50 Most Influential Women

iStock/Thinkstock

I am honored -- Laurel Delaney -- to have been nominated for the Irish Voice's 2008 50 Most Influential Women by The Irish Voice Newspaper. This is a celebration of Irish-American women success in corporate America, the local business world and the Irish community.

Many thanks to the folks at Irish Voice Newspaper, especially to the Consul General of Ireland who is generously hosting a celebration gathering at his residence in New York on July 10th.

Why do I feel a little luck from the Irish coming my way?

A Relationship Begins With a Global Sale

iStock/Thinkstock

We hope you like this: Building global bonds one customer at a time.

Thanks to all of you for your readership!

And much appreciation to Anita Campbell at Small Business Trends for featuring our article.

World Connectedness

iStock/Thinkstock

Here's a great way to start. Get more work done when traveling from country to country.

Called Regus Businessworld, the program provides varying levels of access to professional day offices, business lounges and cafés in 950 business centers in 400 cities in 70 countries to help small business professionals get work done in a secure and productive environment no matter where they are.

For example, for U.S. $500 a month (or $20 a day), you can have drop-in access to a private, ready-to-work office nearly anywhere in the world. Or, for $300 per year, you can use any of Regus' business lounges in these locations.

Not bad.

Tagging Your Website to Go Global

iStock/Thinkstock

In the global search engine optimization (SEO) market, just because you come up first in the United States does not necessarily mean you will in the UK.

To find out what we are talking about, read this.

Water Pen Saves Lives and Goes Global

iStock/Thinkstock

With 6,000 children dying a day from waterborne diseases, the LifeStraw -- a $3 personal, portable water purifier made by Vestergaard Frandsen that eliminates virtually all waterborne bacteria and most viruses responsible for causing diarrheal diseases -- looks simple but has the potential to save lives worldwide.

Are you working on a life-saving product or service that will change the world?

Water, water everywhere ...

Why the Greenback Matters

iStock/Thinkstock

The dollar's fate affects the lives of billions of people including small business owners.

Read Day of the Dollar: A Global Connection

And don't miss the Dollar around the world piece either.

How Low Can You Go?....8/25

If true (and only those actually at the hospital can confirm) this little snippet is pretty damning for Essent's profitability:

Last week Nashoba Valley Medical Center set a new record for their inpatient census. There was a grand total of FOUR INPATIENTS. Yes, I said FOUR INPATIENTS.

Essent should start thinking about changing from a FOR PROFIT status to NON-PROFIT status. Staff continues to be sent home daily and there aren't many elderly still choosing NVMC for their healthcare needs. The next generation knows to stay clear of NVMC and travel another 20 minutes to the next facility.

While census is usually lower during the summer, the depth of this low sends an obvious signal: Not viable in its current configuration.

Books to Build Your Business

iStock/Thinkstock

Globality: Competing With Everyone From Everywhere For Everything

Doing Business in 21st Century India

The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom, and Live an Extraordinary Life

How to Do Business in Central America and the Dominican Republic

iStock/Thinkstock

Authored an article for Small Business Success Magazine on Doing Business in Central America and the Dominican Republic.

To download the PDF file, visit GlobeTrade.com and click on the Just Released button. Let me know what you think of it.

Top 20 Revenue-Generating Nations

iStock/Thinkstock

Guess who's No. 1? United States. Find out more here.

What Are Considered the Most Livable Countries?

iStock/Thinkstock

The most recent Human Development Index (HDI) -- Trends, published annually by the U.N., has much to offer in the way of measuring development by combining indicators of life expectancy, educational attainment and income into a composite index. It seems that the higher a listing, the easier to do business -- I would imagine.

Learn more but be ready to take time out of your busy schedule to explore. Fascinating information. And it's endless. Wikipedia definition here.

Beijing Club of the Moment

iStock/Thinkstock

As the Summer Olympics draw near and you are finishing up a special order (hopefully!) before you head out there, the club of the moment, Lan has local tastemakers gawking. See why (be patient ... a very slow load).

Reactions....8/16

Some people only read the posts--a mistake on their parts. I can kick a topic to life, but the people that are living it may have several different viewpoints on the subject matter. These were generated by the last post:

Tell Todd/Matt that if the blog has lost steam it's because some people are afraid to post lest they lose their jobs. The lawsuit has done more to damage Frank's rep and his business than the other way around!

