Make China Great Again (MCGA)

©iStock/rudall30

President Trump is hosting China's President Xi Jinping at the White House for a summit featuring three hours of meetings and elaborate ceremony, yet it may yield little progress on the issues dividing the two countries. 

On one side stands MAGA (Make America Great Again); on the other, what might be called MCGA (Make China Great Again), two rival national ambitions competing in the most cordial of manners.

Is the Federal Government Limiting Growth Opportunities for Genuine Small Businesses?

©iStock/boggy22

Small businesses are used to competing against larger companies. They do it every day. But they should not have to compete against those same companies for contracts specifically intended for small businesses.

That could happen under a new rule proposed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The proposal would significantly change the standards used to determine which companies qualify as small businesses. In many industries, companies considered mid-sized today would become small businesses tomorrow.

Is the federal government inadvertently limiting growth opportunities for genuine small businesses?

Innovation Without Limits

©iStock/KanawatTH

In Michigan, 75-year-old General Fasteners has watched its business grow rapidly, covering more ground in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Now branded as GF, the company needed to update its cybersecurity infrastructure to fit its new global footprint and stay ahead of modern threats; ultimately, it adopted platformization as a long-term, scalable solution. 

How to adopt a growth mindset and purposefully choose the right mix of solutions to meet our customer's needs – now and for the future – and unlock innovation.  Discover innovation without limits.

Who Is Writing the Rules on AI?

©iStock/nicoletaionescu

Who is writing the rules on AI?

With President Trump downplaying the risk of AI spiraling out of control, Times Opinion asked six people – including a tech founder, a former OpenAI board member, a former national security adviser, and a constitutional lawyer – to fill the gap.

Here's what they proposed.

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!

Today in Global Small Business: TradeStats Express by State (USA)

©iStock/chuanchai

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

• Explore trade by state, partner, and products – TradeStats Express. 
• International Trade (U.S. Census Bureau) is the official source for U.S. export and import statistics and responsible for issuing regulations governing the reporting of all export shipments from the United States.
• Register for the Global Small Business Forum 10/23 at 9:00 AM CT to learn about AI-powered exports and ecommerce. Discover how to create extra value at your global small business (free of charge). Sign up here. I [Laurel Delaney] will be there!
• Quote of the week:  "The global trading system is in the midst of the most severe period of disruption in 80 years, according to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
• Navigate the economics of AI (Deloitte).
• U.S. pressures Mexico to box out China’s AI hardware exports.

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!     

Goodwill Cannot Undersell or Destroy

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Goodwill is the only asset that competition cannot undersell or destroy." – Marshall Field

Living Her Best Life

©iStock/Elena Zolotova

Forever Twiggy.  The face of London in the 1960s is living her best life at the age of 77.  

The World's Oldest Hotel

©iStock/takafumi99

In 2011, the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan (Japanese: 西山温泉慶雲館) was recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest hotel in the world despite the hotel facilities on site being only a few decades old.

Keiunkan lies at the foot of the Akaishi Mountains. Since its founding, the onsen has had all its hot water sourced directly from the local Hakuho Springs.

Efficiency Over Scale

©iStock/Sandwish

In 2026, SMEs are prioritizing efficiency over scale. Growth is no longer about expanding as quickly as possible, it's about expanding intelligently.

Read how SMEs are planning for growth in 2026 (despite uncertainty).

Anthropic Co-Founder and CEO Dario Amodei: We Must Pace the Frontier

©iStock/Andrey Suslov

On Saturday, September 12, 2026, Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei published a major 3,800-word essay titled "We Must Pace the Frontier." In the post, he explicitly called for the artificial intelligence (AI)  industry to deliberately slow down the pace of improving AI model capabilities so that safety measures have time to catch up. 

Today in Global Small Business: wegg® Young Professional Board (YPB) Event at Uvae in Chicago 9/23/26

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

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

• Join the wegg® Young Professional Board event on Wednesday, September 23 at 6 PM CT in Chicago.  To learn more and to buy a ticket, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/young-professional-board/  
• "What-me-worry?" says Trump about AI.  Government paralysis.
• No, we aren’t doomed [on AI], but the models are advancing more quickly than our understanding of them.
• Quote of the week: “AI isn't the solution to everything, but even amidst this challenging environment, I hope our community can hold together... [T]axing imports of solar panels, wind turbines, and other power-generation and -distribution equipment will diminish the ability to provide power to U.S. data centers," wrote AI expert Andrew Ng regarding how infrastructure tariffs threaten AI progress.
• Tax planning essentials for small businesses entering global markets.
• How SMEs are navigating growth, tariffs and AI (DHL findings).

