Are the Tariffs Working?

©iStock/Cristi Croitoru

The question is: How much better would the economy be now without the tariffs and their on-again, off-again imposition? 

Find out from the WSJ Editorial Board.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of February 1, 2026, we average more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis. 

Highly Creative People Have the Performance Advantage Over AI for Now

©iStock/Ukususha

A new large-scale study demonstrates that when it comes to creativity, AI already outperforms the average human, but not the most creative among us.

“Despite widespread concern that AI could imminently replace creative professionals (like writers, for instance), the results suggest that such fears remain premature,” the researchers reported.

As the researchers said, "It seems natural that humans will always be more creative than machines. Yet artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning is rapidly improving and rapidly encroaching on the decidedly human realm of creative abilities.

Success On Her Terms With Nancy Sharp, CEO of Food For Thought Enterprises

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global.  All rights reserved.

Success On Her Terms (SoHT) is a dynamic four-part series presented by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global (wegg) and in collaboration with Merrill's Baldwin Marcovici Group.

It is designed to spotlight high-potential, growth-stage women entrepreneurs who share their personal journeys and offer actionable insights to women on how to align purpose, people, and profit while building and scaling a business.

Join us today, February 3, 2026 at 11 AM CT – LIVE – when Nancy Sharp, CEO of Food For Thought Enterprises talks about "Deciding What Matters Most."  The conversation is moderated by Alex Didac, the Baldwin Marcovici Group.  This is program 2.

To learn more and to register, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/programs/success-on-her-terms/  

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

Today in Global Small Business: How Businesses Are Manipulating ChatGPT Results

©iStock/chiewr

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

• Great article by Christopher Mims in the WSJ (gifted so you should get access) on how businesses are manipulating ChatGPT results.
• "Deciding What Matters Most" – Success On Her Terms wegginar® hosted by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global, considered the best resource for women entrepreneurs and business owners who want to learn from other women business owners on how to expand their businesses globally, featuring episode #2 with Nancy Sharp, founder and CEO, Food for Thought Enterprises.  Register free of charge here thanks to the Baldwin Marcovici Group (Merrill Lynch).
• Quote of the week:  "Beijing benefits when the U.S. damages its own standing or retreats from global leadership, but China's own efforts to project state-sponsored soft power have produced mixed results." – Lizzi Lee, a fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute
• U.S. opens doors to tariffs on imports from countries supplying oil to Cuba.
• How to increase sales in the clothing business.
• How to lead when confidence is down, pressure is up and there's more uncertainty ahead.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of February 1, 2026, we have more than 900,000 readers on a monthly basis.

God Loves You Snow Much

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"God loves you snow much." – title of a children's book written by Monica Ellis

Elevated Threats Are Ahead Yet CEOs Continue to Reinvent Their Companies

©iStock/bernardbodo

CEOs are reinventing their companies with technology (AI) and seeking growth opportunities in new sectors, even as they see elevated threats ahead.

In the year ahead, CEOs see a world beset by challenges. They’ve grown significantly less confident about the short-term growth outlook for their companies and more worried about a range of threats, including macroeconomic volatility, cyber risk, and geopolitical conflict.

PwC’s Global Chairman Mohamed Kande discusses key findings from this year’s CEO Survey, featuring insights on AI adoption and innovating in the face of uncertainty.

Read the findings and listen to Mohamed's insights here.

Building Ms. Jetsetter Beyond the Idea (wegginar® 2/4/26)

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

You don't want to miss this wegginar® – February 4th at 11 AM CT – LIVE with Tracey McGhee, Founder & CEO, Ms. Jetsetter when she will talk about "From Idea to Market:  Building Ms. Jetsetter Beyond the Idea."

To learn more and to register (free of charge thanks to Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global's generous sponsors as shown in the graphic), visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/01/07/from-idea-to-market-building-ms-jetsetter-beyond-the-idea-stage/.  

Feeling Assaulted by the Federal Government

©iStock/Sean Pavone

"Feeling assaulted by the federal government." That's how Thomas L. Friedman describes what is happening in his hometown, Minneapolis.

Read the interview here.  America is at a boiling point.

A Three-Pronged Approach to Avoid, Lessen, and Recover from Tariff Increases On Imported Goods

©iStock/SHansche

In the midst of today's fluid situation, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg offers a three-pronged approach to avoid, lessen, and recover from tariff increases on imported goods.

[More than 776,000 readers thus far this month.  Thank you all!]

Today in Global Small Business: The USA Winter Storm Edition

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

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

• Ice from winter storm leaves a million customers without power across the South in USA.
• More than 10,000 flights canceled as bitter cold blankets the U.S.
• Quote of the week:  "To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold." – Aristotle
• Winter storm (LIVE UPDATES) Fern turns deadly In Louisiana, outages leaves over a million vulnerable to ice, snow across US.
• US braces for 'extremely dangerous' winter storm (UK edition).
• LIVE MAP:  See the U.S. winter storm 72-hour snowfall forecast.

Everything in Moderation

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Everything in moderation.  Except avocado." – Unknown

So Who Are the Owners of the New American TikTok?

©iStock/hapabapa

Several big companies and investment firms are part of the new American TikTok. Many have ties to one another and President Trump.