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. 

See the Sunset

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"That was her magic – she could still see the sunset, even on the darkest days.” – Atticus 

EXIM Bank's Key Priorities: U.S. Small Businesses and Exporters

©iStock/klenger

EXIM equips American exporters with the financing tools necessary to compete for global sales. Whether you need protection from commercial or political risks, access to cash flow, or help with credit terms, EXIM has you covered.

Are you ready to begin your export journey?  Then explore EXIM's offerings.

Space X, The World's Largest IPO Is Coming Up. Champagne's On Ice – Now What?

©iStock/Walter Cicchetti

SpaceX, the rocket maker and artificial intelligence company, set a price for its initial public offering on Wednesday of $135, which would value it at $1.77 trillion and crown it the largest I.P.O. ever – which is poised to exceed the 2019 initial public offering of Saudi Aramco in both valuation and money raised.

At that price, SpaceX would raise $74.4 billion from the offering, and its valuation would be more than 40 percent higher than the $1.25 trillion that it valued itself at in February.

Champagne's on ice – now what?

If you're sitting on a windfall from today's historic SpaceX IPO filing, first: congratulations. Second: we have a thought.

Put some of that rocket fuel to work for women.

Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global (wegg®) educates women business owners worldwide on how to take their companies global – because economic opportunity shouldn't stop at any border.

A gift to wegg® (a nonprofit organization) is the kind of investment that pays forward. Smart money knows that.

👉 Donate at wegg®:  https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/donate/

Expand Your Business Reach Through Smart Translation With Susanne Evens (wegginar® 6/3/26)

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

What makes an overseas visitor buy when they visit your website? Does your messaging resonate across cultures?  Is your design offering a seamless experience for your international customers?  Find out the answers to all these questions and more at Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global's upcoming wegginar® with Susanne Evens, Founder & CEO, AAA Translation on Wednesday, June 3rd at 11 AM CT (LIVE).

Susanne will be discussing – Going Global:  How Smart Translation Expands Your Business Reach

To learn more (Susanne's bio and expected takeaways) and to register (free of charge thanks to wegg's generous sponsors), visit:  https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/05/13/going-global-how-smart-translation-expands-your-business-reach/.

McDonald's Accelerates Its Global Expansion

©iStock/spflaum1

International growth has become a strategic priority for McDonald’s, especially in regions where the brand’s penetration still has room for expansion.

That said, McDonald’s intensified its global growth strategy in 2025 with the opening of nearly 2,300 new restaurants, strengthening its international presence and moving closer to its ambitious goal of reaching 50,000 locations worldwide by 2027.  

Find out what this global growth does for McDonald's.

Today in Global Small Business: World's Most Admired Man's Image Is Cracking

©iStock/guru86

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

• Bill Gates spent years crafting his image.  Now it's cracking.
• What to pay attention to: Trump hits the stalemate phase of his international interventions, and it stings.
• What are frontier markets – and what do they matter for the global economy.
• Quote of the week:  “It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure." – Bill Gates
• A good data center by the International Trade Administration – from automotive industry to aluminum to energy.  Check it out. 
• Chief economists' outlook: May, 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 average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.