Weak Dollar Has Small Businesses Thinking Globally

iStock/Thinkstock

The New York Times now reports on how the weak dollar has small businesses thinking globally. If you make your products in the U.S.A., think exports.

A hat tip to friend and colleague John Yunker at the Global By Design blog for the nudge.

Up next: Another guest expert weighs in with her comments about the 'R' word tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Wishes and Hopes....3/5

Where lies the future of Paris’ hospital?

Staff reports
The Paris News

Published January 27, 2008

It’s been a long time coming — and it may very well be quite some time before we actually see it happen — but Paris Regional Medical Center recently announced that it was another step closer to what it calls “campus consolidation.”

Chris Dux, the hospital’s CEO, told employees a couple of weeks ago that the hospital had purchased two new heart catheterization labs and a 64-slice CT scanner. One of the labs and the CT scanner were destined to be installed within two months at the hospital’s North Campus, the former McCuistion Regional Medical Center. The new equipment is to be part of the hospital’s planned Cardiac Center of Excellence, a facility dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart disease, providing a level of care previously only available in larger metropolitan hospitals.

As exciting as news of the advancement of the cardiac center is, the announcement that the hospital was another step further along in its long-range plans for the North Campus was just as exciting to the community at large.

As far back as the merger of Christus St. Joseph’s and McCuistion, Paris’ two long-time independent hospitals, into a single provider, hospital officials began to formulate long-range plans to make greater use of the facilities on the North Loop, expanding services offered there and building new structures on the open ground surrounding the main structure.

“Our long-term goal remains for Christus St. Joseph’s to relocate all services to the North Campus," said Monty McLaurin, chief executive officer of CSJ, as reported in an Aug. 8, 2002, story in The Paris News. The remark was part of a report on short-term relocation of services to the South Campus, a move designed to improve cash flow for the hospital.

When Essent Healthcare bought the hospital soon after, Essent officials went on record that they, too, saw the wisdom in eventually making greater use of the North Campus, with its open acreage and fewer busy city streets cutting through the grounds.

Dux told hospital staff at the meeting recently that the new equipment was “the first step in our campus consolidation.” He also announced that Essent had hired the nation’s largest designer and builder of healthcare facilities to assist the hospital with “a clear long-term plan for future expansion and growth of the North Campus.”

Such an announcement can’t help but make the people of Paris optimistic that Essent is prepared to do what it takes to make PRMC a first-rate medical facility. The hospital’s willingness to go forward with plans that will make best use of all available facilities should be encouraging to those of us who have watched the hospitals with a wary eye these past few years. We hope we are witnessing the first steps in returning Paris to its standing as a strong, stable center of regional medicine for Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma.

Personally, I'll believe it when I see it- but if it happens, it can't be soon enough. The south campus is landlocked, and I don't believe Brookshire's is going to close its doors any time soon, so expansion there is out of the question. --anonymous

My take is: status quo. There are some minimum upgrades needed for the cath lab...minimum to staying open. Putting in a 64-slice CT at the North campus might be just to appease Dr Hashmi...it becomes as unwieldy as the MRI when needed for a South Campus patient. By the time it would start to be utilized fully, it will be as outdated as the one it replaces....frank

Just Go For It: Take Your Business Global!

iStock/Thinkstock

I participated in this fabulous program UPS (along with Inc. and IBM) put on in November. I can't encourage you enough to take the time to listen to these podcasts where global small business owners share their successes that will inspire and empower you to take your business to the next level: global. If you can't tune-in to all of them, pick one or two that appeal to your interests.

And don't forget to download and read the invaluable Business Monitor Reports (refer to the upper right hand side of the site) to find out what's really holding small businesses back on going global.

GEM 2007 Executive Report: Six Questions With GEM Research Director

iStock/Thinkstock

I had the great pleasure to thoroughly read the GEM 2007 Executive Report again over the weekend. If you haven't already, I suggest you do so here. It is a gem -- filled with all sorts of amazing insights on the state of early-stage entrepreneurship. After digesting it all, we reached out to I. Elaine Allen, PhD, Research Director, Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship, Associate Professor of Statistics & Entrepreneurship, Babson College to ask her a series of questions about it since she is largely responsible for directing its research and contents.

We narrowed our questions down to six so it becomes a little like Cliff Notes -- providing you with a fresh take on the report. We thank Babson College (especially Elaine for her valuable time), the London School of Business and all the university teams from each participating country for their hard work on this immensely complex topic concerning the role of entrepreneurship in national economic growth. Here are the questions along with Elaine's responses.

1. Question: How is it possible for low-income countries to exhibit such high rates of early-stage entrepreneurial activity?

Answer: In our survey we divide early stage entrepreneurship into Necessity-driven entrepreneurs who are pushed into starting companies because all other options for work are either absent or unsatisfactory and Opportunity-driven entrepreneurs who start companies to exploit a business opportunity. In low-income countries, Necessity entrepreneurship is driving individuals to start companies. These high rates do not incorporate the value or potential revenues of the new company so these may be quite small endeavors started with micro-financing. Our definition of early stage entrepreneurship is nascent entrepreneurs who plan to start a company in the next three months or have a new company less than three months old that is not paying wages and new entrepreneurs who have companies less than 42 months old.