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!     

Life Finds a Way

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Life finds a way" originates from the character Dr. Ian Malcolm in Michael Crichton's novel Jurassic Park and its 1993 film adaptation.

Reflecting on 9/11

Surprise and Shine: Apple's New iPhone Duo

©2026 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

A new era unfolded at Apple on Wednesday with its new CEO unveiling an iPhone the size of a passport that, well, folds.

The device, called iPhone Duo, represents the most radical physical change to the iconic iPhone since Apple introduced the minimalist glass slab to the world nearly 20 years ago, kicking off the smartphone era.

The iPhone Duo opens like a book, with a 5.4-inch outer screen when folded, and a 7.6-inch internal screen when unfolded. It will start at $1,999 — $700 more than the entry-level iPhone 18 Pro, which the company also announced on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. It will be available starting October 23.

Read the full story here.

wegg® Young Professional Board (YPB) Uvae Event 9/23 in Chicago!

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

Hit those drums! 🥁 Today Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® (wegg®) officially launched its new wegg® Young Professional Board – and their first official program under their watch. 

The wegg YPB helps build wegg®'s brand awareness through advocacy, fundraising, event planning, and networking in support of wegg's mission.

Join Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® on September 23rd, 6–8 PM CT, for a cozy evening in Andersonville at Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar – one of Chicago's most beloved wine destinations. Enjoy networking, wine, and delicious bites (cheese & charcuterie to mini lobster cakes and meatballs), plus a conversation with Uvae owner, sommelier, and entrepreneur Lindsey Anderson-Perez.

Proceeds benefit wegg®'s mission to help women business owners expand their enterprises internationally. Event is powered by Wintrust Bank Chicago

Event Co-Chairs: Isabella Kifer and Alexandria Kifer

Learn more and register:

https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/young-professional-board/ (scroll to the bottom to see all YPB members)

Only 30 seats available – register early to reserve your spot. I [Laurel Delaney] will see you there!

The World Trade Center Today Is Now a Part of Daily Life

©iStock/Jehan-Jehan

25 years after the September 11th attacks, lower Manhattan is thriving.  Its population has tripled while media and tech firms have moved in, making the Financial District the envy of other U.S. downtowns.

In 2001, lower Manhattan was shattered. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks killed close to 3,000 people and reduced the World Trade Center to rubble. The Twin Towers’ shocking collapse inflicted such trauma that many wondered if the Financial District could ever recover.

Now we approach the 25th anniversary of this tragic event.  The World Trade Center today is now a part of daily life.

Today in Global Small Business: Reset on Labor Day 2026

©iStock/Rowr

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

• Labor Day was built so you can rest.  Why don't you?  Have a good one everyone 😊!
• Treat yourself to a spa on Labor Day 2026.
• Get out from your mobile screen and start connecting with your loved ones this Labor Day 2026.
• Quote of the week:  Gloria Steinem does not have a specific quote dedicated directly to the holiday of Labor Day, but her life's work focused heavily on redefining labor, challenging workplace inequality, and recognizing invisible work.  After her death on 9/2/26, may she finally RIP.
• The end of summer can bring new ideas to your business.
• This Labor Day, take inspiration from the holiday’s original meaning and inject fun with celebration ideas just right for the office.

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!     

I Love the Region Around Lake Geneva

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I love the region around Lake Geneva. The landscape is beautiful, very peaceful, and such a nice place to relax and spend time outdoors. It's always a pleasure to come back home." – Stan Wawrinka

Fierce Feminist Gloria Steinem Dies at 92

©iStock/klyaksun

Gloria Steinem was the personification of the feminist movement, an American journalist and a social movement activist.  She died Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 92.

Learn about the life she lived here.

The US Dollar's Status As the World's Reserve Currency

©iStock/breeze393

Is the world giving up on the US dollar?  America’s national debt recently hit a new milestone of $40 trillion. It is estimated that interest payments on the national debt are now the second largest expense in the US government budget, trailing only social security. 

