Outside of a Dog

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." – Groucho Marx

Heal Mind, Body and Soul

AI Prompts to Help Grow Your Global Business

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ChatGPT has quickly become a household name, with businesses of all sizes leveraging the AI-powered tool to automate tasks and advance their workflows. While its adoption has been rapid, understanding the best practices to maximize its benefits takes time.

Here are 13 useful prompts for ChatGPT, along with methods for fine-tuning them to get high-quality results that help grow your business.

Note from Laurel:  I imagine you can use these same prompts with Claude.  Just insert 'global' in some of your prompts to think beyond your own borders. 

Global-e Acquires Passport Shipping (5/26/26)

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Global-e Online Ltd., the platform powering global direct-to-consumer e-commerce, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Passport Global Inc., a US-based cross-border e-commerce logistics and solutions company.

The acquisition expected to deepen Global-e’s standard logistics capabilities and improve the post-purchase experience for merchants and shoppers.

Read the news release.

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.  In April, 2026, we had more than 2,920,000 – yes, 2.9 million – readers visit our blog.

Pope Leo XIV is Safeguarding Humanity

©iStock/Antonio Ernesto Martilotti

Pope Leo XIV’s major new teaching on safeguarding humanity in the age of artificial intelligence is a forward-looking document, arriving at the precipice of what many see as a new technological age that will profoundly reshape human life.

In his letter, the first American pontiff called for putting care for humans at the heart of technological change.

“Magnifica Humanitas,” or “Magnificent Humanity,” is the American pope’s first encyclical, a document that is considered one of the most significant papal teachings. 

May We Always Remember Them

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"Their sacrifice was the ultimate act of love for their country.  May we always remember them.” – Unknown 

With Freedom Comes Responsibility

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility." –  Eleanor Roosevelt 

Decide On Your Waterfront Getaway This Memorial Day Weekend

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If you’re still deciding which waterfront getaway is right for you this Memorial Day weekend, we’re here to help.  From the Pacific to the Atlantic, the Great Lakes to the Gulf, millions of Americans will head to the beach this weekend, the unofficial start of summer.

Here are six of the NY Times' favorite U.S. beaches to explore this weekend, from a pristine white-sand stretch of the Hawaiian coast to gently rolling dunes along Lake Michigan and a wild barrier island in Georgia.

How AI Will Transform Marketing

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Artificial intelligence can automate and streamline many basic marketing functions, but the real opportunity lies in AI's ability to help CMOs reinvent their entire operating model.

• Although AI can automate basic marketing processes, CMOs who focus exclusively on productivity gains are missing the bigger picture.
• Marketing leaders who fully embrace AI can transform their entire operating model in ways that were previously impossible.
• The challenge for CMOs is to sell their marketing vision to the C-suite and to their own teams while forging new partnerships with outside agencies.

Read more here.

Claude For Small Businesses

©iStock/Robert Way

Small businesses make up nearly half the American economy, but they've never had the resources of bigger companies. AI is the first technology that can finally close that gap, which is why Claude is launching Claude for Small Business, alongside training and partnerships to make sure AI shows up for the entrepreneurs and communities who need it most.

Grievances and Drama On the World Stage in Artificial Intelligence

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A jury rejected Elon Musk’s claims against OpenAI, finding that he brought his lawsuit against the company and Chief Executive Sam Altman after the statute of limitations expired.

The verdict brings to a close a case that fixated the tech world on the grievances and drama of some of the most powerful personalities in artificial 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 February 1, 2026, we average more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Today in Global Small Business: A Christmas Carol Can Never Come Too Early

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

• Ferrell, the “Saturday Night Live” alum, appears 5/16/26 with James Austin Johnson as President Trump in a sendup of “A Christmas Carol.” Paul McCartney provides the music.
• Search LIVE goes global.
• Exposing marketing tactics and strategies driving the global growth of nicotine pouches.
• Quote of the week:  “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” – Charles Dickens
• HEINEKEN appoints new global marketing agencies to drive next phase of brand growth.
• If AI can translate instantly, why learn another language?

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 average more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Keep Calm, Head to Key West

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Keep calm, head to Key West." – Unknown

Accelerated Global Growth

©iStock/Robert Way

Roblox is announcing five new roles to position the company for accelerated global growth. John Ciancutti is joining as Roblox’s first Chief Growth Officer (CGO). Also joining are four regional General Managers (GMs): Joost Hagesteijn for Europe, Sunil Rao for India, Diego Dzodan for Latin America, and Mohamed El Sheakh for the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye. 

Read more here. 

