It Was Like a Playground

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"When I was little, there were so many people in my house. Everyone was enjoying themselves, rehearsing, having fun. It was like a playground." – Marion Cotillard

ChatGPT for Dummies

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ChatGPT for Dummies.  If there is not a book by that title, there soon will be.  Seriously, how smart is ChatGPT?  

In a technical report released on March 27, 2023, OpenAI provided a comprehensive brief on its most recent model, known as GPT-4.  Included in this report were a set of exam results, which have been visualized in this article.

Trade Makes the World Better Off

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When a firm or an individual buys a good or a service produced more cheaply abroad, living standards in both countries increase.  Nations are almost always better off when they buy and sell from one another

There are other reasons consumers and firms buy abroad that also make them better off—the product may better fit their needs than similar domestic offerings or it may not be available domestically. In any case, the foreign producer also benefits by making more sales than it could selling solely in its own market and by earning foreign exchange (currency) that can be used by itself or others in the country to purchase foreign-made products.

Trade makes the world better off.

The Final Carpool Karaoke: James Corden and Adele

Foreign Trade Zones 101

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What you need to know about Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs):  how to apply, the FTZ Information System, how to use it, past approvals and information to assist FTZ grantees.  It's all here.  But wait, there's more!

Today in Global Small Business: Success in This World Calls for a New Breed of Data

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

• Success in this new world calls for a new breed of data-fuelled, human-led business, able to effortlessly reimagine growth, and endlessly re-engineer themselves to capitalize on it. We call these Future Ready [CPG] Businesses.
• A note from Tom Peters on his retirement and his latest, but not last I suspect, book.
• “Think higher, feel deeper.” Now that’s how you start a movement!  The gospel according to Gary Hamel.
• Quote of the week: "In order to get to the next level of whatever you're doing, you must think and act in a wildly different way than you previously have been. You cannot get to the next phase of a project without a grander mind-set, more acceleration, and extra horsepower." – Grant Cardone, 
• Be 2.0 – Jim Collins's Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0.
• Why every organization needs an augmented reality strategy – Michael Porter and James Heppelmann

Better, Happier and More Hopeful

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Flowers always make people better, happier, more hopeful." – Luther Burbank

Women Are Fueling the Growth in Global Entrepreneurship

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Doesn't take much data to understand what's happening with women interested in entrepreneurship.  Visit Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® to witness first hand the power of women taking on the world with their businesses.

And in the United States, according to The World Economic Forum, many women are fueling the uptick in global entrepreneurship, creating around half of all new businesses in 2022.   

Cravings for financial stability and flexibility were two of the reasons women gave for founding their own companies, data by Gusto indicated.  

Yet at Escape From Corporate America, established in 2004, there are other reasons for women starting their own businesses:  They want freedom, flexibility, recognition, more money, and opportunities to leave a legacy – all the things they once thought they would find within corporations.

Learn more about WEF's report on why more women are starting businesses than ever before.

Show Your Support for Evan Gershkovich

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The Wall Street Journal is offering resources for people who want to show their support across social media for Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained in Russia on March 29 during a reporting trip. He remains in a Moscow prison on espionage charges. The Journal and the U.S. government vehemently deny the allegations and have called for his immediate release.

Download this collection of media assets to surface and share across their personal social-media accounts—from Twitter and Facebook to LinkedIn, Instagram and beyond. They can be added as user profile photos, banners or posts.  Act now.

Let us not forget about Paul Whelan, the ex-US Marine jailed in Russia as well.

Overseas Markets Offer Fantastic Growth Prospects

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While it is true that many businesses can achieve the aim of international expansion, it is still not the simplest of undertakings.  Yet by going global, you can broaden your network of business partners while also enhancing how everyone else around the world views your company. 

Internationalization comes with expenses and risks, but with careful planning and a well-thought-out export strategy, overseas markets offer fantastic growth prospects.

Prohibiting Imports of Goods Made With Forced Labor

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I [Laurel Delaney] talked about child labor laws and compliance in a January, 2023 wegginar® for Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®, which you can find here.

Now, according to Sandler, Travis and Rosenberg, P.A., U.S. Customs and Border Protection is being urged to take specific actions to ensure that its forced labor enforcement efforts don’t result in supply chain disruptions.

In a recent letter, Federal Maritime Commission Commissioner Carl Bentzel commended CBP for its work to enforce laws prohibiting imports of goods made with forced labor, including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. However, he added that legitimate delays in ensuring compliance with the UFLPA might create cargo back-ups at U.S. marine terminals, leading to operational challenges and potentially congestion at a time when “the supply chain is only now beginning to recover from two years of pandemic-related disruption.”

Read the entire news report from ST&R here.

Today in Global Small Business: Ending Extreme Poverty by 2030

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

• A purpose-driven fund to end extreme poverty by 2030.
• 10 best states for working from home.
• Grandmothers of the world unite (requires subscription).
• Quote of the week:  "Only together can we keep the promise of the Global Goals for everyone, everywhere.  Join me in the Global Citizen End Poverty NOW — Our Future Can’t Wait campaign, to deliver the Global Goals — our best hope for people, for the planet, for peace, and for prosperity.” – Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed 
• The United States Postal Service (USPS) offers economical and express services to more than 180 countries globally yet disruptions have occurred on international mail shipments.
• "We want the biggest memorial you got," from Bostonians regarding the marathon bombing in June, 2013.