How was the US able to borrow so much and for so long? 

One answer, according Harvard economist Kenneth Rogoff, is the US dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency.

A Global Sell-Off in Government Bonds Pushes Borrowing Costs in Some of the World's Largest Economies

©iStock/Tatsuya Ozaki

A global sell-off in government bonds intensified on Tuesday (9/1/26), pushing borrowing costs in some of the world’s largest economies to the highest levels in decades. The moves threaten to ripple through a wide range of debt, including business loans and mortgages for already-stretched consumers.

A combination of factors are prompting investors to demand higher returns to hold government debt: a flood of borrowing by the world’s richest nations, expanding budget deficits, persistent inflation and few signs that countries are able or willing to take steps to improve these conditions.

Read the entire article here.

Growing Global Markets for Women’s Handmade Craft With Susan Hull Walker (9/2/26)

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

Have you ever wondered how to build a global brand without sacrificing authenticity; why purpose-driven businesses have a competitive advantage; and the importance of trust-based partnerships in global business?

Then this is the wegginar® for you.

Susan Hull Walker, Founder and Creative Director, Ibu Movement, will present, "Growing Global Markets for Women’s Handmade Craft," and will discuss all of the above and more.  

To learn more and to register free of charge thanks to wegg's sponsors, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/08/18/growing-global-markets-for-womens-handmade-craft/.

Discover practical strategies for scaling a mission-led business and how women entrepreneurs are reshaping the future of luxury.

Today in Global Small Business: Women-led MSMEs Need Stronger Links to Scale Up

©iStock/MDV Edwards

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

• Women-led micro, small and medium enterprises [in the Philippines] need stronger links to buyers and corporate supply chains if they are to move beyond small-scale operations and compete in larger markets, business leaders said.
• United Airlines to add 10 new international routes starting next year.  See where.
• Special report:  2026 Global Trade Report.
• Quote of the week: “The challenge is not just to float with the current of globalization, but to change its direction." – Mary Robinson
• Tengen has expanded its retail and logistics consumables operations into new verticals as it transforms into a one-stop global operation.
• UPS announced plans to invest $2 billion in its international, healthcare and supply chain solutions businesses through 2028 (requires subscription).

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!     

Why Did I Ever Leave?

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Every time I'm in Chicago I think, 'Why did I ever leave?' This is the greatest city in the world." – Stephen Colbert, comedian and writer

In Loving Memory of Dolly Parton: Her Greatest Hits

Tariff Barriers Cannot Solve Productivity Problems

©iStock/Midnight Studio

Chinese experts on Tuesday [8/25/26] urged the US to recognize the basic economic reality that tariff barriers cannot solve its productivity problems and to allow US companies to share in the opportunities created by China's manufacturing development. 

They said the US' sizable trade deficits with multiple major trading partners should prompt Washington to recognize that the problem lies at home, rather than continue hyping the so-called issue of Chinese "overcapacity."

A Long Rest Stop for the Global Music Legend Dolly Parton

©iStock/fotoguy22

In true Dolly fashion, the country music legend made her final appearance with fans not at a black-tie gala but at a rest stop off I-65 in Tennessee. Not any rest stop, it's Dolly's very own rest [truck/travel] stop and one of her very last business ventures. 

Dolly Parton died Tuesday, August 25, 2026 at the age of 80.  Her last public appearance was at 3686 Pulaski Highway, just off I-65, at a Tennessee truck stop that was being christened in her honor. “I could not be prouder,” Parton said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, before explaining one of the reasons she wanted to lend her name to the venture. “I’ve spent my whole life traveling down the road.” 

She went on further to say, “Good food, real rest, a little music, and people who are genuinely glad you stopped in,” she told the crowd. “That’s what the road has always deserved, and that is what you will find here. Welcome home.”

Home she is. May she rest in peace.

New Sanctions Against Iran Aim to Cut the Country Off From the Global Economy

©wildpixel

The Trump administration unveiled a series of new sanctions against Iran Monday, aiming to cut the country off from the global economy and block its sources of revenue.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined measures that extend beyond Iran’s borders to penalize foreign banks, companies, and countries that conduct specific business with Iran.