Dear U.S.A. Government, Please Return the $160 Billion ASAP

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The government must return about $160 billion, plus interest, collected from duties deemed illegal and potentially more if it loses a related tariff case.

The money is reserved largely for businesses that imported goods, not for American families, though both have faced rising costs as a result of Mr. Trump’s trade war. 

The refund process comes at a difficult political moment for Mr. Trump, who arrived in China on Wednesday, 5/13/26, for high-stakes trade talks. Just last week, a panel of federal judges found that the president broke the law when he replaced his illegal duties with a 10 percent tax on nearly all imports.

Customs officials indicated in a court filing on Tuesday that they had taken steps toward sending billions of dollars in additional, approved refunds to the Treasury Department for payment. The Trump administration has said it is still working to expand its system for processing refund requests.

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.

A Fast-Melting Antarctic Glacier at the End of the Earth

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Ten people.  Eight weeks.  Three-thousand feet to pierce a fast-moving Antarctic glacier.  The hole in the ice at the end of the earth.

How to Prepare, Approach, and Sell Your Products to the World's Leading Retailers with Jim Debetta

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

Up next, 5/13/26 at 11:00 AM CT – free of charge wegginar® with Jim Debetta, President of DeBetta Enterprises, "How to Prepare, Approach, and Sell Your Products to the World's Leading Retailers." 

To learn more and to register visit here.

Today in Global Small Business: How Starbucks Is Turning Around

©iStock/M. Suhail

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

• Here’s what most turnaround stories get wrong: They focus on the result and skip the method.  Not Starbucks.  They did things differently.  See how.
• Key US export controls considerations for global data center projects.
• State of US tariffs (as of 4/8/26).
• Quote of the week:  “Growth doesn't require us to become something new, it requires us to be exceptionally good at who we already are." – Mike Grams, Chief Operations Officer, Starbucks, on the focus of the turnaround
• AI and the self you left behind.
• Advancing communications skills in the age of AI.

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.  In April, 2026, we had more than 2,920,000 – yes, 2.9 million – readers visit our blog.

Everything Has Beauty

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." –  Confucius

Find Your Calm

Global Expansion Simplified

©iStock/peshkov

“Internationalization” can seem an overwhelming concept for SMEs, but the relationship between the two has never been so significant. In the face of worldwide economic disruptions, SMEs’ role in the global trade ecosystem has remained resilient, contributing significantly to economic growth, innovation, and job creation.

In this article, find out:

• How to develop a structured pathway for business growth
• Nine key building blocks for international expansion
• Free whitepaper: Global Expansion Simplified: The Ultimate Guide for SMEs

It's all here.

There Is No Silver Bullet

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President Trump keeps looking for the magic formula that will deliver him victory in Iran.  There is no silver bullet here.

Risks to the Global Supply Chain: Critical Raw Materials

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Critical raw materials are facing rising export restrictions, increasing risks to the global supply chain.

The annual update of the OECD Inventory of Export Restrictions on Critical Raw Materials tracks export restrictions and supports analysis of their impact on availability, prices and global supply chains. 

The OECD continues to monitor these measures over time.

Today in Global Small Business: First Female Trainer to Win the Kentucky Derby 2026!

©iStock/Thomas Kelley

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

• On Saturday, 5/2/26, Golden Tempo sprinted to victory at the 2026 Kentucky Derby, becoming the latest long shot to win. But the impressive win was also a historic one: With Golden Tempo beating out co-favorite Renegade at the finish line, trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win at the Kentucky Derby.
• One of the world's remote nations opens up.
• Spirit Airlines loses its spirit and ceases operations after escalating financial struggles.
• Quote of the week:  “Horse racing is a sport that transcends all boundaries. It's a celebration of speed, strength, and the indomitable spirit of the horse." – Anonymous
• What would the founding fathers say about Trump?  A guest essay by Stacy Schiff.
• AI isn’t a substitute for human skills. It’s a multiplier.

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.  In April, 2026, we had more than 2,920,000 – yes, 2.9 million – readers visit our blog.

Stick With Love

©2026 Laurel J.Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear." – MLK

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.  In April, 2026, we had more than 2,920,000 – yes, 2.9 million – readers visit our blog.

The U.A.E. Pulls Out of OPEC

©iStock/Dmitrili Pichugin

The United Arab Emirates’ (UAEs') decision to withdraw from OPEC marked a new alignment in the Middle East, where the tiny but fantastically wealthy Persian Gulf country becomes more tied to Israel and the U.S. than the Arab world.

The U.A.E. has practical reasons to pull out of OPEC. 

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.  In April, 2026, we had more than 2,920,000 – yes, 2.9 million – readers visit our blog.