While the dichotomy between low/middle and high-income countries is striking, there are also dichotomies that remain in all countries between male and female entrepreneurship. While rates are lower for female early stage entrepreneurs in all countries, in low/middle-income countries the motivation is almost entirely necessity while in high-income countries women are opportunity motivated entrepreneurs who cite independence, rather than increased income, as their reason for starting a company.

2. Question: Why does the United States exhibit such high rates of early-stage entrepreneurial activity? What's leading that surge?

Answer: When you look at our figure of the rate of entrepreneurship plotted versus the GDP per capita, in general you see a U-shaped curve with high rates of early entrepreneurship in low/middle income countries, very low levels of entrepreneurship in most high-income countries but an increase in entrepreneurship rates as you move to countries with some of the highest rates of entrepreneurship, such as the US, Iceland, and Hong Kong. This pattern has persisted throughout the 10 years of the survey. Reasons for the US continuing high rate of entrepreneurship can be partly explained by cultural values but economically it probably has to do with some of the lowest levels of perceived ‘red tape’ involved in starting a business and also the lower cost involved in starting a business in the US compared to other high-income countries.

Although the US rate is high for high-income countries (it ranks 3rd behind Iceland and Hong Kong with a rate of early stage entrepreneurship of about 10%), it is in the middle of the pack among all countries where there the highest rates are in Peru and Venezuela (greater than 20%) and the lowest rates in Austria and Sweden (less than 3%).

3. Question: How does an individual's perception affect his/her ability to start a business in the area where they live? What factors are involved?

Answer: We see in our survey that both individual perceptions and contact and familiarity with business and other entrepreneurs have a great deal to do with whether you start a company. A low perception of any fear of failure is key to becoming an entrepreneur and knowing an investor in early-stage companies or other entrepreneurs is cited as a reason for starting a new business.

When we examine entrepreneurship regionally and in cities across the world, a slightly different picture of entrepreneurship appears as rates of entrepreneurship are very high in some of the high-income countries. The Top 10 cities for entrepreneurship are: Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Auckland, Los Angeles, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney, New York, and Hamburg. A new initiative starting in 2008 by GEM will be a closer examination of cities and entrepreneurship to identify what the business sectors are for early stage entrepreneurs and what their characteristics (immigrants, education, age, income) might indicate.

4. Question: If you could lump it into one thing, what is the single greatest factor that keeps an individual in any part of the world from starting a business? What's the one thing that entices them to get them started?

Answer: It is hard to pick just one thing that discourages someone from becoming an entrepreneurs but perhaps the two most important are access to capital and being employed. Access to business funding is interesting because the overwhelming majority of early stage businesses are funded by the founders own money or money from family and friends, even in countries with strong programs and policies to encourage entrepreneurs. The GEM survey (through a separate survey of experts in entrepreneurship worldwide) has found that it takes a long time for individual entrepreneurs to learn and take advantage of government programs designed to encourage entrepreneurship.

A final big factor is the perception that most early-stage businesses will fail. The GEM Survey shows, by comparing the rates of early and established entrepreneurship, that in some countries the conversion rate for businesses (how many new business last longer than 42 months) can be as high as 80%. In the US, our survey estimates this to be between 45% and 60%, a much higher than is often quoted.

Being employed is a counter-intuitive finding and is strongest in low/middle-income countries. Having a job (even part-time employment) is highly correlated with perceiving lower risk levels in starting a business. One interpretation of this is that being employed allows an individual to understand the market and business better as well as coming in contact with other entrepreneurs and acquaintances who could invest some money in a new business.

If we examine motivations in high-income countries, such as the US, it is clear that individuals start a business when an opportunity is seen in an area with few competitors and fast growth. The ability to use new technology and the view that this may include globalization also appear to drive US entrepreneurs.

5. Question: How does an open international trade system -- sales to other countries -- benefit entrepreneurs?

Answer: Our survey asks early-stage business owners as well as established business owners to estimate how much of their business will be from other countries and we classify a business as being ‘global’ if at least 25% is not in their country. There is an inverse relationship between the World Bank’s classification of a country’s barriers to international trade and its rate of entrepreneurship. Also, those companies that have identified global marketing as part of their early-stage entrepreneurship, also are more likely to have plans for higher growth and higher revenues.

6. Question: Based on the GEM 2007 Executive Report findings, what does the future hold for global entrepreneurs?

Answer: Global entrepreneurship continues to grow and countries with very low rates of entrepreneurship like Japan and the Netherlands have seen increases in early-stage entrepreneurship over the last 5 years (Japan, 2.0% to 4.3% and the Netherlands, 4.0% to 5.2%). The US rate has been stable (between 10% and 12% over the last 5 years) with some gender trade-offs in growth by more women entrepreneurs starting businesses.

The World Trade Organization and the World Bank’s figures predict a growing global economy with increased open international trade. Micro-financing in low/middle-income countries is clearly responsible for some of the high rates of early stage entrepreneurship in these countries but this may also be due to an increased number of countries embracing national policies encouraging company start-ups while a reduction of red tape in some high-income countries with very low rates of entrepreneurship (i.e.; Greece and Belgium) may increase start-ups in these countries.

Just in (1/31/08): Due to our summary report featured here, we have been added to the Babson College press release.

Updated (2/6/08): Elaine Allen's podcast with BusinessWeek online about GEM. It's headlined "What Helps and Hinders Entrepreneurs."

