“It’s no secret that the Great Recession had a devastating effect on the US manufacturing base. Between 2008 and 2009 more than one trillion dollars bled out of US companies that make everything from food to advanced aerospace and defense products. Lately things have begun to look a little better — the value of US manufacturer shipments was about $4.9 trillion in 2010 compared to $4.4 trillion in 2009. A $500 billion improvement is nothing to sneeze at, but another shot-in-the-arm may be on the way.” Bizmology www.bizmology.hoovers.com/2011/12/01/is-manufacturing-returning-to-the-us/

The time zone difference, expense of extensive overseas travel and complexities of dealing with local labor and governments, are making US companies consider moving work closer to home.

Nearshoring is a form of outsourcing that brings work closer to the parent company’s country or time zone.  The problem with U.S. companies moving work from Asia to Mexico is the danger and political instability existing in Mexico today.  About.com www.outsourcing.about.com/od/nearshoring/Nearshoring.htm

Costa Rica or other Latin American countries may be a better option with less violence, but the time zone and travel costs can be higher.

“A surprising amount of work that rushed to China over the past decade could soon start to come back—and the economic impact could be significant,” said Harold L. Sirkin, a BCG senior partner and lead author of the analysis. “We’re on record predicting a U.S. manufacturing renaissance starting by around 2015. Now we can be more specific about which industries will return and why.” Boston Consulting Group http://www.bcg.com/media/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?id=tcm:12-88775

On top of this, foreign-based companies are also picking up on the benefits of nearshoring or outsourcing work to a U.S. location to be closer to their customers; and to take advantage of the available labor force and potential tax breaks.

“India’s outsourcing giants — faced with rising wages at home — have looked for growth opportunities in the United States. But with Washington crimping visas for visiting Indian workers, some companies such as Aegis are slowly hiring workers in North America, where their largest corporate customers are based. In this evolution, outsourcing has come home.” Washington Post www.washingtonpost.com/business/as-indian-companies-grow-in-the-us-outsourcing-comes-home/2011/05/17/AFZbrp7G_story.html

There are U.S. based entrepreneurs meeting the demands of global companies for specialized products, like chopsticks. 

“Inspired by his Asian background, an American entrepreneur is turning central Georgia into a fast-growing, job-creating region that makes four million sets of the utensils each week.  Jae Lee, a U.S. citizen originally from South Korea, says his company is America’s only chopsticks manufacturer and exports them to China and Japan. Lee started Georgia Chopsticks earlier this year in a town called Americus, population 17,000. He said that his 102 employees can’t keep up with demand from hungry Asians. As a result, he has plans to expand dramatically, hiring an additional 800 workers next year.” Money  www.money.cnn.com/2011/12/02/smallbusiness/georgia_chopsticks/index.htm

Think about it—nearshoring—inshoring—outsourcing, and building strategic partnerships for work, services and growth.

When George Bailey goes home at the end of the movie; family, friends and the townspeople of Bedford Falls, New York, collaboratively provide the funds to keep the Bailey Building and Loan Association open. 

What is Crowd Funding or Crowd Sourcing?

“Crowd funding (sometimes called crowd financing, crowd sourced capital, or street performer protocol) describes the collective cooperation, attention and trust by people who network and pool their money and other resources together, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Crowd funding occurs for any variety of purposes,^[1] from disaster relief to citizen journalism to artists seeking support from fans, to political campaigns, to funding a startup company or small business^[2] or creating free software.” Wikipedia www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowd_funding

The U. S. House of Representatives has recently passed legislation to support crowd funding.

“The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed its first significant crowd funding legislation, in the form of H.R. 2930, the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act. The bill (now in the Senate) amends the Securities Act of 1933, by allowing entrepreneurs to crowd source (online) up to $2 million per year in investment capital directly from individuals without having to register the investors with the SEC; however, the commencement and completion of the raise do need to be filed with the SEC. Entrepreneurs (the “issuers”) must provide potential investors with audited financial statements in order to qualify for the $2 million cap, otherwise you are capped at $1 million. Individual investments from crowd-shareholders are capped at $10,000 (or 10% of their annual income), whichever is less.” Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-steele/house-passes-first-crowdf_b_1137789.html

Did you have to close your restaurant or bakery, and need funding to get a food truck rolling on wheels?  Are you trying to start up a new business or non-profit?

