now?

Find out the answer here – no spoiler alerts.

Two worth a look:

1. Claude Code
2. Cursor

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Today in Global Small Business: Small Businesses Power Up Global Growth

©iStock/lliuzishan

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

• Driving global growth through the power of small business.
• Unlocking the growth equation: Stability, capital, and SMEs in Africa’s fragile markets.
• Quote of the week:  “Any small business that's predicated on technological innovation and is differentiated and superior can expand globally very effectively using the Internet as a vehicle for promotion." – John Quelch
• A passport to global success for Spanish SMEs (hint:  Amazon).
• How businesses can leverage Hong Kong’s advantages to expand overseas.
• Singapore’s ‘trust premium’ gives SMEs the edge overseas.

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Only One Place On Earth to Get a Shamrock Shake

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights served.  

Uncle O'Grimacey:  The Irish uncle of Grimace, he was known for saying, "There's only one place on earth to get a Shamrock Shake, McDonald's."

Celebrate With wegg® on 3/24 For the 2026 Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership Announcement

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

The Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® honors and celebrates Gail Adinamis, who has been crucial to the growth and success of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.

About the award

The annual award honors a wegg stakeholder who has gone out of her way to connect, create, contribute, and collaborate with wegg, and forge alliances that have proven helpful.  These are traits that define an exemplary global leader.

Successful entrepreneur Gail Adinamis was founder and CEO of GlobalCare Clinical Trials, LLC.  Established in 2010, GlobalCare Clinical Trials brings Phase I-IV clinical trials to patients, instead of the other way around.  Today, the company’s in-home and alternate-site nursing services can be found in more than 65 countries.  The company was acquired by LabCorp in July, 2020, further expanding it’s decentralized clinical trials capabilities globally.

True global leaders like Gail Adinamis and many others who will follow in her footsteps are defined not only by their worldly knowledge and connections, nor by the global opportunities they seize, but by how they contribute to the improvement and growth of others.

Past awardees can be found here.

Register (free of charge) to celebrate with wegg virtually on Tuesday, March 24th at 10 AM CT: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/the-gail-adinamis-wegg-award/   

The Global People Platform

©iStock/Andrey David Piza Pulido

Payroll (pay teams locally or globally), IT (manage devices and accessories), HR (plan and manage teams), benefits (offer benefits worldwide), hire (anyone and anywhere) and more.  That's Deel, the global people platform.  

How to Sugarcoat War News Until It Feels Like Cotton Candy

©iStock/NataKor

There is something uniquely Trumpian about the way the president is handling the first full-bore active military conflict of his two terms in office. Fixated on his press coverage since his early days as a real estate developer, Mr. Trump has both accused mainstream reporters of treason and engaged with them on a close, personal level.

Read the entire article, "With Threats and Claims of 'Treason,' Trump Pressures Media on the War."

Happy St. Patrick's Day from The Global Small Business Blog!

©iStock/articular

“May neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, the angels protect you, and Heaven accept you.” – Irish Proverb 🍀

Today in Global Small Business: Iran Has Not Asked for a Ceasefire

©iStock/MikeMareen

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

• Trump told NBC News on Saturday, 3/14/26, that Iran was ready "to make a deal, and I don't want to make it because the terms aren't good enough yet."  But on Sunday, 3/15/26, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi refuted Trump and said it has not asked for a ceasefire.
• LIVE from BBC News.
• Quote of the week:  “The natural aim of military operations is the enemy’s overthrow.” – Carl von Clausewitz
• FCC chair threatens TV networks amid Iran war coverage – but his warning rings hollow.  In other words:  He's powerless.
• The damage to the world economy from the Iran war will be severe, but uneven.
• How much the war in Iran is costing Americans.

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Wishing You Irish Luck, Love and Laughter on St. Patrick's Day 2026

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Wishing you Irish luck, love and laughter, on St. Patrick's Day 2026 and all the days that follow ever after." – Laurel Delaney

The Global Economy Is Threatened by the War in Iran

©iStock/XtockImages

Into the American and Israeli war with Iran, the economic, political, and military costs of the conflict for the region and global economy are already significant, and mounting every day.  Iran’s swift and broad retaliation against American military bases in the region, its waves of drone and missile attacks against the Gulf Arab states targeting hotels, airports, and energy infrastructure, and its de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz are a cumulatively costly nightmare for the Gulf.