Gear Up For Globalization: Answers From Real People (#2)

iStock/Thinkstock

Question from:

Laurel Delaney, Founder and President, GlobeTrade:

"Do you think Ex-Im Bank will cut back or be more willing to extend loans to SMEs (that qualify on exports) this year in light of a possible recession?"

Answer from:

Harvey Bronstein, Senior International Economist, U.S. Small Business Administration, Washington

"As far as ExIm Bank, you'll have to talk with them.

As far as recession, the US is not in a recession, which is commonly defined as two quarters, that is a period of six months, over which the size of the US economy actually shrinks. For the third quarter of 2007, that is through Sept. 30, the economy actually grew almost 5%, far above the long-term average growth rate of the economy. Although growth will almost certainly be slower in the fourth quarter of 2007 than it was for the earlier part of the year, one quarter of slow growth does not equal "recession."

Concerning job creation, small businesses often create well over one-half of all net new jobs in the economy. Please refer to the link below on our website:

6. How many new jobs do small firms create?

Over the past decade, small businesses created 60 to 80 percent of the net new jobs. In the most recent year with data (2004), small firms accounted for all of the net new jobs. Firms with fewer than 500 employees had a net gain of 1.86 million new jobs. Large firms with 500 or more employees lost more jobs than they created, for a net loss of 181,122 jobs. For information on employment dynamics by firm size from 1989 to 2004, see www.sba.gov/advo/research/data.html#us.

On small business and exporting, 2007 will be a record year with small businesses racking up over $400 billion in exports. While in the third quarter of 2007 the economy grew 5%, exports grew by 19%. So long as the dollar remains weak and other countries' economies strong, the outlook for exports is bright."

Note from LD: Interesting "definition" of Export-Import (Exim) Bank at Answers.com.

Globalization, Small-Biz Style

iStock/Thinkstock

Young entrepreneurs in emerging markets find the Internet allows them to scale up operations without huge financial outlays. Read all about it here.

Another Lawsuit Appears....2/7

While not confirmed online, I received notice of another PRMC lawsuit, but this time with them as the defendent:

Jerry Dean, individually and on behalf of the estate of Wanda Dean v. Adam Gunder M.D.; Paris Regional Medical Center LP; EHC PRMC GP, LLC; EHC PRMC LP, LLC; Essent PRMC LP; Essent Healthcare - Paris Inc.
1/25/2008 208cv027

(It is a medical malpractice suit, alleging the person died from a heart attack after she was turned away from Paris Regional Medical Center's emergency center. )

What makes this interesting is Dr Gunder's pending departure from Paris. That and why a hospitalist is being sued based on an ER turnaway. I imagine we'll see in the months to come...frank

Current open cases are:

Ours, of course, the gang of 10 (John Does 1-10, Happy Hour meeting at Applebees on Fridays)

NONA HARRIS VS. KHALID SHAFIQ, M. D., RAPHAEL LUI, M. D., AND ESSENT PRMC, L. P., D/B/A PARIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER


WORLDWIDE IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES-TEXAS, LLC VS. ESSENT PRMC, L. P. D/B/A PARIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER


DEBRA BROWN AND IN THE INTEREST OF BRITTANY BROWN VS. PARIS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
This one has a default judgement, but 01/17/2008 lists an "ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL."

For an interesting read, search the courthouse civil database using "Paris Regional". (More times than not, dismissed by Plaintiff means a settlement prior to jury.) ...f



Quote from brennanlaw.com.au: Martin Luthur King " The law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me". Most magistrates feel the same way.

Can You Be Semi-Global?

iStock/Thinkstock

Everyone knows you can't be semi-pregnant but can you be semi-global?

Read the interesting post by Benjamin Sargent at Global Watchtower covering book theories about semi-globalization versus the world is flat.

Gear Up For Globalization: Answers From Real People

iStock/Thinkstock

Question from:

Laurel Delaney, Founder and President, GlobeTrade:

"Do you think Ex-Im Bank will cut back or be more willing to extend loans to SMEs (that qualify on exports) this year in light of a possible recession?"

Answer from:

Chad Moutray, Chief Economist & Director of Economic Research, U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy:

"Small businesses are increasingly sophisticated global players who are able to spot opportunities, whether these are found in their local communities or across the globe. The depreciated dollar has given entrepreneurs -- many of whom had not looked at the export market before -- a golden opportunity to pursue sales abroad."

Regarding the possibility of a downturn, Moutray referred us to this study (be prepared for an immediate PDF file download) by Craig and Kohlhase that had been released in December 2006. Note the research summary's overall finding: "Small firms play a vital role in maintaining economic growth in urban areas."

Moutray does not follow the movings of the Ex-Im Bank so there was no comment on the loan policy.

Sign up for Advocacy's ListServ here.

Add on from LD (1/26/08): Interesting "definition" of Export-Import (Exim) Bank at Answers.com.

Gear Up For Globalization

iStock/Thinkstock

We are gearing up to rally the global small business troups to export like mad in 2008 -- a year when the U.S. dollar is so low that it makes exports of all American goods a flashing blue light special.

In getting started, we have been working behind the scenes to create a new global platform for small businesses that will help them connect, collaborate and do more business internationally but you must first sign up for Borderbuster to learn about the launch on February 5th. Yes, word will get out fast, but why wait? Go here.

Next, we decided to reach out by email to the best of the best of global business experts and ask their opinion relative to the following question:

Do you think Ex-Im Bank will cut back or be more willing to extend loans to SMEs (that qualify on exports) this year in light of a possible recession?

