We Triple-Dog-Dare You

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

The statement "We triple-dog-dare you to find a better depiction of the holidays" appears to be a reference to the famous movie "A Christmas Story" and its iconic "triple dog dare" scene.

The author of "A Christmas Story," Jean Shepherd (along with Bob Clark and Leigh Brown), was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 26, 1921, but he grew up in Hammond, Indiana.

Photo credit:  @2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.  Taken in Indiana 1/3/25.

Building a Global Economy of the Future

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“In Indiana, we’re focused on building a global economy of the future, and our Hoosier entrepreneurs and small businesses will be critical to advancing future-focused innovations and solutions,” said Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg. “Indiana ranks in the top 15 states for exporting, and the IN-STEP program aims to build on this momentum, helping more Hoosier small businesses reach customers in international markets and find success in the global economy.”

Learn more about how the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) secured $300,000 in competitive grant funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to support the export activities of Hoosier small businesses through the Indiana State Trade and Export Promotion (IN-STEP) grant program.

Today in Global Small Business: Indiana, the New Startup Capital

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

• Indiana, the land of startups.  Yes, you read that right.
• Tech workers want to stay home, especially in San Francisco.
• Governments of the United States of America and the 17 partner economies on the occasion of the Supply Chain Ministerial Forum says, "The shocks to global supply chains from pandemics, wars and conflicts, extreme climate impacts, and natural disasters have put in stark relief the urgent need to further strengthen supply chains, to work to reduce and end near-term disruptions, and to build long-term resilience.  This is a global challenge we intend to approach resolutely and cooperatively."
• Quote of the week:  "My father… removed from Kentucky to… Indiana, in my eighth year… It was a wild region, with many bears and other wild animals still in the woods. There I grew up… Of course when I came of age, I did not know much. Still somehow, I could read, write, and cipher… but that was all." – Abraham Lincoln
• A world that needs trade and aid.
• How SMEs can implement sustainability measures.

Some Chocolates Need to be Discovered: Donaldson's Is One of Them

I made a lovely road trip to Lexington, Kentucky and this is the little gem I discovered on my way back home:  Donaldson's Finer Chocolates -- around since 1966.  If you are traveling from Kentucky through Indiana (I-65) to Chicago, as I was, you never want to miss it.  The owner, George, is shown above.  When I asked to take his photo, George said, "If you don't want me to break your camera."

Needless to say, Donaldson's Finer Chocolates "are made with fresh creamery butter, rich whole milk, pure cane sugar, top quality chocolate and a lot of Hoosier pride.  It’s a difference you’ll taste immediately and never forget!"

Photos:  @2018 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.