Auld Lang Syne by Mariah Carey (Goodbye 2024)

Today in Global Small Business: The New Year (2025) Edition

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

• Boost your productivity in 2025.
• Poise your global business for growth in 2025 by attending Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 wegginar® on 1/8/25 (free of charge and learn what's important as you navigate the new global landscape).
• Quote of the week: “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." – Thomas Jefferson 
• Ways to make 2025 a year of positive change.
• Why you don't need to reinvent yourself in the new year (for young creatives).
• Make 2025 the year you go BIG!

Sparkle

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Sparkle is the secret ingredient for a magical New Year." – Unknown source

From a $4K Investment into a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

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After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Cofounders Heather Aiu and Rachael Leinaʻala Soares launched Aloha Collection to produce Hawaii inspired waterproof bags with each contributing $2,000 of their own money.

The Kickstarter campaign helped them secure their first customers and distributors. Today, their company is a multimillion-dollar brand with retail stores in Hawaii, California, and at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Here’s how they turned that initial $4,000 investment into a business that lets them live a dream lifestyle. 

Great Minds Don't Think Alike

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Adam Grant believes that great minds don’t think alike—they challenge each other to think differently. His weekly show explores new thoughts and new ways of thinking – from revealing hidden potential, to the future of creativity, to understanding the pendulum swing of global power.  Check it out here. 

Merry Christmas From the Global Global Small Business Blog

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 (wegginar® 1/8/25)

©2024 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Register now to listen to Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 LIVE on 1/8/25.  Free of charge thanks to wegg®'s generous sponsors:  FedEx, Associated Bank, Luxlined™, APCO, VISA, FLOMO, RBC Wealth Management and Global Care Clinical Trials.

Today in Global Small Business: The Holiday Edition

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

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

• Why churches should celebrate Christmas all year.
• Facts about Christmas.
• Quote of the week: “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” – Luke 2:10
• Christmas is magical.
• The need for joy and gratitude all year long.
• Christmas activities for that festive feeling in 2024.
• Merry Christmas and Happy 2025 to all!

Believe

©Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Christmas magic is silent. You don't hear it — you feel it, you know it, you believe it.” – A Charlie Brown Christmas

Serious Joy

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney photo.  All rights reserved.

A Knuckleball of Uncertainty in 2025

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Right now, the stock market is full of contradictions as investors navigate the final inning of what’s been a stellar year.  But things are getting weird.  Stocks are struggling.  Big tech's impressive gains explains the mixed messages.  The bond market joined the crazy party later.

Taken altogether, as Barron's says, the contradictions create a knuckleball of uncertainty in 2025.

Celebrating Successes and Happy Holidays at Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

To learn more about Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® and the team behind wegg®, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/board-of-directors-and-team/.  

The De Minimis Rule is a Cornerstone of Small Business Success Globally

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The de minimis rule is a cornerstone of small-business success globally. It allows goods valued under $800 to enter the U.S. with minimal customs paperwork, no need for a broker and streamlined processing.

For small businesses, this simplified process is a lifeline. It makes global trade possible and helps businesses manage their supply chains without excessive regulation and cost. The potential removal de minimis will hurt small businesses and ultimately hurt customers.

The questions also becomes how does the de minimus rule help the SHEIN's and TEMU's of the world?

Read on because there are pros and cons.

Today in Global Small Business: Global Supply Chain Trends to Watch in 2025

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

• Global supply chain trends to watch in 2025.
• Tariff discussions in health care and life sciences industries stoke global supply chain concerns.
• Quote of the week: "What gets measured gets improved.” – Peter Drucker
• Suppliers adopt ‘power of two’ to combat global supply chain disruptions.
• Trump’s tariffs could spark price hikes, supply chain disruptions, experts say.
• Will AI reboot supply chains?

Turn Your Life Around

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” Gerald Good

Global Trends in Government Innovation 2024 (Released 12/16/24)

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The report, Global Trends in Government Innovation 2024, analyzes nearly 800 case studies from 83 countries and identifies five critical trends in government innovation that are reshaping public services.

The report will be released December 16, 2024.  Check back here. Abstract available now here.

Boost Your Spirits: Oldies But Goodies Holiday Songs (Music Video)

Discover U.S. Trade By Product

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Discover interactive dashboards and infographics providing data on U.S. goods trade at the national, state and metropolitan area levels.  In addition, see product-specific import and export trends and insights on U.S. by partner countries. 

Global Supply Chain Leader's Biggest Concerns in 2025

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Descartes Systems Group released findings from its 2024 Supply Chain Intelligence Report: Escalating Challenges for Global Supply Chain Leaders survey, which examined the most significant global trade challenges facing logistics and supply chain leaders today. The study showed that 48% of respondents identified rising tariffs and trade barriers as their top concern, closely followed by supply chain disruptions at 45% and geopolitical instability at 41%. 

Tariffs and trade barriers ranked as the priority issue regardless of company size.

Today in Global Small Business: What Do Most Extraordinary Global Business Leaders Have in Common?

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

• What do most extraordinary global business leaders have in common?
• Economic threats top global business leaders' risk concerns.
• Quote of the week: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." – Steve Jobs
• Mastering cross-border regulatory compliance in global business.
• Will Trump's dollar diplomacy roil global trade?
• Global trade update (December 2024) – UNCTAD.