Bessent says [8/24/26], "Any entity that facilitates money laundering on behalf of Iran will be removed from the U.S. dollar system. The clock just started ticking."

Today in Global Small Business: What You Need to Know About the Canada-U.S. Trade War

©iStock/wildpixel

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

• Canada suspended trade negotiations, triggering President Trump’s 50 percent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods. Mark Carney said he would retaliate “dollar for dollar.”
• The lists of hundreds of goods from Canada subject to new 50 percent tariffs from the United States are long and seemingly organized at random.
• U.S., Canada spiral toward a trade war.
• Quote of the week: “We can chart a new course by building Canada strong at home and diversifying our trading relationships abroad." – Prime Minister Carney of Canada
• As Canada readies retaliatory tariffs, Mark Carney says his nation is 'at war' with U.S.
• Canada says it has come under economic attack from the U.S.

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!    

It Just Blooms

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms." – Zen Shin [Koshin Ogui]

EXIM Hitting the Road with Exporting and Business Growth Resources

©iStock/bankrx

The EXIM Roadshow will help companies learn how to take advantage of the power of exporting – allowing them to further build on their success, reach new markets and bring lasting economic benefits throughout a state.

The EXIM Roadshow will focus on three areas:

1. Financing options for businesses and customers to assist with expansion projects
2. Accessing local, state and national resources for international trade and business growth
3. Strengthening resources for the small business ecosystem through evolving partnerships

Learn about the Kansas EXIM Roadshow here.

Taylor Swift Break

Taylor Swift is widely considered the top contemporary singer and original songwriter dominating the music world right now. 

The Canada Booze Ban Is a Sore Point in Trade Talks

©iStock/Stockah

California Merlots, Kentucky bourbons and Tennessee whiskeys are collecting dust in Canada as alcohol becomes a high-profile hostage of trade tensions with the U.S.  What a mess.

After President Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods last year, Canada’s provincial leaders hit back. The majority of provinces exercised their power over the distribution and sale of alcohol to pull U.S.-made wine, spirits and beer from most store shelves and stopped placing new orders.

The stakes for U.S. alcohol producers are high.  Small businesses are especially vulnerable and caught in the crossfire.

Find out why.

From Immigrant to Old Navy Co-Founder: Jenny J. Ming Shares Her Story

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

Join Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® for a conversation with Jenny J. Ming, Public Company Director, Former Rothy's CEO, and Old Navy Founding President on Wednesday, August 19 at 11 AM CT – LIVE.

To register and to learn more, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/07/01/from-immigrant-to-old-navy-co-founder-building-a-life-that-matters/.

Today in Global Small Business: Storms Battering the Midwest

©iStock/Nicola Patterson

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

• At least eight people have died from a storm system that has upended the Midwest and portions of the Mid-Atlantic over the past week, displacing people in several states and cutting power to hundreds of thousands of homes.
• Tropical storm Lala is sending drenching rain and winds across Hawaii.
• The flooding continued in Central Indiana Aug. 15 as water from days of rain continues to make its way downstream into Indianapolis.
• Quote of the week: “This is the moment when we must come together to save this planet. Let us resolve that we will not leave our children a world where the oceans rise and famine spreads and terrible storms devastate our lands." – Barack Obama
• Over 2,300 customers are without power in Franklin County (Columbus, OH) following another round of severe weather over the weekend.
• Why are the same [Chicago] suburbs being hit by tornadoes and storms? Meteorologist explains.

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!    

I Adore Chicago

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I adore Chicago.  It is the pulse of America." –  Sarah Bernhardt

Cross-Border Ambition Is Becoming Mainstream

©iStock/Yellow duck

Geographic expansion is now the clearest growth route for professional services firms.  But they are doing it more selectively, with tighter control of risk, talent and cash. That is why geographic expansion has become the leading model. It offers access to new clients, new talent pools and new revenue lines, without forcing a fundamental change in the business model.

And it's not a niche strategy.  Cross-border ambition is becoming mainstream.

Are We Being Kept In the Dark?

©iStock/Roman Tiraspolsky

The United States does not have a king. In a representative democracy, the people must have confidence in the health of their leader, and in the leader’s capacity to guide the nation. Are we being kept in the dark on President Trump's health?

