15 Best Foreign Languages to Learn for a Child

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In this article, discover the 15 best foreign languages to learn for a child. 

In addition, find out:

• Why language education matters in early years.
• Career opportunities for multilingual kids.
• Resources to help children acquire foreign languages.

Read on.

The Largest Exporters in the World

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Exports play an important role in the global economy, serving as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and international cooperation. 

Thanks to the evolution of international trade, the effects of globalization, and progress in technology, global trade has increased by around 300% over the last 20 years. 

And using data obtained from the World Bank, you can see the world's top exporters by country and their top exports, such as petroleum, cars, and medication.

Take a journey – a pictorial – of the largest exporters in the world.

Today in Global Small Business: Regional Mexican Music Crosses Borders

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

• Regional Mexican music – a catchall term that encompasses mariachi, banda, corridos, norteño, sierreño and other genres – has become a global phenomenon, topping music charts and reaching new audiences as it crosses borders.
• Take a break.  Making your own Anthropologie mirror is easy and cheap with these steps.
• Houthi propaganda is going global.
• Quote of the week: "There's no limit possible to the expansion of each one of us." – Charles M. Schwab
• Who isn't going global?  Jimmy John's joins the bandwagon.
• And the Oscars go global!

Out of the Blue

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

A seafood restaurant in Ireland.

A Critical Examination of Globalization

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In a recent Bloomberg Markets article titled “Everything You Thought About Free Trade Is Wrong,” Professor of International History, Quinn Slobodian was featured for his critical examination of globalization. The article explores Slobodian’s latest book, “Crack-Up Capitalism: Market Radicals and the Dream of a World Without Democracy,” challenging the prevailing narrative of free trade’s success.

Read on to learn how Slobodian questions the widely taught and assumed story of globalization that touts the benefits of free trade erasing borders and fostering prosperity.

The Power of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® (video with Dr. Chris Wachira)

Intellectual Property Adds Value Around the World

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Intellectual property knowledge, data and services are adding value around the world by creating a better understanding of IP.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is the global forum for intellectual property policy, services, information and cooperation.

Their protection services are easy to use and an effective way to get your IP registered across borders. 

When in doubt, always consult with a reputable international IP attorney.

Globalization: A Resource Guide

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This resource guide is created by Library of Congress to help users understand globalization, its history, the elements it comprises, and the current trends. It also provides resources for keeping current with the latest research on the subject for further exploration.

Not sure if they are keeping this up to date but it's worth a look to see what they have shared on defining globalization, its history, trends, and databases.

Today in Global Small Business: Houthi Attacks Have Upended Global Shipping

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

• Hundreds of ships are avoiding the Suez Canal and sailing an extra 4,000 miles around Africa, burning fuel, inflating costs and adding 10 days of travel or more in each direction – all caused by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea shipping area.
• Red Sea attacks:  US again hits targets as global shipping reels.
• Climate extremes are wreaking havoc on global shipping.
• Quote of the week: "It is not the ship so much as the skillful [safe] sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.” – George William Curtis
• How attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels are crimping global trade.
• With more and more shipping companies extending full or partial closures of Red Sea shipping routes due to attacks by Yemeni rebels, global trade could be seriously affected; global shipping chokepoints.

New Era In the Automotive Field

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“The Thunderbird will begin a new era in the automotive field.” – Ford Div. G.M. L. D. Crusoe, during unveiling of Ford’s Thunderbird; Feb. 1954.

Achieving Sustainable Impact at Scale

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In a recent policy brief published by the Dag Hammarsköld Foundation and the United Nations, the common approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been to track progress on a global and country-by-country basis and to argue for policy change, for more investment, and more innovation. 

These are important elements of a strategy to achieve the SDGs, but what has been missing is to design, fund, and implement investment programs in a way that systematically and effectively supports the achievement of the SDGs.

Find out how a concerted push to achieve the SDGs needs a practical scaling approach.

Inspiring Words From Jenny Zhu: "Defy the odds. Redefine obstacles. Design an inspired life."

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

As President of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®, I am excited to release our latest How She Went Global® podcast episode #35 with Jenny Jing Zhu, CEO and Founder, Lush Decor Home: "Building a $100 Million Home Decor Empire:" https://bit.ly/3S3RQqe.

In this extremely insightful discussion, Ms. Zhu talks about:

🔸 How she went from a small, electricity-challenged village in China to the founder of Lush Décor Home, now a $100 million enterprise.

🔸 How she navigated the various stages of business growth.

🔸 Her international expansion plan.

🔸 What makes her most grateful.

🔸 + more ...

The HSWG® podcast is made possible through generous support from Associated Bank and Bluedog Design, which wegg® thanks.

As Jenny adds, "Defy the odds.  Redefine obstacles.  Design an inspired life."  

Tune in to find out how she did it:  https://bit.ly/3S3RQqe

Build a Dream Team, Not a Family

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As leaders, integrating a "dream team" philosophy means moving beyond the "family" model to a framework where excellence, growth, and respect are more important than unrealistic loyalty and unconditionality. 