My belief is that entrepreneurs and small businesses are typically the ones who create jobs in a downturn (refer to WSJ commentaries here and here) and that they most certainly lead the way on exports.

Let's see what some of our experts weigh in with starting tomorrow. You won't want to miss this.

And saving the best for last, on Tuesday, January 29th, we will be interviewing GEM Research Director I. Elaine Allen, PhD, on the latest key findings from the GEM 2007 Executive Report.

Be sure to stay tuned on all these great channels of global small business information.

World Trade Organization 2007 Data and Foreign Trade Statistics

iStock/Thinkstock

Due to reader inquiries (and the media), we went on a virtual mission to find direct links to trade data. The WTO has released two updated statistical publications. This year’s edition of the annual “International Trade Statistics," released electronically on 12 November 2007, has a more user-friendly presentation and expanded content on trade in services

Also available electronically is a fabulous updated “Trade Profiles," which offers a quick but comprehensive look (197 pages!) at WTO members’ trade statistics and policy measures and those of countries negotiating WTO membership.

Go here to access WTO information.

If you want or need more data, the best of the best is published by U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Statistics.

RBN – Out with the New and in with the Old – Mebroot

The Russian Business Network (RBN) is using one of their usual deceptive approaches of confusing by the use of old domains and recycling exploit techniques, this is the case with Mebroot. There has rightly been a great deal of press (see links below) concerning Mebroot as identified by Symantec on Jan 8th 08. This is a rootkit exploit that overwrites part of a computer's hard drive called the Master Boot Record (MBR). This is still deadly and a difficult exploit with is its ability, once established and undetected it confound most anti-virus software, the purpose is to hijack the user’s PC which will then redirect to download other exploits to steal banking information and ID theft. Good news is there are some straight forward detection and removal tools e.g. GMER – also see on their website a great write up of how a rootkit actually works.




So what is new? Well the exploit sites are now using a fast-flux P2P botnet and the exploit is polymorphic i.e. the ability to alter its form and mutate. But this approach is the same old stuff by a different name, it is: Torpig, Anserin, Gromozon, etc……even using some of the old domains for distribution. So where does the “new” exploit names come from, unfortunately us. Our constant reductionist approach to BadWare is utilized by RBN to confound and we play right into their hands, every time we rename their stuff it makes it easier for them to blend into the confusion. The old is forgotten or not reported and they reuse the old stuff all over again, when we all start using a commonly accepted holistic linguistic approach to the problem, we may win this war.

For details a “small” sample, especially for our Italian Gromozon readers:

This particular example callsolutions(dot)biz is on one of our old friends Pilosoft AS26627, with a bunch of RBN’s “very young” erotic sites sharing the name server – a(dot)ns(dot)joker(dot)com.

As a comparative link, and no RBN blog article would be complete without mention of the RBN’s US division – kopythian(dot)com - Atrivo AS27595; AKA Inhoster, Intercage, and pecb(dot)cc at Atrivo’s Cernal AS36445.

Also just so no-one could say we are picking on Atrivo or where is the RBN link? See the following “joining up the dots” of a very small sample out of 100’s of exploit domains on the same Atrivo name server managedns1.estboxes.com:

2007postcards(dot)com (Storm),
malwareburn(dot)com (rogue anti-virus),
procodec(dot)com (fake codec),
virusheal(dot)com (rogue anti-virus),
xxl-cash(dot)com (RBN payment site) –
plus a cryptic graphic for our readers from the RBN so they know this is not guesswork.

IP figures:







Gmer - anti-rootkit download

Gmer - how a rootkit works

Symantec - Mebroot article

BBC - Mebroot

International Trade (2006)

iStock/Thinkstock

We received the following trade statistics for 2006 from our friend Myles Matthews, President and CEO of Global Trade & Technology Center. He indicated it will take a few months to analyze trade information for 2007.

The United States trade set a record for total trade which includes total exports, imports, and total trade deficit in 2006. In 2006 exports surpassed a milestone exceeding $1 trillion for the first time. Fewer than 5% of all countries (11) held almost 80% of the US trade deficit. The 5 leading countries in order of these 11 where China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Germany.

The US probably surpassed $3 trillion in total trade in 2007. US trade with 39 nations exceeded $10 billion in 2006, an increase of 5% over 2005.

The 25 leading ports of entry and exit in the US for 2006 where:

1 Los Angeles -- $329.4 billion total trade +12.3%
2 New York/New Jersey -- $295.0 billion total trade +10.2%
3 Detroit -- $238.5 billion total trade +3.7%
4 Houston/Galveston -- $162.2 billion total trade +18.9%
5 Laredo -- $157.4 billion total trade +13.0%
6 New Orleans -- $152.8 billion total trade +17.4%
7 Chicago -- $120.6 billion total trade +11.1%
8 Seattle -- $119.9 billion total trade +19.2%
9 San Francisco -- $111.1 billion total trade +12.3%
10 Atlanta/Savannah -- $82.5 billion total trade +13.7%
11 Buffalo -- $82.2 billion total trade +6.0%
12 Cleveland -- $77.6 billion total trade +11.1%
13 Miami -- $72.1 billion total trade +9.4%
14 Philadelphia -- $69.2 billion total trade +19.3%
15 Dallas/Fort Worth -- $58.2 billion total trade +17.5%
16 El Paso -- $52.3 billion total trade +9.0%
17 San Diego -- $50.8 billion total trade +17.0%
18 Charleston -- $49.2 billion total trade +2.6%
19 Norfolk -- $44.5 billion total trade +10.4%
20 Ogdensburg, New York -- $44.4 billion total trade +7.2%
21 Great Falls, Montana -- $40.3 billion total trade +9.3%
22 Baltimore -- $39.6 billion total trade +2.6%
23 Tampa -- $37.6 billion total trade +27.8%
24 Boston -- $33.3 billion total trade +3.7%
25 San Juan -- $32.6 billion total trade +11.4%

These numbers will continue to improve for exports based on the value of the dollar.