This is a Guest Essay for the NY Times by Jonathan Reiner, who is the co-author of the book “Heart: An American Medical Odyssey” alongside Mr. Cheney and Liz Cheney. The book details the former vice president’s struggle with heart disease.  Dr. Reiner is also a professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University.

Is AI Leadership Drift Stalling Your Progress?

©iStock/wildpixel

Organizations often blame employees when AI adoption stalls, assuming resistance stems from fear or lack of skills. Research across 23 interviews and three leadership workshops in 11 European IT services firms points to a different obstacle: senior leaders. 

Executives often recognize privately that AI requires fundamental changes to pricing, staffing, and business models, yet abandon those positions during group discussions. The authors call this pattern “AI leadership drift,” where reassuring narratives replace difficult strategic decisions. 

To counter it, leaders should ground discussions in their own data rather than industry hype, study how comparable firms are responding to AI, tie every AI initiative to a strategic question with a review date, and assign someone responsibility for keeping uncomfortable issues on the leadership agenda.

Read the entire article here.

The Most Beautiful 12 Adagios in Rachmaninoff Style

Today in Global Small Business: Importers of Record Have Received More Than $100 billion From Tariff Refunds

©iStock/jaouad.K

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

• Importers of record have received more than $100 billion from tariff refunds (CBS News 24/7 – video).
• Warren presses U.S. companies to share billions in tariff refunds with customers.
• Trump administration pays back $100 billion in 'Liberation Day' tariffs to businesses.
• Quote of the week: “While tariffs are a tax on trade that businesses pay upfront, it's actually the consumer who ends up feeling it in their wallets." – inFlow
• Small businesses filed a pair of lawsuits in the US Court of International Trade accusing President Donald Trump and US officials of unlawfully using Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to replace earlier tariffs struck down by the US Supreme Court.
• In the old days, this would be considered criminal.  Now it will be looked upon as purely insane.

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!    

Practicing Gratitude

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude." – Brene Brown

Are You Defaulting to Vague Positivity Instead of Honest Specificity?

©iStock/oatawa

Consider this: Find one place in your professional life – a team update, a newsletter, a public statement – where you’ve been relying on vague positivity instead of clear, candid detail. Rewrite it with specific, honest information. Then choose one concrete action you want your audience to be able to take afterward. That combination of clarity plus a next step is what creates trust that lasts when things get difficult.

Where is this coming from?  Find out here.

August 2026 Global Trade, Customs and Shipping Policy Update for Exporters

©iStock/thitivong

This website is designed as a quick-reference compliance resource for monthly planning. If your business trades across multiple markets, use it to coordinate procurement, pricing, logistics, customs brokerage, and customer communication in one place. 

The overview focuses on official measures that are effective or applicable in August 2026, while also flagging items that should not be mistaken for August-start rules.

Are You Chasing a Future That Isn't Actually Being Built?

©iStock/quantic69

Love this Opinion Guest Essay by Julie Averill, a former chief information officer of Lululemon. 

Averill says, "Companies these days are quick to stick “A.I.” in news releases, in earnings calls, in product names, in job postings and in titles at the top of their organizations. The real question is what strategy sits behind the abbreviation. A title costs nothing, but it doesn’t produce anything, either."

And she says that's a problem.  

When companies mistake an announcement for a strategy, they spend real money — and sometimes cut real jobs – chasing a future that isn’t actually being built. And in doing so, they’re persuading Americans to reject a powerful innovation that could do so much good for all of us.

Company leaders think A.I. is magic.  But Averill says the way out of this is not more hype. It’s honesty.

Read Averill's entire Opinion Guest Essay for the NY Times here.

wegg® showcase with Jacquie Cleary at Atlas (August, 2026)

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global.  All rights reserved.

The latest wegg® showcase interview (8/3/26) with Jacquie Cleary, Founder and CEO, Atlas, Making "What Ifs?" Possible for Her Clients and Employees.

Today in Global Small Business: Global Engagement At Schools

©iStock/Prostock-Studio

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

• Global entrepreneurship program (global engagement) – UC Santa Cruz
• Global entrepreneurship program – Gies College of Business
• Global entrepreneurship program – Penn GSE
• Quote of the week: “Entrepreneurship is neither a science nor an art. It is a practice.” – Peter Drucker
• Global entrepreneurship program – Babson Global
• Global entrepreneurship program – Stanford University

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!   