The cost this war will exact from the Gulf will ultimately depend on how long it lasts. If intense fighting ends within three to four weeks, the shock may prove temporary. A longer war, however, risks leaving deeper scars – disrupting energy flows, unsettling investors, and gradually eroding the Gulf’s reputation for security and stability.

Read the entire article:  How the War on Iran Threatens the Global Economy (Time Magazine).

Many People Feel Betrayed By the Iran War

©iStock/Ruma Aktar

Joe Rogan, the podcast host, has sometimes criticized President Trump since he returned to office, and has appeared increasingly skeptical of the administration in recent months.

He said on his show yesterday, 3/10/26, that the war in Iran was “crazy” and had left Americans feeling “betrayed” by President Trump, describing the conflict as a sharp reversal from the policies that the president had campaigned on.

His criticism arrives as the 12-day-old war threatens political peril for Mr. Trump’s party in this year’s midterm elections.

Read the entire article here.  Many people feel betrayed by the Iran war.

War in the Middle East Strains Sales for Lindt

©iStock/Ekaterina79

The Swiss chocolatier Lindt now expects organic sales growth this year of 4%-6%, down from previous annual targets of 6% to 8% growth. Last year, Lindt’s sales rose 12% to 5.92 billion Swiss francs ($7.62 billion), it said in an earnings update Tuesday, March 9, 2026.

War in the Middle East will likely further dampen sentiment and strain sales as energy prices spike and international travel faces a squeeze, Lindt Chief Executive Officer Adalbert Lechner said. 

The Bait and Switch Deal: The Legal Case Against Section 122 Tariffs

©iStock/Dilok Klaisataporn

Who would've guessed progressives would be quoting Milton Friedman? Yet here we are—22 Democratic Attorneys General just did exactly that, using the free-market legend’s words to take on President Trump’s new Section 122 tariffs. And, they’ve got a pretty solid argument.

Further, White House is slow-walking refunds. Judges shouldn’t let the Administration get away with another bait-and-switch.

Read the entire gifted article.

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Today in Global Small Business: The Next Wave of Sustainable Global Growth

©iStock/Lemon_tm

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

• Six business models piloted in Asia offer lessons for global leaders in any market – and just might be the key to the next wave of sustainable growth.
• Energy economics expert Michael Pollitt explains why the most muscular solutions to the world’s energy transition are global.
• Quote of the week:  "Watch the walls come down, whether it's in the South or on Wall Street. When the walls come down, what do we find? More markets, more talent, more capital and growth. Which means that the race and sex discrimination stunt economic growth. It's not good for capitalism. It's not good for America's growth. And it's not morally right." – Jesse Jackson
• Visa and Stripe plan global expansion of stablecoin card issuance product to over 100 countries.
• Japan’s music industry is in a particularly unique position. Find out why.
• The perfume houses of tomorrow are scaling up today – priming a brand for global expansion.

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

It's the Irish Flu

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"This isn't a hangover, it's the Irish flu." – Classic Irish saying

It's Tom Ford Mania at Paris Fashion Week

©iStock/lKvyatkovskaya

Zoomers are snapping up Tom Ford from has past collections for a bunch of reasons. It has just the right price-to-vibe ratio – it’s relatively affordable but packs a punch. The clothes also speak to an authenticity of the pre-social media age they never got to experience, where style was perhaps more honest and instinctive says Samuel Hine for GQ.

But it's Haider Ackermann who is the truest steward of Ford's legacy.  

As they say, "Oh, those jeans!"  All coming off Paris Fashion Week.

Love Reading About Pete Hegseth's Past

©iStock/Nomadsoul1

Oh the troubles we carry ... from Wikipedia on Vets For Freedom where Pete Hegseth was involved.

In 2007, Pete Hegseth became president of Vets For Freedom, and when its finances became bleak, the donors arranged a merger that took over management, and Hegseth left in 2012.[13]

And the latest is that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the Pentagon would end funds supporting active-duty service members at Harvard where he graduated in 2013 with a master's degree in public policy. The school is offering military students alternatives to defer or go elsewhere.

Do you think Pete Hegseth cares about declaring Anthropic a supply chain risk?  “Designating Anthropic as a supply chain risk would be an unprecedented action – one historically reserved for US adversaries, never before publicly applied to an American company,” Anthropic wrote.

I think we should declare Pete Hegseth a serious risk to our country.

One-Size-Fits-All International Expansion Is Over

©iStock/Gearstd

If you can get through the ads in this article, you can uncover some new perspectives on international expansion. The big one the author claims: a one-size-fits-all international expansion is over.

