Saturday, August 24, 2024

Greatest Game in the World

©2024 Laurel J, Delaney.  All rights reserved.
"Baseball is the greatest game in the world, no doubt about it." – Harry Caray

Friday, August 23, 2024

SMEs Face Unique Cross-Border Compliance Hurdles

©iStock/Maximusnd
Unlike their larger counterparts, SMEs often lack dedicated tax departments or adequate resources to devote to compliance efforts. Many rely on a single financial professional or a small team to handle all aspects of their finances, including increasingly complex international tax obligations. 

The bottom line is that cross-border compliance complexity impacts SME's decision to enter new markets due to customs duty and import calculations, HS and tariff code classification, trade restrictions and shipping complexities, to name just a few of the challenges.

Learn more about how SMEs face unique cross-border compliance hurdles.

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Grab Your Place at the 9th Annual Global Small Business Forum Held in Chicago 10/18/24

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
Get ready for the biggest and best 9th Annual Global Small Business Forum, "Global Success Within Reach – The Bigger Picture," held in Chicago on Friday, October 18th from 8:00-11:30 AM CT.  Hear from a cast of experienced speakers who know the ins and outs to global expansion.

Forum is sponsored by Associated Bank and hosted by Foley & Lardner.  

To learn more and to register, visit:  https://globalsmallbusinessforum.com/.  I [Laurel Delaney] hope to see you there!

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Hello Export Impact

©iStock/CROCOTHERY
Hello "Export Impact,” a new platform where experts dive into the impactful work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service. This platform aims to keep you informed and engaged while you navigate the world of agricultural exports.

Check it out!  

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Chicago: The Greatest City in the World Welcomes the DNC 2024

©iStock/Kelly Liu
Chicago is proud to welcome the 2024 Democratic National Convention to one of the greatest cities in the world. 

Named the Best Big City in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler readers for a record-breaking seven consecutive years, Chicago is home to award-winning restaurants, iconic attractions, stunning outdoor spaces, a rich cultural scene, vibrant neighborhoods, and a welcoming and inclusive spirit. I [Laurel Delaney] know, because I am a native of Chicago.

Learn more about the 2024 DNC in Chicago, including the latest updates, resources for delegates and media, tips for planning your visit, and more.

Monday, August 19, 2024

Today in Global Small Business: Can Saudi Arabia Buy the World?

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

  • In the months before Mohammed bin Salman celebrated his 30th birthday nearly a decade ago, the yet-to-be anointed Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia was gifted a vital key to unlocking the kingdom's future: full purview of its Public Investment Fund.  Is he on a mission to buy the world?
  • International SEO best practices in 2024.
  • Quote of the week:  "We are a G20 country. One of the biggest world economies. We're in the middle of three continents. Changing Saudi Arabia for the better means helping the region and changing the world. So this is what we are trying to do here. And we hope we get support from everyone." – Mohammad bin Salman
  • International students hone their language entrepreneurial skills.
  • U.S. SBA administrator announces agreement with India to promote American small businesses globally.
  • Check out the Pharr Global Business Hub, which officially opened its doors in a grand event attended by prominent local, state, and federal figures in TX.

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Winter Is On My Head

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
"Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart." – Victor Hugo.

Friday, August 16, 2024

Here's Why Japan Could Be a Market For You

©iStock/SeanPavonePhoto
Japan offers a solid population of middle-class consumers with high disposable incomes and a keen interest in new technologies, which makes it ideal for international businesses that offer premium goods, services or innovative digital solutions.

As the he fourth-largest economy in the world after the United States, China and Germany, Japan offers companies eyeing expansion an exciting opportunity to grow their business in a truly unique market.

Interested?  To get started, here are a few things to know before you start moving your business to Japan.

Thursday, August 15, 2024

How to Break Into Global Business

©iStock/Francesco Scatena
There are three initial phases to launch into international business. The article below breaks out the steps of each phase, including a rough timeline of how long you can expect each phase to take.  From research and planning, to making initial trips to your target countries, expect to spend six months to several years preparing for this exciting new facet of your company.

Ask yourself:  Why sell your product or service to international markets?  Take an honest appraisal of your business and yourself.  Are you ready?

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Global Temperatures

©iStock/plyaset
The year 2023 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850 at 1.18°C (2.12°F) above the 20th century average of 13.9°C (57.0°F). This value is 0.15°C (0.27°F) more than the previous record set in 2016.

The 10 warmest years in the 174-year record have all occurred during the last decade (2014–2023). 

