We'll See Where Tipping the Scales Will Get Us

©iStock/Bet_Noire

According to NewsNation, there are five (5) pressing issues facing the new Trump administration:

1. Ceasefire negotiations
2. The economy
3. Border enforcement
4. Russia-Ukraine war
5. January 6 pardons

Trump has vowed to take swift action on various policies, but the five issues above appear to loom heaviest.  We'll see where tipping the scales will get us – on each issue.

Winding Down the Deadliest and Most Destructive Fighting Between Bitter Enemies

©iStock/Yuliia Bukovska

Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, the United States and Qatar said Wednesday, January 15, 2025, raising the possibility of winding down the deadliest and most destructive fighting between the bitter enemies.

Key detail:  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not confirm the deal, saying the final details were still being sorted out.

The Clock Is Ticking on TikTok

©iStock/Robert Way

As I [Laurel Delaney] wrote here, the clock is ticking on TikTok.  Will it stay or will it be banned in USA?

The Supreme Court could issue a ruling any day now (deadline 1/19/25), though it appears unlikely to deem the sale-or-ban law unconstitutional, even after President-elect Trump asked for time to resolve the matter.   

TikTok's fate is up in the air.

10 Ways to Avoid, Mitigate, or Delay the Cost of New Tariffs

©iStock/Muhammad Farhad

Here are 10 ways to avoid, mitigate, or delay the costs of new tariffs that President-elect Trump has promised for countries like China, Canada, and Mexico by Jeffrey Orenstein, Karla Cure, and Brian Hopkins, K&L Gates LLP, National Security and International Trade.

Today in Global Small Business: Signs of Strength at Start of 2025

©iStock/Supatman

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

• U.S. Chamber says there are signs of strength at start of 2025.
• In the UK, sustainable "green practices" is top on the small business list for 2025.
• Quote of the week: “Don't follow trends, start trends.  Successful artists don't follow trends; they create them." – Frank Capra
• A bank thinks "tailoring your approach" should be top on your list for 2025.
• Detroit Regional Chamber recommends "offering quality customer service" in 2025. 
• From tariffs to Taylor Swift, here are some wildcards for not just 2025, but for the next 5 years.

Celebrate Nice Moments

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Life is too short not to celebrate nice moments!" – Jurgen Klopp 

Create a Space of Your Own to Thrive in the Global Arena

©iStock/crissy2tay

Small and medium-sized businesses can compete with multinational corporations in the global space by leveraging, rather than minimizing, their size. This very difference gives small and medium-sized businesses the exact edge they need toward creating a space of their own to thrive.

Take, for example, the meteoric rise of Crumbl Cookies, which can be attributed to its agility.

The company's unique approach involves rotating its menu weekly and creating excitement among customers through platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Its limited-time cookie options and social media presence have turned Crumbl Cookies into a viral sensation, with fans posting mouthwatering photos and videos, further amplifying brand awareness. If Crumbl Cookies only sold the same six cookie flavors at all times, as larger companies typically do, it would not have found such success.

Read the entire article, here, covering how small and medium-sized businesses can compete with multinationals in the global arena.

Bitcoin or Gold? What's Your Preference?

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Interest in “gold isn’t based off the supply and demand of jewelry,” billionaire investor Mark Cuban said last week during an interview with Wired. “People see it as an option in the event of the economy going down or something bad happening.”

Though bitcoin is among the newest forms of currency, he goes on to say that many investors treat it like one of the oldest: gold.

What's your preference?  Bitcoin or gold?  Read on to learn how bitcoin and gold can work as stores of value.

No More Third-Party Fact-Checking Organizations for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg

©iStock/zimmytws

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced today, 1/7/25 that the social media company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, would stop working with third-party fact-checking organizations.  Repeating talking points long used by President-elect Donald Trump and his allies, in a video Zuckerberg said the company's content moderation approach resulted too often in "censorship".

Well we can kiss censorship goodbye folks.  Anything goes now.  We are prioritizing free speech - any speech.  

Rieva Lesonsky: 7 Leaders Predict Small Business Trends for 2025

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How do you keep up in this fast-paced world? To help you stay ahead of the curve, my esteemed colleague, long-time small business journalist and small business advocate Rieva Lesonsky (https://smallbusinesscurrents.com/) tapped into the expertise of seasoned small business experts and leaders [I, Laurel Delaney, am lucky to be one of them] and created a series of articles to share the vital trends and actionable insights that will empower you to thrive in this ever-changing entrepreneurial world. 

I am also glad to see geopolitical risk and due diligence business expert Candice Tal, founder and CEO of Infortal Worldwide included.  No one knows risk intelligence business better than Candice.  That's why so many law firms and big financial institutions use her services.

Read the entire article here at Forbes (or at AllBusiness.com).  

To learn more about staying ahead of the curve on global trade trends, register for Laurel's free of charge Global Trade Trends Report 2025 wegginar® 1/8/25 at 11 AM CT.

Today in Global Small Business: Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2025 (wegginar® 1/8/25)

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

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

• 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).  Register here.
• 2025:  A year of logistics volatility.
• Quote of the week: “One thing we have lost, that we had in the past, is a sense of progress, that things are getting better. There is a sense of volatility, but not of progress." – Daniel Kahneman
• Top 5 risks for 2025: U.S. uncertainty, global trade war, digital attacks.
• BRICS+ and the redefinition of global trade in 2025.
• Redefining global trade and economic growth in 2025. 

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.