• One-size-fits-all global hiring is obsolete. Today’s expansion leaders strategically blend three workforce models — entity-based employment, EOR solutions and contractor relationships — choosing the right fit for each market, role and business objective.
• Flexibility is now a competitive advantage because market uncertainty demands agility, compliance complexity is accelerating and local nuances determine success.
• Companies that scale globally most effectively master compliance that adapts to local requirements, payments infrastructure that works everywhere and the ability to shift models as strategy evolves.

Read the entire article here.  If you want to learn about a new international playbook, watch this.

Creating Value With AI Around the World and Using AI in Ecommerce (wegginar® 3/4/26)

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

Looking for real and tangible AI and AI in ecommerce help?  Then you do not want to miss this Thought Leadership Series wegginar® with experts Kati Suominen and Fabian Stachelin when they will discuss:  "How are businesses creating value with AI around the world and using AI in ecommerce?"

Here's what you need to know about the presenters.

Kati Suominen, Founder and CEO, Nextrade Group

Kati is the Founder and CEO of Nextrade Group that helps governments, leading technology companies, and multilateral development banks enable trade and private sector development through technology. Author of 140 articles and 10 peer-reviewed books, she works on trade in goods and services, digital trade, digital payments, digital competition, and AI policy, among others. She has ideated and built dozens of data and analytical products and pilot initiatives as well as eight global initiatives and public-private-partnerships to enable digital trade. Dr. Suominen serves as Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Visa Economic Empowerment Institute, and Adjunct Professor at UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Fabian Stachelin, Founder of e-traid

Fabian has dedicated his career to developing e-commerce in emerging markets, notably as the driving force behind the partnership between eBay and the International Trade Centre (ITC). After eight years at eBay, he founded e-traid, where he leads e-commerce projects funded by the EU, World Bank, and USAID, primarily partnering with Nextrade Group and the ITC. His work across Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia includes training over 800 SMEs and helping 250—many women-led—achieve their first international sales.

 

A seasoned presenter and facilitator, Fabian has hands-on expertise across global marketplaces (eBay, Amazon, Etsy), store platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce), and service sites (Upwork, Fiverr). He holds an M.A. in International Relations from the Graduate Institute (Geneva) and is fluent in German, English, and French.

What Kati and Fabian will discuss

• How are small and large businesses using AI around the world - what use cases are emerging that you could learn from?
• How are businesses integrating AI into their ecommerce?
• How is AI use helping businesses create entirely new monetization models?
• What policy frameworks are emerging around AI that online sellers and globalizing businesses need to be aware of?

To learn more and to register free of charge thanks to the generous sponsors at Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global, visit:  https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/02/04/creating-value-with-ai-around-the-world-and-using-ai-in-ecommerce/

See you there.  I [Laurel Delaney] will moderate the Q&A.  Really looking forward to this high level talk.

Today in Global Small Business: 7 Signs You Have the Napoleon Complex (Also Called Short-Man Syndrome)

©iStock/z_wei

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

• Discover the seven key signs of the Napoleon complex (also called short-man syndrome), its psychological roots, and how to overcome it.  Break free from insecurity.
• Empathy unlocked:  Understanding how to develop emotional intelligence.
• Quote of the week:  "Power is my mistress. I have worked too hard at her conquest to allow anyone to take her away from me." – Napoleon Bonaparte
• The war for kindness (book).  Building empathy in a fractured world.
• Strategies for mental resilience. 
• Getting started in meditation and learning about its benefits with a calmer state of mind.

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Shadows Will Fall Behind You

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you" – Walt Whitman

Cocaine Is Back on a Global Scale

©iStock/Rafa Jodar

Cocaine is back on a global scale and here's what you need to know.

• Global cocaine production has hit an all-time high, along with record seizures, consequences, and deaths.
• Cocaine accounts for nearly one-third of U.S. overdose deaths.
• Cocaine enforcement has intensified, targeting maritime routes and cartel leadership to reduce access and use. 

Read more about how the global glut in cocaine shocks the world.

Well, Take That Supreme Court!

©iStock/Nuthawut Somsuk

By the WSJ Editorial Board (2/23/26) ... 

"Well, that will show the Supreme Court—or something. President Trump is reacting to his Friday tariff defeat not by calming the trade waters but by roiling them further. He is aiming in fury at the Supreme Court, but he will end up hitting the economy and Republicans in Congress.