Track the U.S.national annual report for information on the 2023 climate conditions across the U.S. 

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

RIP the Almighty Susan Wojcicki

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
An early Googler and former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki dies from lung cancer on August 9, 2024 at the age of 56.  She had sent a note to employees and the world about stepping down as YouTube CEO on February 16, 2023.

Read the note sent by Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai to employees mourning the passing of Susan.

She was a force and will be missed in our world.  Condolences to her family during such a sad time.  

(Butterflies symbolize freedom, lightness, and joy, reminding us to let go of burdens and embrace a sense of liberation. They can also serve as messengers of spiritual evolution and connection with the divine, representing the soul's journey towards enlightenment and higher consciousness.)

Monday, August 12, 2024

Today in Global Small Business: What Attacks On Shipping Mean For the Global Maritime Order

©iStock/Suphanat Khumsap
What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

  • What attacks on shipping mean for the global maritime order (full report).
  • The New York Shipping Exchange has modified its operating strategy, responding to a significant shift in how customers contract for container shipments.
  • Quote of the week:  "As we look at a future where we’re going to have to double our freight capacity, how do you create a freight system that’s integrated across the country when you have 50 different freight systems that are built one state at a time?” – Anthony Foxx
  • GXO Logistics sees upward trend in global freight market.
  • How disruption is dismantling global shipping.
  • Why the world doesn't need another shipping lane.

Saturday, August 10, 2024

Normal is Good Enough

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
"Our normal is good enough." – Team USA

Friday, August 09, 2024

The Yen Carry Trade

©iStock/plusphoto
There's panic on Wall Street and around the world recently, and it's not bad economic news or a terrible earnings report that's at fault. Instead, it's a highly leveraged yen "carry trade" that has led to billions of dollars in selling and liquidations starting in the crypto market on Sunday night.

Here's how the yen carry trade works.

  1. Borrow yen at a low interest rate.
  2. Convert yen to another currency, often U.S. dollars.
  3. Buy assets that yield an interest rate higher than the Yen rate in (1). Ex. U.S. treasuries. 

According to the Motley Fool, if yields and exchange rates don't change, this is a brilliant trade because it is a simple arbitrage that prints money month after month.

They go on to say:  But something has changed. The interest rate on Yen debt is rising; the prior range was 0% to 0.1%, and the Bank of Japan announced a rate increase to 0.25% on Friday, bucking a decade-plus trend of essential zero rates.

Thursday, August 08, 2024

The Essential List for Taking a Business Global According to Jonathan Bench

©iStock/z_wei
Entering a foreign market can be fraught with risks, and chair of Harris Sliwoski's corporate practice group Jonathan Bench has seen too many instances where a company did not lay the proper groundwork for their foreign business.

That cavalier attitude can work for a while, but it will cause you serious repercussions down the road. Do yourself a favor and do it right the first time.

Read the essential list for taking a business global and your future self will thank you. 

Wednesday, August 07, 2024

Just Like His Dance in the Sky: Philippe Petit

©iStock/mbolina
Philippe Petit looks back on his phenomenal 1974 Twin Towers walk. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, he will walk a highwire across the nave of St. John the Divine in New York City, the world's largest cathedral. 

"My love for magnificent places and my love for walking on the tightrope and sharing with an audience my passion has not changed," he said.

People reference his highwire act as "just like his dance in the sky."

Tuesday, August 06, 2024

Pearls of Wisdom: Navigating the Boba Beverage Marketplace with Allison Sodha (wegginar® 8/7/24)

©2024 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.
Boba tea, especially among younger consumers like Millennials and Gen Z, is growing. The global bubble tea market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of nearly 9% through 2030.  That's what makes this upcoming wegginar® so special.

Co-founder Allison Sodha of better boba will be sharing her insights Wednesday, August 7th at 11 AM CT on, "Pearls of Wisdom: Navigating the Boba Beverage Marketplace."

Allison is an accomplished entrepreneur, author, and storyteller. With over two decades of experience in global business development, her work reflects a deep commitment to creating inclusive spaces where diverse perspectives can thrive and collaborate.

She is the owner of Cup & Cone, a globally-inspired ice cream and boba shop in Portland, Oregon, and co-founder of Better Boba. She is excited to be leading the way in the food + beverage space with an all-natural boba manufactured in the United States.

Driven by a passion for making a positive impact, Allison’s diversified ventures reflect her dedication to sustainability and cross-cultural connections. Beyond business, she enjoys dancing, food carts, and exploring the world with her husband and three children.