It's about creating an environment where everyone is driven to be their best, supported by the group's collective strength and ambition, understanding that not everyone may be a part of the team forever. 

Read on to learn strategies for building high-performance, growth-oriented teams.

Case Study: Pink Lily

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From hiring to testing out physical retail, to ecommerce platform and social media strategy, Pink Lily provides a case study on what has worked for stages of growth and what the future holds for the company.

Good case study.  Worth a read.  Many lessons to learn.

Today in Global Small Business: Celebrating the Life of MLK Jr.

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

• Tree of life celebrates MLK with Ebenezer Baptist Church.
• 9 places where you can walk in MLK Jr.'s footsteps.
• Celebrating MLK Day in Metro Atlanta, Georgia.
• Quote of the week: "Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart..." ("The Drum Major Instinct," Ebenezer Baptist Church) – Martin Luther King Jr.
• 17 additional ways to celebrate the life of MLK Jr.
• The impact of Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr.

If You Haven't Found It Yet

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"If you haven't, found it yet, keep looking." – Steve Jobs

The Power of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® (video)

The Next AI-Fueled Challenger to Google: Perplexity.ai

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A resource I shared during my "Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2024," which you can watch now free of charge, is called Perplexity.ai.

Perplexity, a startup going after Google’s dominant position in web search, has won backing from Jeff Bezos and venture capitalists betting that artificial intelligence will upend the way people find information online.

Perplexity was started less than two years ago, has fewer than 40 employees, and is based out of a San Francisco co-working space. The company’s product, which it calls an answer engine, is used by about 10 million people monthly.

And let us not forget about other up and coming AI resources:  Anthropic, the AI startup behind the chatbot Claude.

Make sure you have an AI strategy in 2024.

Considerations When Taking a Business Global

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There are many considerations to be made when taking a business global.

On the payroll and human resources end, important considerations involve understanding the potential labor costs, making sure the company’s culture and employee experience are in sync to avoid high rates of turnover, ensuring the business is in compliance with many new tax and labor laws in the country(ies) where the employer wishes to expand, and applying new and emerging technology in ways that will aid the scope of the payroll and human resource expansion.

These are just a few.  There are more.

Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2024 – wegginar® 1/10/24

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

Join us – free of charge, https://bit.ly/3tiHRFq, to learn what trends to watch this year as you grow your global business.  wegginar® takes place at 11 AM CT on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.  See you there.

Today in Global Small Business: How AI Shook the World in 2023

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

• AI is being used for all things wonderful but it comes with a worry.
• Language translation:  what companies should know.
• Winning formulas for e-commerce growth.
• Quote of the week: "The real question is, when will we draft an artificial intelligence bill of rights? What will that consist of? And who will get to decide that?” – Gray Scott
• E-commerce worldwide, stats and figures.
• 17 goals for people and planet.

Full of Things That Have Never Been

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved

"And now we welcome the new year [2024]. Full of things that have never been." – Rainer Maria Rilke

Where the UK Monarchy Stands Globally in 2024

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For Prince William and Kate Middleton, 2023 was a major yer. The couple took on more responsibilities as senior members of the royal family, tended to their individual and joint projects and ventures as the Prince and Princess of Wales, and focused on raising their three young children. 

With the start of 2024, the couple already has their sights set on plans for the year ahead, and it reportedly includes a major trip overseas.  The trip could yield a tremendous amount of insight into where the monarchy stands globally in the year ahead.

Have a Global Point of View

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According to Talk Business, the global scene is diverse, offering a wide pool of ideas, perspectives, and talents you can explore besides opening your business to a larger potential customer base. Leverage this diversity by embracing it. How? Start by making your team more diverse so you can have a more global point of view.

Do that and here are a couple of other pointers that can help you be more competitive in the global market. 

According to Harvard, the Global Economy Is Doing Better Than Expected

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Summary from Harvard Business Review:  The economy is ending 2023 in better shape than expected. Most importantly, inflation is falling in much of the world and some central bankers have signaled likely interest rate cuts in 2024. But risks remain as higher interest rates work their way through markets. Geopolitics also looms large.

As 2023 comes to a close, the global economy is, in many ways, doing better than expected. The U.S. not only avoided a recession but has grown at a steady clip. Unemployment has been low and, crucially, inflation is falling in most of the world.

And yet, the economic outlook remains deeply uncertain.  Find out why here.

On another note, Harvard seems to be turning their cheek to plagiarism, attempting to take the low road on an issue that is so important to all authors, not just Presidents of Ivy Leagues universities.  Shame on them.  Read this piece and tell me that the statement they make is true:  "First and foremost, we thank [Harvard University] President Gay for her deep and unwavering commitment to Harvard and to the pursuit of academic excellence."  Academic excellence?  Really?  Since when is any form or shape of plagiarism okay? 

Top 2024 Best Wishes, Stories, Status and Quotes

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Save these for next year :-).  Here are the best wishes, messages and quotes to share.  And I don't think they are ChatGPT generated.  But I wouldn't bet on it.

Happy New Year 2024 From the Global Small Business Blog!

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