The larger reality is that Mr. Trump is so bull-headed about tariffs that he’s going to re-impose them any way he can. Along with Section 122, he’ll fire up more Section 201, 301 and 232 (national security) studies and tariffs. But as our friend Don Luskin points out, these are pea shooters compared to the IEEPA tariffs the Court struck down. They are limited in scope and duration."

Access full commentary here on The Unending Trump Tariff Mess.

Big Detail On Claiming Tariff Refunds: Were You the Importer of Record?

©iStock/aprott

From the law firm Foley & Lardner as of 2/24/26:

Contractual Issues for Companies That Are Importers of Record …

The importer of record is the entity that initially pays all tariffs and thus is the entity that would receive any IEEPA tariff refunds. Nonetheless, behind the scenes there often are a variety of mechanisms importers of record may have used to handle the often unexpected tariffs, including pushing back on suppliers for price concessions, using surcharges to pass along tariffs, or general price increases. In many cases, other parties may be looking to share any potential refunds. For importers of record potentially facing this situation, we recommend working through the following steps.

Read on to learn more about the specific steps.

Winter Wonderland in NYC's Central Park

Today in Global Small Business: We Are Told the Global 15 percent Tariffs Announced by Trump on 2/21/26 Are a “Very Durable” Tool Legally

©iStock/ktsimage

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

• We are told that the global 15 percent tariffs announced by Mr. Trump on Saturday, 2/21/26 are a “very durable” tool legally, as reported on ABC's "This Week."
• CEOs go back to company war rooms to access what they can do to reclaim billions in paid levies. 
• Quote of the week:  "If you follow the devil, your journey will end up in the hell! This is what happens to those who follow the dictators!" – Mehmet Murat ildan
• We can't sit still:  Small businesses benefit from international trade.
• e.l.f. Beauty and rhode are giving the beauty business a makeover.  Key lesson:  "The leaders who watch, listen, and build are the ones who stay ahead." 
• Gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin is making the whole world shimmer!

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

In My Defense

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"In my defense, I was left unsupervised." – The phrase is a popular humorous idiom often used as a playful excuse for mischievous, impulsive, or chaotic behavior. 

Tariffs Have Caused Disdain For American Businesses

©iStock/haveseen

Export trouble.  One year in, many wine producers say tariffs have not helped them, and some countries are rejecting U.S. wine altogether.

The resistance to American products overseas has been especially painful for wine producers who had significant export markets, like Kutch Wines, which makes small amounts of exquisite pinot noirs and chardonnays from the Sonoma Coast and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Another California winemaker, Ridge Vineyards, a much bigger producer than Kutch, produces 28% of its sales through exports.

“Export has always been a big part of our business, and we’ve seen the effects,” he said. “The reaction was immediate and severe. Canada just stopped importing. It was our third-largest export market after the United Kingdom and Japan, and it just went away," says John Olney, Ridge's chief executive and head winemaker.

Since taking office last year, President Trump imposed tariffs on virtually all products imported into the United States. These tariffs have caused disdain for American businesses.

A Quiet Transformation in the American Economy: The Elderly

©iStock/Ridofranz

There has never been a better time in America to be old. Yet it also exposes our disjointed national priorities. We keep pouring resources into making the elderly comfortable and happy when the economy’s pressure points lie elsewhere. 

According to Greg Ip for The Wall Street Journal, here's what else is happening on the quiet transformation in the American economy:

The elderly are mostly out of the job market and thus need not worry about being replaced by artificial intelligence. The majority own their homes, often debt-free. Everyone worries about health costs, but the elderly have publicly funded Medicare. None of this is true for young generations.

The elderly are a nation of optimists.  

If you are over 65, congratulations.  You own the economy. 

RIP Fellow Chicagoan Rev. Jesse Jackson

©iStock/fumiko Inoue

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose impassioned oratory and populist vision of a “rainbow coalition” of the poor and forgotten made him the nation’s most influential Black figure in the years between the civil rights crusades of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the election of Barack Obama, died on Tuesday (2/17/26) at his home in Chicago. He was 84.

Visa Supports: Cash Flow and Business Resilience With 'The Visa and Main' Launch

iStock/Kaewta Suphan

Visa, a global payments network, is moving beyond card transactions into tools that support small business operations and access to funding. The "Visa & Main" launch and the US$100 million working capital facility with Lendistry focus on practical needs such as cash flow and business resilience, areas many founders cite as ongoing pressure points.

In addition, Visa has entered a milestone partnership with UnionPay International to extend Visa Direct reach into Chinese Mainland.