"I Have a Dream"

iStock/Thinkstock

If Martin Luther King, Jr. were still alive today, his dream of racial equality would be more relevant than ever and global in reach.

Today, in honor of Dr. King, I will be out of my office learning all I can about what inspired him, and for those worldwide who wish to know more about his dream, visit here.

If You Do, Or If You Don't....2/6

Enough traffic has come back on the ER/CT issue that it gets its own post. One video tracker lists the 'reports' that are on the news channels. I solicited the following from some of those in the field:

Years ago, it was often said that radiology and lab was used to "rule out" this or that ailment because the doctor's didn't know how to make a clinical diagnosis. As a kid, I had right lower stomach pain and the family doctor did a simple blood test, pressed on the area that was hurting and told my parents to get me to the hospital ASAP and the surgeon would be waiting to take my appendix out. Today, it's lot's of lab work, plus a CT and then surgery. I think we can thank in large part of this particular dog and pony show to trial lawyers for driving up the price of a simple diagnosis. That's a whole different topic for another time!

On the plus side, CT has eliminated so many x-ray studies I couldn't count them. The numbers must be huge. Plus, the difference in radiation dose in a minimally invasive CT versus an angiogram (name your study) has to be significantly lower. And, many of these exams are performed on an outpatient basis eliminating lengthy hospital stays while recovering from such procedures. The diagnostic results are far, far superior to the "old" methods and techniques once touted as leading edge technology.

In a nutshell, CT may be over used by some physicians as a CYA defense, but on the whole, it's such a valuable tool that it has become the standard of care in medicine.

And:

CT is a great thing. It lets us see into areas of the body that "the sun don't shine". And that's good. However, the over-use of radiation in any form is not. If you go into the ER, and I mean virtually any ER, and you have a cold, headache, miscellaneous pain, or trouble with your bowels (too active, or not enough), you will have an X-ray, and/or a CT. And, if you go there the next day, or a week later, the likelihood is that you will get the exact same treatment.

It doesn't mean that the treatment you will receive is bad, it just means that an emergency room is for EMERGENCIES. So, that's why you are directed to follow-up with your family physician. Without knowing you, the ER performs the same general screening time after time.

Last:

All xrays and lab tests are overused in the ER. I know this because I have a good friend who is a board certified ER doc and he would tell you: ER docs are the whores of the hospital. They are hired to do the dirty job that staff physcians don't want to do (ER coverage) but when the fecal matter hits the rotating blades, the staff docs won't hesitate to let the ER docs hang in the wind. So to cover their bottoms, they order more lab and xray, CT, etc than they really need, because it all comes down to our lawsuit happy society. CT is a great tool and it is over used, but it's either that or lawsuits every day and no more ER docs to cover.

Links to further reading:
Consumer Reports
The Washington Post
US News and World Report
Wellness.com
Common Good
Sign My Cast

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report (GEM) 2007 Released

iStock/Thinkstock

Dawn has broken in Chicago and as promised (and corrected), below is the latest GEM Report.

Download it here.

The World's Most Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Report

iStock/Thinkstock

We will be releasing the best of the best in global entrepreneurial research reports here tomorrow at the crack of dawn Chicago (CDT) time.

Stay tuned.

Found in Translation

iStock/Thinkstock

The more global you are, the more you need a good translation service and I am not talking about free online translation tools where you get a sentence translated. I am referring to translating important things such as your entire website, company's collateral material, legal documents and even email communications to ensure communications are understood.

Take a look at this article. Think the author is on target?

Operation China

iStock/Thinkstock

How do you go from idea stage to strategy to doing business in China? Well a good portion of those answers can be found here.

Although Operation China focuses on multinational corporations, you can still, even as a global small business, pick up good insights (for example, as the authors note: even the best strategies are only as good as their execution) and winning tips on how to do business in China.

Co-authors Hexter and Woetzel have been consultants in McKinsey's offices in Greater China for more than fifteen years and are considered experts on the subject matter. Check it out. Take full advantage of what this book has to offer.

Back to the Obvious....2/4

They are no longer just looking at the heart hospital but moving the whole shabang to the north campus. They finally realize the logistics and the PR of the community [needs] a new fresh start.

According to the Essent, they're going ahead with the heart hospital...and possibly a new facility at the north campus location. Where is this influx of cash coming from? Probably the investors, who realize that unless they fund this properly, the whole ball of wax might melt. (Besides, no offers to buy.)

My question is will they actually try to get input from the people who will have to work there to make it a user friendly building or will they just go ahead and plow on thru with no clue to what a hospital is really for??

