Today in Global Small Business: The Origin of a Great Global Gospel Classic

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

• The origin of a [great global] gospel classic by Robert Marovich and published in the 9/10/22 print edition of the Wall Street Journal.  Mr. Marovich writes that ninety years ago, the song ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ emerged from personal tragedy to become a beloved anthem.
• TikTok is upending the music industry.
• Bad Bunny and the political history of reggaeton.  The genre is the product of migration, rebirth, and the struggle to be heard.
• Quote of the week: "Every nation, every human being that came across earth had a song and sang in some way to their God." – Thomas A. Dorsey
• Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as TEMS, isn’t about fitting in — she’s in her own lane moving at her own pace and inspiring girls in Africa and around the world. The Nigerian artist’s rise to fame is proof anything's possible if you keep your eyes on the prize.
• Going international is no small thing.  SB19 Is eyeing the global-pop market and bringing the Philippines along.

Today in Global Small Business: Discover the Design of Japanese Toilets

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

• Global regulators say tougher bank rules do not curb small business lending.
• Quote of the week: “Let us find out what is desperately needed, although people may not know it, let us find out what will beautify the world, although people may not know it, then let's learn and learn and teach ourselves and support each other in doing that until we lose ourselves in those tasks." – 20th century inventor Edwin Land
• On Instagram @toilets_a_go_go, Hidefumi Nakamura documents the astounding breadth of public-toilet design in Japan.  International travel exposes you to different cultures yet even doing your routine daily activities can broaden your horizons :-).
• Global finance leaders meeting in Japan recently said they were increasingly worried that the trade dispute between the United States and China, which shows no signs of abating, could propel the world economy into a crisis.
• The retailer Ulta Beauty will be going international in order to "establish Ulta Beauty as a successful global brand," CEO Mary Dillon said in a statement. The first step of that process is launching operations in Canada, according to Dillon.
• President Donald Trump dangled the prospect of renewing his tariff threat against Mexico if the U.S. ally doesn't cooperate on border issues, while some of his Democratic challengers for the White House said the last-minute deal to avert trade penalties was overblown.

Techies in Chicago Prepare For Global Expansion

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There are a number of challenges that tech companies face when trying to break into international markets. Developing a strategy to understand what steps to take, what risks to anticipate and what obstacles to prepare for are essential for global expansion.

Join the panel discussion:

Going International: Expanding Into the Global Market
Tuesday, May 12th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Central at TechNexus
20 N. Wacker Dr., 12th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
Sponsored by IDA Ireland

For more information and to register, visit here.
Download the event flyer.

Note:  I am trying to stop in at this event.