I know what he means...fear is always a factor....

Todd/Matt/whoever this guy is writes (most likely on his company's time):

"Frak-a-rino:
I only check your blog every few weeks anymore.....You have run out of steam, bro'. Looks like despite your best efforts you have been singularly unsuccessful in bringing Essent to its knees.

This may be a good response in your court case.....you haven't caused a whit of damages, so why the h@#$ are they wasting their time and money suing you? "

Do your homework, Toddster- had you read some of the posts and did a little homweork (in between playing solitaire and tetris on your company's computer), you would have read this company is awash in red ink. From a heavily profitable year (50 grand- woofreakinhoo) to the 4.5 million loss recent reported.

Essent doesn't need Frank's help in FUBARing its facilities, swallowing up all that investment money. They're doing just fine all by themselves. All this humble blog is doing is reporting the truth, which in itself is a dangerous weapon. THAT is what Essent has their shorts in a wad over- people are paying attention to the man behind the curtain, and not the smoke-and-mirrors display run by Dud, dick and Duckboy.

Actually, I must give Essent a little credit- they're the perfect model of how NOT to run an allegedly for-profit company.

-The poster NOT known as Frank a/k/a John Doe number any

When it comes down to it, they are just trying to blanket all possiblities with the 1-10 thing. Even if it's determined that my comments were not libelous, they can say that the only way to find the 2-10 is through my account. Were it true, that would be one thing. Now, even with the settings set to forward, blogger doesn't and I haven't even a clue when comments are made.

"According to the latest American Hospital Directory (AHD.COM)data, when you add up the fiscal performance of all Essent hospitals for fiscal 2007, the company lost $4.5 million. Contrast that to fiscal 2006 when the combined operating profit was $55,000. How long are these idiots going to be able to keep their jobs with losses like these?"

Waitaminit...........this is a for-profit chain, right? Supposed to make some money, right? If I were pouring millions of dollars into a corporation, I'd expect them to make a little money, right?

This ain't a for-profit anything- it's a massive tax write-off, a money pit. Pouring good money after bad is not what I call a sound investment.

Matt/Todd/whatever the h___ his name is this week mocks this blog for "not bringing Essent to its knees". I'd say Essent and it's carload of circus clowns are doing a nice job of wrecking this company all by itself- what could this little ol' blog from Texas do, other than report on the train wreck taking place in Nashville, Paris, Ayer, Sharon and SW Pennsylvania.

And, finally:

Seems not much different than when the big mining companies ran the towns and the company store. Essent may be hoping that the Judge forgot that era, and the laws that prevent slavery....

So, you see, the posts aren't the fun part: the reactions are. You have to click a few times, but it's all there.

Exporting for Smaller Firms

iStock/Thinkstock

Kiplinger.com has launched a Small Business Center as part of its Business Resource Center, which offers expert advise and useful resources to help small businesses succeed.

What we are happy about is they included information on expanding internationally such as this video "Exporting For Smaller Firms."

Let's hope they continue offering useful information to "go global."

Vote, and Vote Often (Part Deux....7/4

A question has been asked:

Any news yet? Or is the ozone cloud that is emanating from the judge's brain still hanging over the courthouse, as he ponders this decision.......

Watch it come down to a coin flip: heads, guilty; tails, innocent.....

......and Essent provides a two-headed coin.

Actually, I'd hate to be in his spot. Basic liberties vs the largest single employer in town (might not be any more with the outsourcing, but for argument's sake let's say it is)...and with an election coming up. The dissection of his decision will be in the legal reviews as well as the boardroom.

But, I'm not wild about mine, either. Legal representation is not free, and I'm going to hate being back in the state court of appeals. As Todd (formerly known as Matt) comments:

Frak-a-rino:
I only check your blog every few weeks anymore.....You have run out of steam, bro'. Looks like despite your best efforts you have been singularly unsuccessful in bringing Essent to its knees.

This may be a good response in your court case.....you haven't caused a whit of damages, so why the h@#$ are they wasting their time and money suing you?

That's a question for the ages. Hud's ego, initially. Now, probably the point is moot. They want my name, but probably not for an actual trial. It wouldn't gain them anything, and more than likely hurt them--I do have enough to prove what I say. They can impose economic sanctions without that--just look back at Holly and her family. Come to think of it, it probably is still ego. These are still Hud's picked cronies. Dick is still at Essent. Browder was picked by Hud. Dickie picked Duckie.