So, what should they consider when building this medical Mecca? Functional proximity, for one thing. Room size, equipment staging and storage areas, and planning for future technology/expansion (what hospital hasn't had to expand?) HIPPA requirements (avoiding the viewing of patient records at nursing stations). Flexible tasking of rooms and floors (being able to ramp up acuity levels as needed with appropriate plumbing [O2, suction, and monitoring] in place.)

Possibly even on-floor waiting areas, which while adding to the cost, are less costly per square foot than patient areas, and can be designed with an eye towards that inevitable expansion (if they are in it for the long term.)

Let's do it right, this time. Just please: Not another naming contest!

What Sets The Best Apart?

iStock/Thinkstock

When Subroto Bagchi and nine other colleagues launched Mindtree Consulting in 1999, he believed he had two responsibilities. The first was to build the company as a global information technology and research and development services firm. The second was to document his entrepreneurial experience, not with 20-20 hindsight -- as many businesspeople do -- but as it unfolded.

Want to know what he did and how he did it? Go here.

Global Tip of the Week

iStock/Thinkstock

"Never assume that what plays in the States will resonate in the world."

Read where it came from here. Great story. Many lessons to be learned (when to open an overseas office?) and many great ideas to act on (who should open it for you?).

And don't think milk is the only thing you should shake for a winning global recipe! Dig deep into this article ... some truly great nuggets of advice but you have to look for them.

Disruptive Innovator: Is That You?

iStock/Thinkstock

Calling all global small business owners!

If you are an owner (and disruptive innovator on technology), president, or chief executive of a company with 100 employees or less that has driven a significant change and/or developed a competitive advantage in delivering superior customer value and experience, Dell wants to hear your story. In addition, they want you to share customer testimonials to show how technology has helped you improve customer relationships.

The International Council for Small Business (ICSB) (www.icsb.org) announced that it is partnering with Dell and Endeavor (www.endeavor.org) to expand the Dell Small Business Excellence Award internationally (www.dell.com/ceaward). Small businesses in countries around the world will be eligible to compete by demonstrating how they use information technology in innovative ways to better serve customers. Additional countries participating in the award program will be announced in the coming weeks.
Winners will receive ... up to $50,000 in Dell solutions, a lifetime ICSB membership and the opportunity to engage with Endeavor's network of business leaders and high-impact entrepreneurs in emerging-market countries world-wide.

Get ready, get set, go here.

Deadline: February 29, 2008!

RBN – 365fastcash, Panama, and 1488 RU

As regular readers know the Russian Business Network (RBN) originally utilized an extensive virtual base in Panama (Nevacon), we can now report they are back. The new hive centers on AS26426 Optynex Telecom Sa, Calle 53, Piso 18, Panama City, Panama) Phone: 210-9900 and cybercastco.com name servers (special thanks to Jim McQuaid and Snort expertise).

There are numerous domains but to select a sample of domains, in this article we can focus on two, 365fastcash(dot)com and Jidov(dot)net. It is also pleasing to show these are already encompassed within RBN Snort Rules on EmergingThreats.net (bleeding-rbn-BLOCK.rules)

365fastcash has been delivering a truly blended threat by using an automated telephone dialing system to ask people for the last 4 digits of their social security number. This was flooding switchboards at a well known US charitable organization a few days ago, and was obviously the first of many.

Interestingly there are two sub-domains “back1.365fastcash” and “bavk1.365fastcash” both are similar structures to earlier reported 76service and 76team. The difference on this occasion the likely personal ID data storage is on direct links from the sub-domains to Level3 Communications; box(dot)net, a service that provides the ability to collaborate and share files online. No doubt Level 3 will be able to inform US authorities of the content of these data files, and terminate such services. Further IP and SSL details below.

Jidov(dot)net provides an interesting political twist for the RBN as this is the safe hosting location for 1488(dot)ru. To those who are not aware 1488 RU is the supposedly banned, violent, and very well financed Russian Nazi group. The 14 represents the 14-word slogan: "We must secure the existence of our people and a future for White children” and 88 represents eighth letter of the alphabet, with HH standing for Heil Hitler. The question now arises does this represent the source of the RBN’s political views or just an expensive bullet proof (was) hosting.

Forum Intro:

(RU) Друзья, мы рады сообщить Вам, что теперь сайт 1488.ru доступен из доменной зоны Jidov.net . Развитие проекта идет полным ходом. Благодарим Вас за внимание к нашему ресурсу. Скоро мы сможем предложить Вам регистрацию доменов третьего уровня в наших доменных зонах (Ваш ник.1488.ru и Ваш ник.jidov.net). Так же, мы готовы предложить вам размещение банеров на страницах нашего ресурса.

(EN) Friends, we are glad to report to you that now the site to 1488.ru is accessible from the domain zone Jidov.net. The development of design occurs full speed. We thank you for the attention to our resource. Soon we will be able to propose to you registration it is pre-barter the third level in our domain zones (your nik.1488..ru and your it nik..jidov.net). So, we are prepared to propose to you the arrangement of banners for the pages of our resource.

