No Matter Where You Are In the World, Take a Break

Photo credit: Laurel Delaney, Rogers Park, Illinois, United States

Hit the Global Reset Button

Maria Bartiromo, anchor of CNBC's Closing Bell and author of "Face Time" column in BusinessWeek, talks with Alexander Cutler, CEO of Eaton, a $15.4 billion diversified corporation with businesses extending deeply into the global economy. She asks eight questions:

1. Do you think the economy is resetting?

2. So how important is it for companies at this point in the economic cycle to be preparing for recovery?

3. With things so volatile, how can anyone presume to know what's around the corner?

4. When do you think we'll see job creation again?

5. What are you doing at Eaton to reset your game plan?

6. Which of your businesses have fared best and which have fared worst in the recession?

7. I'm hearing a lot of multinational CEOs complain about President Obama's proposed tax on foreign profits. What are your thoughts?

8. Are there any positives that have come out of this reset?

Worth a read to find out what's on Alexander's mind.

Inside a Company Resetting for Recovery

Thrive Baby, Thrive

Tough times call for smart solutions and Intuit is offering a boatload of them over at its new Small Business United Blog. We reported about this in our Borderbuster e-newsletter on July 6th but just in case you are not a subscriber and missed it, we decided to re-feature the information here -- it's that important.

What's in it for you? Plenty. How will you find out? By a visit. Pull up a chair here.

Are You the Best Young Entrepreneur in America?

Calling all young, hip, fast-growth, BEST entrepreneurs in America! We want to hear from you. BusinessWeek is taking nominations for their annual America’s Best Young Entrepreneurs roundup through Aug. 16.

If you know of companies run by entrepreneurs age 25 or younger, nominate them here.

They’re looking for ventures that are fully operational – not just idea stage – and all of the founders must be 25 or under at the time of nomination. Goal: To identify companies that both demonstrate a clear potential for growth and establish the talent of the young folks behind them.

Feel free to nominate more than one company, and there’s no need to submit the same firm more than once.

Go for it!

How Important Are Export Programs for Small Businesses?

Very important. The U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship held a hearing at the Port of New Orleans on Keeping America Competitive: Federal Programs that Promote Small Business Exporting. The event included testimony from a number of witnesses. Read more here but let me leave you with an inspiring (yet maddening!) quote:

In her opening statement (PDF), Committee Chair Senator May Landrieu (D.-La.) noted that in 2008, $70 billion in exports maintained or created 600,000 high-paying jobs, and that small businesses make up nearly 97% of exporters nationwide. However, she went on to say, “while most of our exporters are small businesses, most of our small businesses are not exporting. In fact, small businesses make up just more than a quarter of the country’s export volume; trade remains dominated by larger businesses. What’s holding our entrepreneurs back?”

You tell me.

Are You A Genius Website Designer?

If you have one of the coolest designs for a small business site, then apply for the first in a series of awards for website design at Websites.com (sponsored by Verio).

Be brilliant. Apply for the award.

(Full disclosure: Verio is a Global TradeSource, Ltd. client.)

Don't Get Bogged Down By the Recession; Instead, Export

Small businesses make up 97 percent of the country's exporters yet only 1 percent of the nation's small businesses export. This stat was cited by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.,) last week to demonstrate that exporting offers an opportunity for small businesses to grow even as they are bogged down by the recession.

Landrieu also said, "exporting has become a practical solution for small businesses looking to survive and grow."

Read more about how the Small Business Administration has two key programs designed to help small businesses that export. Go here.

Happy 233rd Birthday America