What to expect from this wegginar?  You will be able to:

  • Embrace your authentic path
  • Navigate cultural roadblocks
  • Plant locally, grow globally
  • Appreciate the power of relationships: People first and more ...

To learn more and to register free of charge, visit here.  Special thanks to wegg's sponsors as noted in the graphic:  Associated Bank, FedEx, Union Pacific, LuxLined™, Global Care Clinical Trials, RBC Wealth Management and APCO.

Monday, August 05, 2024

Today in Global Small Business: Less Than Container Load (LCL) Shipping Has Its Benefits

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

Saturday, August 03, 2024

Free At Last

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
"Today [8/1/24], three American citizens and one American green card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza,” [USA President] Biden said. “Some of these women and men have been unjustly held for years. All have endured unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over.”

Free at last.

Friday, August 02, 2024

Should US Flags Only Be Made in America?

©iStock/LeMusique
According to US media reports, the All-American Flag Act has been passed by Congress, requiring the federal government to purchase only American flags that have been completely manufactured in the US. 

Advocates of the measure argue that in 2017, the US imported some 10 million American flags, and 99.5 percent of them came from China.

It's time for US flags to originate in the country they represent, said the sponsors of the proposal.  What are your thoughts?

Thursday, August 01, 2024

Extraordinary: wegg® showcase featuring Dr. Chris Wachira of the Wachira Group

©2024 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global.  All rights reserved.
Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® conducts a great interview with Dr. Chris Wachira of the Wachira Group, "Uncorking Secrets to Global Success."  Dr. Chris gives a good perspective on global leadership while sharing her journey.  This is the 3rd edition of the wegg showcase, August, 2024.  Powered by: LuxLined™.

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

A Restaurant High in the Arctic Circle

©iStock/kjekol
When a restaurant is high in the Arctic Circle, and most ingredients have to come in on a boat or a plane, you have to get pretty creative with your fine dining. That means seal, whale, reindeer – and plankton?

Many of the dishes at Huset – established October, 1951 – are served on stones collected from the nearby hills, which are thick with fossils.

Longyearbyen, on whose outskirts Huset sits, is the northernmost permanent settlement of more than 1,000 people in the world, a mere 800 miles (1,288 km) from the North Pole.

Up here, where there is night for four months of the year, not much grows. But there is more living here than you might think.

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

Italian SMEs: The Role of Digitalization in Cross-Border E-Commerce Performance

©iStock/Alexander Farnsworth
In this paper, the authors aimed to understand the impact of digital technologies on cross-border e-commerce for Italian SMEs.

Overall, they observed that Italy is lagging behind its European counterparts in terms of digitalization and IT capabilities, although several national policies are addressing this topic and the initial data seem to show that they are succeeding.

This paper deals with three main categories of digital technologies

  1. e-business
  2. e-marketing
  3.  e-commerce

They show that e-business has a mixed impact on cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) performance, and the relationships need to be further analyzed, while e-marketing tools have a significant positive impact on the online export performance. 

Monday, July 29, 2024

Today in Global Small Business: Governing Global eCommerce

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

Friday, July 26, 2024

Removing Obstacles That Prevent Small Firms From Seizing Global Opportunities

©iStock/AndreyPopov
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed its SME Export task force – a transformative blueprint designed to remove the obstacles that prevent small firms from seizing global opportunities.

Despite their agility, only 10 percent of small firms trade internationally. Imagine economic growth if we could double that figure.

It’s time for small firms to take their place on the global stage – backed by a supportive framework designed solely for their success.

Thursday, July 25, 2024

Setting Up Overseas Special Zones in Taiwan

©iStock/Sean3810
The Taiwanese government should play an active role in Taiwanese small-and-medium enterprises' (SME) international expansion, possibly through "overseas special zones," Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei has said.

Kuo said he envisions a special arrangement designed by the government to help Taiwanese SMEs that do not have the same kind of resources and bargaining power of industry giants such as TSMC and GlobalWafers Co., gain a foothold overseas.

Learn more about other ideas Kuo proposed such as setting up 'sogo shosha' style Japanese general trading companies.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Questions to Ask When Selecting a Master's Program in International Business and Trade

©iStock/smolaw11
The Hinrich Foundation Guide to Master’s in International Business and Trade (Hinrich Foundation Guide – requires completing a short form) is a comprehensive resource to assist students and professionals to identify the right master’s program to accelerate their careers in global trade. 