Further details: 365Fastcash - 200.115.173.215 - Registrar: KEY-SYSTEMS GMBH, Whois Server: whois.rrpproxy.net Name Server: NS1.CYBERCASTCO.COM, NS2.CYBERCASTCO.COM: 06-dec-2007


SSL Information for 200.115.173.215

SSLv2	Yes	Cipher Spec: SSL2_RC4_128_WITH_MD5 [010080] Cipher Spec: SSL2_RC2_CBC_128_CBC_WITH_MD5 [030080] Cipher Spec: SSL2_DES_192_EDE3_CBC_WITH_MD5 [0700c0] Cipher Spec: SSL2_DES_64_CBC_WITH_MD5 [060040] Cipher Spec: SSL2_RC4_128_EXPORT40_WITH_MD5 [020080] Cipher Spec: SSL2_RC2_CBC_128_CBC_WITH_MD5 [040080] Connection ID: 26ad291530a4cc910e9c066877bda0f0
SSLv3	Yes	Cipher Spec: TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA (256 bit) [000039]
TLS 1.0	Yes	Cipher Spec: TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA (256 bit) [000039]

JIDOV(dot)NET - 200.115.171.200 Registrar: ESTDOMAINS; Name Servers: NS1.CYBERCASTCO.COM, NS2.CYBERCASTCO.COM, 11-nov-2007

SSL Information for 200.115.171.200

SSLv2	Yes	Cipher Spec: SSL2_RC4_128_WITH_MD5 [010080] Cipher Spec: SSL2_RC2_CBC_128_CBC_WITH_MD5 [030080] Cipher Spec: SSL2_DES_192_EDE3_CBC_WITH_MD5 [0700c0] Cipher Spec: SSL2_DES_64_CBC_WITH_MD5 [060040] Cipher Spec: SSL2_RC4_128_EXPORT40_WITH_MD5 [020080] Cipher Spec: SSL2_RC2_CBC_128_CBC_WITH_MD5 [040080] Connection ID: 85feb66767c2560349e7409f2b25118f
SSLv3	Yes	Cipher Spec: TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA (256 bit) [000039]
TLS 1.0	Yes	Cipher Spec: TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA (256 bit) [000039]

Chicago's Place In the World

iStock/Thinkstock

Is Chicago a hub to the world? To outsiders, possibly. To natives, probably not. Find out more here and let us know what you think.

RBN - Storm Botnet, the Changing Chessboard

In a follow up to the earlier Russian Business Network (RBN) "New and Improved Storm Botnet for 2008" the chessboard changes yet again. In this game of chess our opponents started over Christmas with a full frontal attack, but have already now switched to a flanking moves. Perhaps on this occasion the community may be able to slow down the advance to force a draw or maybe even win this particular game of chess?

The key is to understand and combat the Storm 2008's innovative elements and attempt to quantify progress of the game. With the aid of early analysis by Thorsten Holz / The German Honeynet Project and based on limited initial data we have attempted to produce a predictive trend analysis of the Storm Botnet to rebuild and reach 1 million PCs. This is shown in figure 1, given current analysis shows a growth from say 10,000 on Dec-22 to 30/40,000 by Jan-03, on a conservative analysis Storm should reach 1 million by Mid Feb 08.

So at least a we now have a potential game progress definition; for the RBN it would be a disappointment if they did not easily clear this target, for the community the aim is to limit the target. Game on?

To play this game we all better know the rules of deception, on a current assessment of progress against the innovative Storm elements:

# First the good news so far 2,147 fake and or infected Blogspots have been detected and are flagged by Google as shown in the StopBadWare clearing house.

# Further good news on checking most of the Storm attack domains (see list below) are either SBL or XBL listed on Spamhaus et. al.

# Some confusion in the ranks as assumptions are made as to locations or even selective attacks. As described elsewhere the botnet control panel(s) are now much more sophisticated, with the ability to decide which geographic region and areas to attack. Interestingly if the PC still subject to earlier infection there will be no further re-infection. # As noted the polymorphic nature is clearly present to confuse i.e. the virus or exploits have the ability to alter its signature in an attempt to combat anti-virus tools.

# Most worrying is the constant stream of domains and the "fast-flux" technique used to avoid detection as mentioned in this case is actually “double-flux” characterized by multiple nodes within the network registering and de-registering their addresses. This implies as fast as IPs are block listed, it would seem "Snort" which is capable of performing packet logging and real-time traffic analysis on IP networks, may at last demonstrate its earlier promise.

# Finally it is fairly safe to predict there will be further attacks on the search engines and via social engineering i.e. Face Book, etc.


The current Storm attack domains and related fakes (also ref links below: Malwaredomains, Emerging Threats, honeywall blog, and US Cert) although of limited number to begin with are now:
10000xing(dot)cn - 222360(dot)com - adslooks(dot)info - bnably(dot)com - eqcorn(dot)com - familypostcards2008(dot)com - freshcards2008(dot)com -happy2008toyou(dot)com - happysantacards(dot)com - hellosanta2008(dot)com - hohoho2008(dot)com - kqfloat(dot)com - ltbrew(dot)com - mymetavids(dot)com - obebos(dot)cn - parentscards(dot)com - postcards-2008(dot)com - ptowl(dot)com - qavoter(dot)com - santapcards(dot)com - santawishes2008(dot)com - siski(dot)cn - snbane(dot)com - snlilac(dot)com - tibeam(dot)com - tushove(dot)com - wxtaste(dot)com - yxbegan(dot)com