The Secret to Getting Ahead

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." – Mark Twain

Generative AI Could Boost Creativity, But Only For Some

©iStock/Volodymyr Kryshtal

The new data, in “How and For Whom Using Generative AI Affects Creativity: A Field Experiment,” was recently published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. For the study, the researchers conducted an experiment to find out exactly who is getting a creative boost from the technology and why. 

Some are getting it but there's a catch.

90% of U.S. Tariffs Are Paid For by Importers or Consumers

©iStock/Yau Ming Low

Robert Krol is an emeritus professor of economics at California State University, Northridge/InsideSources.

He writes, "Despite the president’s claim that foreign exporters are paying the tariffs, research shows that at least 90% of U.S. tariffs are paid for by importers or consumers. The tariff bill has tripled over the last year for these smaller businesses. This results in a tariff bill that is $25,000 higher per month for the average small- and medium-size business."

Here he talks more about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the president's decision to not extend it, and the impact on small- and medium-size businesses. 

Success On Her Terms (SoHT) with Laura Neiman (8/11/26)

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

"Success On Her Terms" (SoHT) is a dynamic four-part series presented by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® and in collaboration with Merrill Lynch's Baldwin Marcovici Group.  This is the 4th installment of a four-part series.

Loving this series? Even better news – Season 2, a brand-new 4-part series, launches this November. Want first access when registration opens?  Drop a note to me (main blog page to the right) and I'll make sure you're first to know.

SoHT is designed to spotlight high-potential, growth-stage women entrepreneurs who share their personal journeys and offer actionable insights on how to align purpose, people, and profit while building and scaling a business.

Join us for the virtual *4th session* – Ensuring Your Legacy Evolves With You – on Tuesday, August 11th at 11 AM CT with Laura Neiman, President and CEO of Neiman Brothers Company, Inc., a manufacturer, importer and distributor of food products.

Laura Neiman represents the third generation of her family who is dedicated to growing and continuing the 100+ year old business that manufactures, processes and distributes a full line of ingredients. She has been instrumental in driving the development and expansion into complementary categories as she has cultivated new opportunities in the ever-changing food industry.

What's in it for you?

📌 Walk away with one concrete takeaway: how to build a business – and a legacy – that keeps evolving instead of standing still.

To learn more and to register (free of charge) for Program 4 in this exciting series, visit:

https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/programs/success-on-her-terms/ 

It's a LIVE event and moderated by Alexandra Didac, CPWA®, CRPC™, CEPA®, whose wealth planning expertise will shape a conversation on what "legacy" really means for a growing business.

See you there!

It's Never Too Late to Change the Playbook For Your Image

©iStock/tupungato

Bernard Arnault has spent decades carefully cultivating the image of some of the world’s most sought after brands, from Louis Vuitton to Dior. Now the LVMH chief is changing tactics when it comes to his own. 

The billionaire published an acerbic open letter attacking one of France’s top newspapers on Sunday, taking aim at a six-part examination of his political connections, media ownership and the question of who will eventually succeed him at the top of his luxury empire. On Monday, the 77-year-old took to social-media platform X for the first time to amplify his uncharacteristic missive.

The new approach comes as Arnault has grown increasingly frustrated with how he and his family are being portrayed.  

Admirers credit Arnault with turning brands such as Louis Vuitton and Dior into global powerhouses and helping establish France as the dominant force in the luxury industry. As such, he has the right to exercise control over the use of his image and how he is portrayed.

Today in Global Small Business: Trump's Obsession With More and More Tariffs

©iStock/gguy44

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

• Tariffs are an obsession for President Trump, much as climate was for the Biden Administration. How else to explain his imposition of yet another round of border taxes three months before the November election despite their political unpopularity and economic harm?
• ChatGPT for small businesses.
• Latest tariff update(s) from Global-e.
• Quote of the week:  “The European Union questioned the new tariff, with its foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas calling it a “negative surprise” and rejecting the forced labor claims as unfounded."
• How people are really using AI in 2026 (HBR).
• What's going to happen with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement?

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