Today in Global Small Business: The Future of the Business World

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

• Wharton Global Youth Program members talk about the future of the business world.
• Taking a leap into entrepreneurship. 
• How to seamlessly set up a successful global online D2C business.
• Quote of the week: "Youth is the hope of our future" – Jose Rizal
• Recent trade gap driven by increased imports.
• How not to lose your mind over translation.

It's Never Just a Translation

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Timekettle believes that user experience is the core of every consumer product and that every communication is an opportunity to connect and establish a relationship with others. Driven by innovation in design and technology in both software and hardware, Timekettle gives users the tools to expand their opportunities that were once out of reach.

It's never just a translation.  It's about the relationship and the connection.

Learn more about the WT2 Plus Translator Earbuds and ZERO Translator. These products are currently marketed and sold in more than 120 countries and regions under the Timekettle brand.  They are the winner of over a dozen international design awards, such as the iF Award, Japan Good Design Award, and CES Innovation Award. 

How to Support Bilingual Learning Without a Screen for Kids Aged 1-10

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How do you easily teach your child a new language without having them be in front of a smartphone screen or tablet app?

Simply turn on the speaker-equipped (adjustable volume) Habbi Habbi wand and tap - anywhere, on any page, in any of the supported books for a translation. Bingo.  Every inch is interactive, tappable - text, image, even white space!   Kids love that there is instant feedback.

And there's more.  Parents don’t need to be native speakers to support bilingual learning. 

The books are available in Spanish and Simplified Chinese and are intended for children between 1 and 10.

To learn more visit:  Habbihabbi.com

Turning Global Virality Into a Science

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Thanks to social media, a message can go global in an instant.  Meet the new global mover and shaker on the block:  BuzzFeed.  According to Slate, "BuzzFeed had 85 million visitors, three times more than just a year ago; by next year, it expects to become one of the most popular sites in the world."

What does that mean for everyone?

Judging by the spectacular results, BuzzFeed has turned “virality” into a science: Thanks to advanced analytics and tools of Big Data, they know exactly what needs to be said—and how—to get the story shared by most people. Its approach is best described as Taylorism of the viral: Just like Frederick Taylor knew how to design the factory floor to maximize efficiency, BuzzFeed knows how to design its articles to produce most clicks and shares. The content of the article is secondary to its viral performance.

Whether you agree or disagree, the article is worth a read.

Read the entire article:  Duolingo, BuzzFeed partnership:  The translation project is terrible for foreign news

The Translation Quoting Process

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International business is hardly an instant gratification activity. Many firms are often in contact with prospective clients for years before they are privileged with their patronage.

Find out more here.