The specific Storm exploits have overlapped with fake anti-malware and fake codecs which are polymorphic in their nature: ArcadeWorld(dot)exe - ArcadeWorldGame(dot)exe - ClickHere(dot)exe - codecnice1126(dot)dmg - codecnice1126(dot)exe - codecultra1123(dot)dmg - codecultra1123(dot)exe - ecard(dot)exe - fck2008(dot)exe - Flash_Postcard(dot)exe - FlashPostcard(dot)exe - Full Story(dot)exe - FullClip(dot)exe - FullNews(dot)exe - FullVideo(dot)exe - GreetingCard(dot)exe - GreetingPostcard(dot)exe - happy_2008(dot)exe - happy2008(dot)exe - Install_video_3913230(dot)exe - MoreHere(dot)exe - NflStatTracker(dot)exe - Postcard(dot)exe - Read_More(dot)exe - ReadMore(dot)exe - sony(dot)exe - stripshow(dot)exe - Video(dot)exe - VideoAccessCodecInstall(dot)exe - virusranger(dot)exe - vrsvc(dot)exe

Storm Growth analysis - German HoneyNet
Malwaredomains
Emerging Threats
US Cert

Econ 101....3/2

This was too good to pass up, so I left it as a comment, and used it in a post:

So far, this looks very promising. Those of us who are involved in this agree with the triad of Patient-Nurse-Physician comfort and confidence. I feel that the employees are THE biggest asset a company has (maybe it's only asset, since it's the only one that a company can control, as to mix and content). However, THE engine that drives the boat is the PATIENT. We must re-establish confidence in the system.

The LIST is so far a good one and will go a long way toward providing a foundation for guidance. Thank you, Paris.

Darn, he said what I wanted to. I could say 'ditto', but that's been used.

Obviously, in a free market society, the customer is king, within limitations. The hospital has two, if we simplify: Patients and providers. We have found out what happens when either or both are dissatisfied.

Essent bought into Paris because of a miss-interpretation of the market: Since we only have 'one' hospital, they thought they had a monopoly. They didn't read the hospital wrong as far as needs, they just didn't care. They figured that it was a closed market. That explains a lot. What they did read wrong was the patients.

Now I can get my head around the comment from so long ago: "We hope to make this 'the' hospital in the region...." W. Hudson Connery, CEO/President of Essent Healthcare.

I would say that this has been a learning experience on both sides....frank

Feedback....2/4

I was asked, in a comment, for your input (which we get in the afore mentioned comments) in a more ordered structure.

I am an interested physician who reads your blog. Would you consider asking your readership for a listing of grievances, in order to form a priority recipe, of those issues that employees, patients and physicians find most troubling with the current hospital's plight? This would help those of us who feel an intense need to help.

And, even if it were the hospital asking, I'd be willing. There is really no down-side. Let's keep the comments on this one limited to direct issues. "Administration is full of @#$%!" is not what I'm looking for; "Administration is hiding significant issues" would be. And then, possibly, an explanation.

This may not be as 'fun', but it certainly gives more credence to complaints, comments, and the blog.

We're sure to find a hot-button item or two to keep things interesting, and at the end will be a vote for priority. I would suggest that commenting would be the least revealing method, and if two comments reflect the same issue, only one will be added to the list.



There are several reasons to do this: Public awareness (of the blog as a venue.) Public recognition of problems. Public pressure. As for results: A large number of readers are employees, so an improvement in conditions has a direct effect. We are all potential patients in a life-or-death situation.



Based on the season:

He's making a list, checking it twice....

THE LIST:

1. highly skilled docs boarded in emergency medicine;
2. a nursing staff with a modicum of competence and compassion;
3. better triage procedures;
4. a bigger ER.
5. better customer service
6. CEUs
7. better attitudes
8. follow-through with suggestions and complaints
9. support for the nursing staff
10. updating equipment
11. more personal contact by physicians with patient families post surgery
12. more respect for allied health personnel
13. more community involvement
14. YOUR COMMENT

Has anyone noticed that the majority of the comments are "people" issues? Many of which are low- to no- cost items. Three are high-cost (full ER boarded physicians don't grow on trees, neither do ER expansions, nor equipment.) Training personnel isn't cheap, but neither is constant turnover and "insured flight" (kind of like "white flight" from cities.)

You have to make this the hospital that its own staff would go to. How many of the physicians on staff (or their families) have you seen as patients?

2008 Global Trend Toolkit

iStock/Thinkstock

Happy New Year! May it be your year for doing business with the world.

We hope this 2008 Global Trend Toolkit that we put together below provides a road map to your future!

Get ready, get started, go global!

Prediction for 2008: Business and Website Globalization, Technology, and Business Models

Web Globalization Predictions: 2008 and Beyond

Resolutions To Do Business Globally in 2008

Keeping You at the Forefront of Global Business

Eight Business Technology Trends To Watch

2008 Small Business Trends and Predictions

Advertising Trends to Watch in 2008

Top 10 Marketing Trends for 2008 (look for the listing and PDF file to download)

10 Media Trends to Watch in 2008

2008 Top Hotel and Restaurant Trends to Watch

Ten Wine Trends to Watch in 2008

Six Enterprise Application Trends to Watch in 2008

5 Wireless Trends to Watch in 2008

Small Business Trends (constantly updated)

Five Tech Trends to Watch in 2008

8 Important Consumer Trends for 2008
Seven Virtualization Trends to Watch in 2008

E-commerce Trends to Watch in 2008

E-business Trends to Watch in 2008

Packaging Trends to Watch in 2008

Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2008

Financial Trends for 2008 by Wall Street & Technology

Stuck? Visit Google's Trends Lab

Have we missed your trend report? Let us know and we will post it.