See how all this fits in with the Visa narrative.

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Today in Global Small Business: Honoring Our Founding Fathers on Presidents' Day

©iStock/Wirestock

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

• Officially called Washington's Birthday at the federal level, the meaning of Presidents' Day and why we celebrate has shifted over the years.
• Nominate someone who you think is a great global leader to earn the Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership – deadline 2/20/26.
• Quote of the week:  "When one of us falters, we all falter. When one of us rises, we all rise.” – Barack Obama
• Here's what the national archives say about George Washington's Birthday.
• Wikipedia's interpretation of Presidents' Day.  
• How Americans mark the holiday, Presidents' Day.

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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Love Chicago

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I love Chicago three out of four seasons a year." – Anonymous

[Happy Valentine's 💞 Day to all!]

Cultural Localization Is Vital to the Success of International Brands

©iStock/imagoDens

“Cultural localization is vital to the success of international brands because tapping into local expectations leads to more brand awareness,” explains Christopher D. Peace, PhD, assistant teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, who specializes in intercultural communication.

But it's more than that.

Companies that want to engage in international business expansion face an uphill battle. They need to apply cultural intelligence in business to preserve their brand’s authenticity while respectfully embracing local culture. Doing so requires a thoughtful global brand strategy that incorporates cross-cultural marketing and meaningful, ongoing local collaboration. 

To succeed, it’s essential to have a thoughtful strategy to avoid the missteps that can land a brand engaged in international business expansion in hot water.

Important Career Advice From Warren Buffett

©iStock/Thomas Faull

The billionaire investor Warren Buffett says the most “important” career advice he ever received – and later passed on to his own children – came from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1841 essay, “Self-Reliance.” The essay advises choosing work that fits your nature, not parental expectations or society’s approval.

Read his critical insights that were passed down through generations of his family. 

Nominate an Exceptional Woman Business Owner for the Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® 2026

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

The Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership® honors and celebrates Gail Adinamis, who has been crucial to the growth and success of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.

About the award

The annual award honors a wegg stakeholder who has gone out of her way to connect, create, contribute, and collaborate with wegg, and forge alliances that have proven helpful.  These are traits that define an exemplary global leader.

Successful entrepreneur Gail Adinamis was founder and CEO of GlobalCare Clinical Trials, LLC.  Established in 2010, GlobalCare Clinical Trials brings Phase I-IV clinical trials to patients, instead of the other way around.  Today, the company’s in-home and alternate-site nursing services can be found in more than 65 countries.  The company was acquired by LabCorp in July, 2020, further expanding it’s decentralized clinical trials capabilities globally.

True global leaders like Gail Adinamis and many others who will follow in her footsteps are defined not only by their worldly knowledge and connections, nor by the global opportunities they seize, but by how they contribute to the improvement and growth of others.

Past awardees can be found here.

Nominations are now open! Please submit your nomination by no later than February 20, 2026.  

World Champion Ilia Malinin Clinches GOLD for Team USA (Video)

©iStock/Nakano8510

Watch the video here of world champion Ilia Malinin who clinches the gold for Team USA.

Today in Global Small Business: Our Prayers for Lindsey Vonn's Full Recovery

©iStock/Giacomomo

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

• Lindsey Vonn’s magnificent comeback is over, in the most devastating way possible.  We wish for her full recovery just as soon as humanly possible.  She dared greatly.
• Nominate someone who you think is a great global leader to earn the Gail Adinamis wegg® Award for Exemplary Global Leadership – deadline 2/20/26.
• Quote of the week:  "Follow your dreams. If you have a goal, and you want to achieve it, then work hard and do everything you can to get there, and one day it will come true." – Lindsey Vonn
• Sounds like a good time to read the book, Daring Greatly.
• Either she would write a winning story for the ages – Lindsey Vonn, one of the greatest of all time with nothing to prove, literally nothing, a ferocious competitor out there because she could, and should, be, vying for one more golden moment on her favorite hill, 41, no ACL in that left knee after a fall in Switzerland days before.  Or – she would crash out.
• Never give up.  Live updates from Milan Cortina 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 February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Create a Moment That People Will Never Forget

©iStock/maisiam

"I want to – more than anything  – to create a moment that people will never forget. Not for me, but for themselves. That's what I remember about great Super Bowl performances in the past, when you really get lost in the moment with your family." – Lady Gaga

Bad Bunny Takes the World's Biggest Stage at Super Bowl 2026 Halftime Show