Has Offshoring Hit the Global Small Business Market?

iStock/Thinkstock

Well it surely has hit Madison Avenue. More work is being shipped to little-known businesses in such places as Costa Rica and Bulgaria. If the ad guys and gals can do it, so can you.

Take a look.

Smart and Safe International Travel for Students

iStock/Thinkstock

Ready to buckle up, put on your headphones, peruse your in-flight magazine, and begin your travel adventure?

Exchange students and young U.S. citizens now have a Web site called Students Abroad to use as a resource for smart and safe international travel!

Lots of good information, including but not limited to, what to do in case of a natural disaster, locations for United States embassies, travel alerts and warnings, preparation and packing checklists and how to vote in United States elections while abroad.

The site is created and maintained by the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Find out more here.

Other places to check out if you are interested in detailed training, becoming a host family or exchange student: Northwest Student Exchange and Center for International Career Development (international training). If you go to our Wiki and sign up, one of our members runs these programs and can help you out.

The Global Show Must Go On

iStock/Thinkstock

The last two decades have brought the world more trade, more globalization and more economic growth than in any previous such period in history. Few commentators had believed that such a rise in trade and living standards was possible so quickly.

More than 400 million Chinese climbed out of poverty between 1990 and 2004, according to The World Bank. India has become a rapidly growing economy, the middle class in Brazil and Mexico is flourishing, and recent successes of Ghana and Tanzania show that parts of Africa may be turning the corner as well.

Despite these enormous advances, however, there is a backlash against globalization and a widespread belief that it requires moderation.

Find out more, here.

Is Your Company World Class?

iStock/Thinkstock

When I read this interview with Dr. Robert Hisrich, Garvin Professor of Global Entrepreneurship and Director, Center for Global Entrepreneurship at Thunderbird, I had to ask myself that same question. I'd like to think so.

It sounds as if Dr. Hisrich has his work cut out for him -- you too -- but at least he's got his priorities in order ...

The real heart-beat of the economy is [global] entrepreneurship.

Smoke Gets the Ayes!....8/25

In roughly two months the entire campus will be smoke-free. Finally, something I agree with! I never could understand why a patient that was sooo sick that they had to use a bedside commode--that was unable to bear the pain of sitting up on their own--could beat a street racer to the door to go out and puff. Besides, it takes a surgical patient about 20% longer to recover if they smoke after surgery. Oxygenation of tissue....



The excuse that was used: It's the norm for Dallas hospitals. Yeah, right. Since when has Duc-boy been concerned with what was done in Dallas--unless the advent was in his favor. One thing it will get rid of--smokers.



If you have to go off campus to smoke, then you have to punch out to smoke. Anyone who doesn't---off with their head! And, last I heard, only two breaks were allowed plus lunch, per shift. So when they're Jonesing over that smoke, and they either find a place to blow it out the window, or punch out so many times they have to pay the hospital to work here....gotcha!



And you wondered how they were going to thin out ranks before transitioning to the North? Meet the new boss...same as the old boss....

The Road to Global Business

iStock/Thinkstock

An opinion piece published in BusinessWeek (coupled with what looks like the launch of a new website: The Welch Way) by Jack and Suzy Welch talks about how local competition -- which includes an educated workforce, affordable sources of energy and supportive trade policies -- is a prerequisite for global success.

Go World

iStock/Thinkstock

Visa, Inc., one of the Olympic Games' biggest sponsors, is taking a feel good advertising approach that focuses on the international goodwill that springs from the Games.

The first TV spot, called "Come Together," (sounds like the Obama camp might be helping out!) shows fans from all over the world cheering during past Olympic Games.

Go world!

Pulling Out All Stops On Outsourcing

iStock/Thinkstock

Outsourcing firms like Keane Inc. in India are constantly trying to recruit new college graduates and lure young talent away from one another.

Are you attempting to convince new hires to look at outsourcing opportunities as one of the most attractive career options for them?

Competition is getting stiff and labor short. Time to pull out all stops on outsourcing.

Global Value Network 101

iStock/Thinkstock

Are you managing your value (er, supply chain) networks? Read more here to find out what you should be doing to ensure you don't fall in the category of companies who still aren't global.