Here are key questions to ask to evaluate master's programs in international business and trade.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

VP Kamala Harris: How SHE May Lead

©iStock/Thanumporn Thongkongkaew
Vice President Kamala Harris is now the leading Democratic standard-bearer in the 2024 elections after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid and endorsed her on Sunday, July 21, 2024.

According to Time, Harris’ long record in public office—from being San Francisco’s district attorney in 2003, to becoming California state attorney general in 2011, to a Senator from California in 2017, and then Vice President—offers more clues on how she may lead as Democratic nominee and President.

Monday, July 22, 2024

Today in Global Small Business: President Joe Biden Is Not Seeking Reelection

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

Saturday, July 20, 2024

The Cars We Drive

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
"The cars we drive say a lot about us." – Alexandra Paul

Friday, July 19, 2024

The Demand for Spanish in China is Increasing

©iStock/Oleksil Liskonih
In China, the demand for Spanish is increasing, and it is now taught in high schools and universities. Since the opening of the headquarters of the Cervantes Institute in Beijing in 2006 and of the Biblioteca Miguel de Cervantes in Shanghai, the number of Spanish students in China has grown to around 60,000.

With Spain being a stable trading partner of China, mastery of Spanish opens multiple opportunities in business, tourism, and education, not only with Spain but with the entire American continent.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Good News For Global Entrepreneurs! Foreign Startups Can Stay in U.S. For 5 Years

©iStock/myella
The U.S. is making it easier for startups, business owners and entrepreneurs to extend their stay.  Remember the Obama-era program called the International Entrepreneurs Rule (IER)?

Under this programme, foreign entrepreneurs were initially allowed to stay in the US for two-and-a-half years. Now, according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), they can remain for up to five years if their ventures meet specific criteria such as funding milestones and job creation.

Learn the particulars here.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Top 10 Global Risks in 2024

©iStock/the-lightwriter
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 says the biggest short-term risk stems from misinformation and disinformation. 

In the longer term, climate-related threats dominate the top 10 risks global populations will face.

Two-thirds of global experts anticipate a multipolar or fragmented order to take shape over the next decade.

The key findings of the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 reflect these most pressing challenges faced by people in every region of the world.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Is Free Trade Under Attack?

©iStock/hxdbzxy
One of the defining transformations of the 20th century was globalization. Since the end of World War II, countries and cultures have become more interconnected than ever before, through free trade agreements, technology, multi-national corporations, and the creation of structures such as the IMF and the World Trade Organization.

Trade economists liked to think that the benefits of globalization—economic growth, more consumer choice, lower prices—had made it unassailable. But cracks in the international order have started to appear. 

Monday, July 15, 2024

Today in Global Small Business: Designing Across Cultures

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

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Loves You More Than You Love Yourself

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself." – Josh Billings

Friday, July 12, 2024

Updated Rules for International Trade

©iStock/thitivong
Globalization refers to the process of connecting the world economy more closely through the flow of goods, services, investment, technology, data, ideas, and workers. It began around 1870 and took off in the decades after World War II as countries started reducing restrictions on capital and trade flows in anticipation of benefits to growth and welfare.

Today we may be at another turning point in globalization’s history. So what is this powerful force that does so much to influence the world economy? How is it changing? And can it be improved?

Updated rules for international trade, coupled with stronger domestic policies, could make globalization more inclusive and sustainable.

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Two Men Guilty of Illegally Exporting U.S. Electronics Used in Russian Weapons In Ukraine

©iStock/Dragon Claws
Two men – Nikolay Goltsev, 38, of Montreal, and Salimdzhon Nasriddinov, 53, of Brooklyn – have pleaded guilty to illegally exporting US electronics used in Russian weapons in Ukraine, the Justice Department said.

Goltsev and Nasriddinov face up to 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit export control violations, the department said in a statement.

"The defendants shipped millions of dollars of US electronics critical to the missiles and drones Russia uses to attack Ukraine, and they now face US prison time for their scheme," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said.

Read more here.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

SPECIAL: Robert Marovich's Response to Peggy Noonan, Opinion Columnist at the Wall Street Journal

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
The letter below by Robert Marovich, Chicago, Illinois, was not accepted for publication at the Wall Street Journal yet I felt it was important to share with the world.  It is in response to a column by Peggy Noonan, "The Most Important Presidential Debate Ever" (Saturday/Sunday, June 29-30, 2024).  Unfortunately the column has a paywall, otherwise I would share the link.  I took a photo of it for your review so you can appreciate Bob Marovich's letter and put it into context.

