by Laurel Delaney
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Small businesses are the heart and soul of our world entrepreneurial economy. They create, inspire, and fundamentally change people's lives.
In the United States, we keep nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit—a force that built America—and people from all over the world, rather than offering criticism, are engaging in the highest form of flattery: imitation.
We must be doing something right!
Let's take a look at 12 global small business trends to watch in 2008—trends that can be embraced by any culture and will add value to any nation.
1. Embrace the world
Small businesses will embrace the world and make globalization come true. When there is nowhere to grow, branching out globally offers a wealth of opportunity, including rapid expansion.
2. Export like mad
Small businesses will discover that a weak US dollar offers an exciting, challenging, and fantastic chance to export. It makes all American goods a flashing blue light special. As a result, small businesses will start to export like mad. Their mandate in 2008 will become "Go forth and export!"
3. Do whatever it takes
Small businesses will do whatever it takes to survive—good times or bad—and going global will be the ticket to thrive. For most entrepreneurs, decisions throughout the year will be made fast, and living with the consequences will be a fact of business life.
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Comments
by Colleen Tue Feb 12, 2008
Hi, Laurel, from a quintessential small-but-global company that's well known to you: Star Farm Productions.
You'd like the press release I just sent out: this month, Edgar & Ellen was picked up by Cartoon Network Latin America, and, intriguingly is about to be translated into Gaelic (!) for Irish TV. This brings us up to 78 countries for the TV series--to add to the 18 international publishers. I cross my fingers that your advice above is the route to success!
by Laurel Delaney Tue Feb 12, 2008
Hi, Colleen,
Top of the afternoon to you and yours! Great to hear from you and thrilled to learn that Star Farm has gone global! You are definitely doing what it takes to thrive in 2008!
Some dreamers look up at the sky and see heaven. I look up and see Star Farm (http://www.starfarmproductions.com/).
Give my best to Trish and keep us informed on progress.
Warm regards,
Laurel
by Manya Chylinski Tue Feb 12, 2008
Laurel,
Thanks for this article. As a small business myself (sole practitioner, writer) I've toyed with the idea of expanding my services beyond my borders. The biggest roadblocks at this point are me and my imagination.
This article inspires me to think broadly and to follow up with some of my ideas!
Manya
by Laurel Delaney Tue Feb 12, 2008
Hello Manya ... The world is your market but you can't sit back and think it will come to your homepage door. Put yourself out there. Just like you did here!
Thanks for taking the time to communicate. And start executing on those ideas!
Best wishes,
Laurel
by PLM Tue Feb 12, 2008
Silly article full of platitudes and generalities.
by Greg Chapman Tue Feb 12, 2008
Have you seen all the parcel forwarding companies that have come about to help small businesses expand internationally? Bongo International was developed by someone I know and they are doing exceptional. Business is growing like crazy because international consumers are looking for new ways to buy US products. Check out their site at http://www.BongoUS.com
by Laurel Delaney Wed Feb 13, 2008
Hi, Greg,
Did not know a thing about Bongo. Will check it out more thoroughly later. Thanks for sharing. UPS does an excellent job covering all shapes and sizes of shipments, including offering information on how to import/export your product (http://www.ups.com/globaladvisor). So often we ignore the reliable folks who've been around forever doing their work and doing it well.
As globalization continues to roar, we will see additional startups in the shipping sphere. And the more we know, the more we grow!
Many thanks,
Laurel
by Sam Tue Mar 25, 2008
Very generic article. Nothing to take away really! Why did I sign up?
by Laurel Delaney Tue Mar 25, 2008
Sam ~ That's a very good question and only you can answer!
Regards,
Laurel