Hello World: Adele Playlist 2024 Best Songs

The Year of the Snake Officially Sets In

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Happy New Lunar Year of the Snake!  Renewal.  Wisdom.  Strength.  Let’s shed all the bad energy! 🧧❤️🧧❤️🧧

Americans Experience Happiness When Traveling to New Destinations

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United Airlines reveals research showing 73% of Americans experience happiness when traveling to new destinations. The company partnered with cognitive scientist Dr. Laurie Santos to analyze the connection between happiness and vacation planning.

The research indicates that 68% of people need something to look forward to in January, with travel purchases providing twice the happiness boost compared to buying material goods.

The airline announced its largest-ever international expansion, adding eight new destinations including Ulaanbaatar, Kaohsiung, Nuuk, Palermo, Bilbao, Madeira Island, Faro, and Dakar.

Is the World Moving On to Trade Without the U.S.?

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Many nations have been responding to Trump tariffs not by retaliating but by courting other trade partners.  Is this the beginning of a new era of globalization?

The writer, Ruchir Sharma, of this global trade opinion piece is chair of Rockefeller International.  His latest book is What Went Wrong With Capitalism. 

The lingering fear is that the US president’s aggressive trade posture will sow global disorder, depressing growth and roiling markets, particularly if targeted nations retaliate. But retaliation is not the only or even the most likely response to Trump, no matter how broadly he finally delivers on his threats.

Read the Financial Times's opinion piece by Ruchir Sharma.

Today in Global Small Business: Rapid Administration Changes are Catching Many By Surprise

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

• Trump's rapid changes in U.S. government catch many by surprise.
• Six big immigration changes under Trump and their potential impact.
• Quote of the week: “I can handle the craziness some of the time, maybe most of the time. But I know I can't handle it all of the time." – Chris Evans
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently directed the State Department to suspend all passport applications seeking to change a sex marker and all applications requesting an “X” sex marker, according to a memo reviewed by NBC News. 
• Trump's tariff threats, in five charts.
• How to stay calm during uncertainty – and keep moving forward.

Food Is Our Common Ground

©2025 Photo by Laurel J, Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Food is our common ground, a universal experience." – James Beard 

Diversification is a Primary Global Supply Chain Strategy for Executives

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Since 2018, many global manufacturers have been diversifying their supply chains beyond China. But this diversification has proven to be challenging due to dependencies on certain countries for manufacturing capabilities and critical resources, resulting in a rise in friendshoring and a move towards industrial policy, potentially escalating geopolitical tensions.

Learn how and why diversification is the primary supply chain strategy for global executives.

Firms Are Adapting to Rising Protectionism and Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

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The fifth annual Trade in Transition 2025 study surveyed over 3,500 supply chain executives across the world. The findings reveal firms are being forced to adapt at speed to rising protectionism and shifting geopolitical alliances.

Research unveiled by Economist Impact and DP World at the World Economic Forum highlights this strategic pivot, driven by geopolitical uncertainty which is likely to grow with the ‘America first’ policies of the new administration in the United States.

Click here to view the study.  We are in a new era of globalization. 

Why Are Global Champagne Sales Flat?

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The number of bottles of Champagne shipped outside of France dropped nearly 10 percent for all of 2024, compared to the year before.  Meanwhile, bottles shipped inside France dropped 7 percent as well, according to Comite Champagne, a trade group representing the bubbly that's only produced in the Champagne region of France.

It's not just sales of the expensive stuff that's gone flat, alcohol sales are down across the board with the exception of ready-made, pre-mixed drinks.

Why is this?  Champagne is a true barometer of consumer mood.  This is not a time for celebration.  Enough said.

Why Gender Parity In Entrepreneurship Matters

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As Claudia Valladares, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Impact Hub Caracas says, gender parity in entrepreneurship is not just a moral imperative but a crucial driver of economic growth and innovation.

She goes on to say, that despite significant progress in promoting gender equality globally, women remain underrepresented in entrepreneurial ecosystems.

According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum, closing gender gaps in economic participation and opportunity will take over 134 years if current trends persist. Bridging these gaps is essential to fostering inclusive economies.

Gender parity in entrepreneurship matters to unlock the untapped potential of women, half the world's population.

Today in Global Small Business: MLK Day and Inauguration Day 2025

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

• What to know about the federal holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr.
• When is the last time Inauguration Day and MLK Day fell on the same day?
• Quote of the week: “We will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope." – Martin Luther King Jr, from his "I Have a Dream" speech, August 1963
• What's open and closed on MLK Day and DT Inauguration Day.
• What to expect as the new USA President is sworn in.
• Here's what to know about Donald Trump's inauguration.

This is Snow Laughing Matter

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"This is snow laughing matter.  My snowman is having a meltdown." – Love to Know 

We'll See Where Tipping the Scales Will Get Us

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Tariffs: Burdening Even Tiny Businesses With Expensive, Arduous Compliance

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Mark Cuban has warned that Trump's plan to impose sweeping tariffs on US imports would burden even tiny businesses with expensive, arduous compliance.

"I think one major point the discussion of tariffs is missing is the time and cost to businesses, even the smallest single person company," the tech billionaire said in an X post on Monday.

He goes on to say, "It's a lot of work. It's a lot of bureaucracy. It almost always required hiring a broker to deal with all of it. And of course there is the ongoing record keeping that each business is responsible for."

Why (Global) Small Business Owners Are Optimistic about 2025

Happy 2025 from the Global Small Business Blog!

©iStock/Maksim Prasolenko

"Be bold, persevere, set achievable goals, and expand globally.  When small businesses thrive, the world thrives.  Happy New Year!" – Laurel J. Delaney, creator of the Global Small Business Blog