"Dear Editor:

I read Peggy Noonan's column regularly because I respect her experience, appreciate her depth of knowledge, and appreciate her cogent arguments. I always will. But I strongly disagree with her description, in "The Most Important Presidential Debate Ever" (June 29 - 30), of former President Donald Trump's demeanor at the debate. He was not "calm, sure-voiced, focused....self-disciplined" He didn't debate - he ranted his greatest hits like a carnival barker on caffeine, delivered more than 30 lies, and even seemed to make some things up on the spot. Hyperbole and inaccurate superlatives, no substance, as usual. 

But what Ms. Noonan failed to mention, and what needs mentioning, is how despicably Mr. Trump spoke of the United States. President Reagan referred to the US as "the shining city on a hill." Trump, in front of more than 50 million viewers, referred several times to the US as a third-world country. Those are fighting words; in times past, proud Americans would have told him to put up his dukes. Would Mr. Reagan have suffered such an insult?

Yes, our nation has many problems, it always has, and we need to fix them, but we are not a third-world country, we are a first-rate country. Any candidate who denigrates his country so vociferously as Mr. Trump did on Thursday shouldn't even qualify for the presidency of a book club. President Biden stumbled significantly during the debate. We saw it. He knows it. I agree with Ms. Noonan that he missed landing several easy punches that could have turned the tide of the debate. But what Mr. Trump said about our nation is unforgivable. He insulted all of us that evening. The party of Ronald Reagan should hold its head in shame that Mr. Trump is the best they can offer." 

Best,

Robert M. Marovich

Chicago, IL

Tuesday, July 09, 2024

wegginar® 7/10/24 with Missy Kelly, Co-Founder and CEO of CatTongue Grips

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.
Join free of charge 7/10/24 at 11 AM CT thanks to generous sponsors as noted in the graphic.  To learn more and to register, visit, "Scaling Globally:  Insights and Inspiration from a Global Leader in Innovation."  Missy Kelly, the presenter, is co-founder and CEO of CatTongue Grips.  Learn about innovation.  Invention.  Entrepreneurship.  Scaling globally. 

Monday, July 08, 2024

Today in Global Small Business: Making Supply Chains More Resilient, Collaborative and Networked

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

Saturday, July 06, 2024

Cling to Your Vision

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.
"Do not give up your dream because it is apparently not being realized, because you cannot see it coming true. Cling to your vision with all the tenacity you can muster. Keep it bright; do not let the bread-and-butter side of life cloud your ideal or dim it." – Orison Swett Marden


Friday, July 05, 2024

Why We Celebrate 4th of July and How Fireworks Became a Part of the Tradition

©iStock/RomoloTavani
Here are five things to know about July Fourth, including the origin of the holiday, why we celebrate it and how fireworks became a part of the tradition.

Thursday, July 04, 2024

Happy 4th of July from the Global Small Business Blog

©iStock/RomoloTavani
"America is another name for opportunity.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wednesday, July 03, 2024

Is India the Future?

©iStock/Henk Bogaard
In a global marketplace reshaped by volatile forces — not least the animosity between the United States and China — India shows signs of emerging as a potentially significant place to manufacture products. 

Yet the trouble is they – in India – are slow.  Slow on samples.  Slow on producing.  Slow on deliveries.  Can we afford the wait?

Read:  For American Brands Worried About China, is India the Future?

Tuesday, July 02, 2024

wegg® showcase Issue 2, July, 2024 with Coni Lefferts

©2024 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.
Bob Marovich, Chief Operating Officer of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®, interviews Coni Lefferts, President, Creative Packaging Solutions for the wegg® showcase Issue 2, July, 2024:  Global growth is in the bag.

Monday, July 01, 2024

Today in Global Small Business: Grants, Loans and Programs to Benefit Your Global Small Business

©iStock/Olivier Le Moal
What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

  • Check out 60 grants, loans and programs to benefit your global small business.
  • Trying to determine best website builder for your business?
  • Quote of the week:  "Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” – Michelle Obama, First African-American First Lady of the United States
  • A new survey of 1,000 small to medium-sized business owners from DHL shows two-thirds of small enterprises are optimistic about growing ecommerce.
  • In the month of June, small business owners continued to identify inflation as the single most important problem for them in operating their business, as upward price pressures continue to increase expenses and lower profitability.  Learn more from the House Committee on Small Business.
  • 25 business grants for women who have started and are growing a business.