Lexington's business community is more integrated than ever. Small firms and even sole proprietors are relying on global customers to help their businesses grow and thrive. Entrepreneurs know that their competitive position relies on knowing customers wherever they are, and that means knowing at least a little about the issues they face at home and work. Thankfully, the Internet provides a wealth of resources and tools for local businesses to understand how commerce works in all corners of the globe, to get the latest on current events and culture, and to help them conduct transactions. Here are some of the online tools Bluegrass businesses can use to help them stay ahead of the global competition.
Podcasts from the London Business School (www.london.edu/podcast.html). Many of America's top business schools now offer free podcasts and videocasts that feature speeches and interviews from the world's leaders in entrepreneurship and business. Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Dartmouth and Yale are just a few. The London Business School's podcasts are excellent as well รณ they are updated regularly and offer hands-on advice with a global perspective. These podcasts are available via iTunes or at the school's Web site.
The Toronto Globe & Mail (www.theglobeandmail.com/). Widely considered to be Canada's newspaper of record, the Globe & Mail is the largest national daily paper for Kentucky's largest export market. The Globe's business section features a substantial amount of multimedia and interactive content, including Patricia Best's blog, "Nobody's Business," a behind-the-scenes look at Canadian and global business leaders.
The Universal Currency Converter (www.xe.com/ucc/). If you're doing business in Poland, you want to make sure you understand and agree what currency you're using; while the official currency of Poland is the zlotych, many companies working informally would prefer to work with the euro or the U.S. dollar. This online tool is very easy to use and can help you figure out quickly how many zloty to the dollar (typically about two and a half) and if you're getting hosed on the transaction fee.
Global Voices Online (www.globalvoicesonline.org/). If you want to know what hands-on, independent global media looks like in 2008, Global Voice Online is the very first place to look. A "non-profit global citizen's media project from Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society