Chicago Lives in the Neighborhood Taverns

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“A lot of real Chicago lives in the neighborhood taverns. It is the mixed German and Irish and Polish gift to the city, a bit of the old country grafted into a strong new plant in the new.” – Bill Granger, 1983

Here Comes the Sun (Music)

Australian Wine Profits to China Are Too Big To Ignore

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Australian wine exporters sold $1.3 billion worth of wine a year to China before punishing tariffs were imposed in November 2020, which made it almost pointless to keep selling into that market.

A resumption of trade to China in 2023 would be a plus for the broader Australian wine industry because there was an oversupply of red wine that hadn’t been able to find a home.

Read more how Australian winemakers are gun-shy about China but the profits are too big to ignore.

The Local Economy Is Going Global

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Small businesses and solopreneurs have access to tools that enable them to “punch above their weight” like never before. We are in an era of massive growth in creation tools and services—not to mention a booming distribution ecosystem. The creator economy has increased by 119% since 2020, with creators making up 23% of people worldwide.

Find out how global small businesses can reach global audiences.  

Stuck on Hiring and Retaining Talented People? Join wegg's wegginar® 4/12/23 For Solutions

©2023 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Ever wondered how to start a strategic plan that uses employee benefits to retain and engage employees?Understand how key stakeholders support high performing teams?  How to take control of the employee benefits process and think outside the box?  

Then you are ready for Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global's next wegginar®, Wednesday, 4/12/23 at 11 AM CT:  "Commit to Hiring and Retaining the Most Talented People."

Hear from top experts on this important topic:  Stacy Kahan, Founder and Cara Kahan, CEO, 1706 Advisors and Beka Kohmescher, CEO and Founder, Altair Advisers.

To learn more and to register, visit:  https://bit.ly/41DTS4q.  It's free of charge thanks to generous sponsors as noted in the graphic.

Today in Global Small Business: Will Humans Ever Understand AI?

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

• Will humans ever understand AI?
• Small businesses are using tech to go global.
• The AI hordes are coming.
• Quote of the week:  “The key to artificial intelligence has always been the representation." – Jeff Hawkins
• Eight essentials for a successful global rebrand.
• Largest e-commerce markets in the world.

Hope of Today

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"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow." –  Robert H. Goddard

Global Trade's Big Future: Digital Services

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According to a new World Trade Organization report, the growth of cross-border digital trade flows — like e-commerce, video streaming, games and apps — increased four-fold since 2005 and are now valued at some $3.8 trillion. That accounts for more than half of all services trade worldwide.

“This gives us a bit of an indication of where world trade is heading,” says WTO Chief Economist Ralph Ossa told Bloomberg in a recent interview. “The future of trade is in services, particularly digitally delivered services.”

Read more to appreciate how the golden age for electronic commerce is already upon us.

Related to this, read research fellow Kati Suominen's report, "Trust in trade:  Challenges to the global convergence on digital standards," for the Hinrich Foundation.

Exporting is a Great Competitive Edge for Women Business Owners

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Zimbabwe businesswomen have been urged to venture into the export market and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which has a market of more than 1.2 billion people.  This is to boost the country's exports.

The program was designed to empower women entrepreneurs with personalized business mentorship, professional knowledge and skills as well as tools and networks to transform their existing enterprises into successful and sustainable export businesses.

Learn more how Zimbabwe businesswomen are encouraged to venture into exports.  

The nonprofit Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® has always felt that educating women business owners on how to export creates a competitive edge for them.

Announcing 2023 Export Lender Award Winners by the SBA

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The Export Lender of the Year Awards recognize excellence in export financing. These awards highlight the accomplishments of lenders in delivering SBA’s international finance programs to small businesses, designed to help small businesses develop new markets, finance export transactions, and expand capacity to meet overseas demand.

This year, the SBA’s Office of International Trade selected Regions Bank and Amerant Bank as the 2023 Export Lenders of the Year, and Berkshire Bank as the 2023 International Trade Lender of the Year.

Read more here.

How to Practice Cultural Humility

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"When it comes to going global, American associations make a lot of U.S.-centric mistakes," says Mark Athitakis.  

They possess ideas about membership, meetings, partnerships, marketing, and more that make perfect sense in America but may not apply in different countries and regions. And as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) becomes a norm in organizations, it may become another source of potential friction.

If one is on an early path to globalization, Athitakis recommends you practice cultural humility.  You ought to first recognize that any global effort needs to be based on understanding not only the strategic role a new country or region might play in their efforts but also the inherent cultural differences.

Today in Global Small Business: Making Second-Hand Clothing the First Choice Worldwide

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

• Making second-hand clothing the first choice worldwide.
• What is Nato and why is Finland joining?
• BRICS emerges as the world's largest GDP bloc, propelled by China's Rapid Expansion.
• Quote of the week: "I'm really interested in fashion but at the same time I find it quite competitive. Second-hand stuff leaves you more open to whatever your own personal style is rather than feeling dictated to by shops." – Sophie Ellis-Bextor
• Dollar General enters international market with first Mi Súper Dollar General store opening in Mexico.
• Research shows that Millennials will increase their online spending in 2023.

Anything Is Possible

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"With a doughnut in each hand, anything is possible." – Jameela Jamil