Are you trying to save your struggling company?  If you all of these questions apply, then consider crowd funding, crowd sourcing.

Here are some resources for more information on crowd sourcing or crowd funding:

www.crowdsourcing.org Crowd Sourcing

www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/2853-13-Crowdfunding-Websites-to-Fund-Your-Business  Practical Ecommerce

www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.06/crowds.html Wired

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this legislation supporting new business growth is signed into law.

While the stability of Greece remains in question and Hungary also seeks aid from the European Union, the opportunities for new big-ticket businesses and strategic partnerships continue to emerge in Asia.

“As Asia is emerging as the epicenter of big-ticket business, enormous opportunities for such strategic partnerships are up for grabs in almost every sector such as financial, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, high technology, tourism, health care, education, environment, energy, natural resources, etc.,” as summarized for the AFF’s China and Asia: Global Business Partnership Workshop hosted by China Daily.

David Lipton, first deputy director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), commented at the AFF, “Despite the spillover from crises, Asian economies have remained committed to free trade, and closer financial and economic cooperation.  So it is not a coincidence nor a surprise that Asia has led the global recovery over the past three years.” As posted in China Daily US Edition, http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/epaper/2012-01/18/content_14468562.htm

George Osborne, chancellor of the United Kingdom, pitched a presentation to AFF attendees for the UK to become the gateway Asian banking and investment in Europe. Since the US and UK banking and financial relations structure is well-established, this could assist small and mid-sized US businesses that interested in investing, marketing or developing manufacturing facilities in Asia, South East Asia and Asia-Pacific.

“London is perfectly placed to act as a gateway for Asian banking and investment in Europe, and a bridge to the United States,” stated Osborne–his speech viewable on The Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2012/jan/16/osborne-london-china-economy

The US was represented with  the chief executive officer from General Electric Global Growth and Operations and group president from Caterpillar speaking at AFF sessions.

The AFF has posted some webcasts viewable for free on its website at: http://www.asianfinancialforum.com/en/info_webcasts.htm

Whether you’re a business or a student, the webcasts are interesting to watch as innovation and ideas emerge.

If your sorry you missed this forum, don’t worry there is another Asian market-focused meeting in March 2012, it’s the CFO Innovation China, being held in Shanghai, http://cfoisummit.questexevents.net/

I’m sure there will be more forums, conferences and trade shows as the juggernaut of new developments continues to grow in Asia, South East and Asia-Pacific, so I’m referring you to my earlier blog posts on packing luggage, entertaining for small events, and global etiquette.

Snowshoeing is the real outdoor elliptical machine, with scenic view included.

You can burn from 472 – 690 calories an hour while snowshoeing, based on weight.  Take that treadmill.

It can be an adventure, especially if a coyote or bear is chasing you.

Here is a website with information on snowshoeing and winter sports: http://www.snowlink.com/

Some midwestern cities have had enough snow fall so folks can dust off their snowshoes, cross-country skis and dog sleds for fun, shopping or to go to work.

My midwestern city hasn’t had enough snow for snowshoeing.   There is a couple of inches of snow, but it’s already melting.   No blizzard yet.

Hmm, if you were living in the “ice box of the nation”–otherwise known as International Falls–you could snowshoe or dog sled. 

You could have your own natural freezer, called the great outdoors in International Falls. You can stand outside for just a few minutes in the winter and watch your cup of hot chocolate freeze.

During the summer in International Falls it can get up to a balmy  70′s for a whole three months, and then blink and it’s over.  The town is by the boundary waters, which are a great place to portage during the brief summer.

What do they consider cold there, well go to -9 below zero and then keep going down.

I’m sorry that I won’t make it to the town’s Ice Box Days Winter Festival this month in January.  I won’t be running in freezing cold marathon.

Maybe I’ll get the snowshoes ready and pull out the poles just in case there is more snowfall. 

No blizzard yet.  I am going to cross my fingers encased in my Thinsulate gloves, and hope for snow.

They can perform a more detailed study of my body, than I get during a regular physical.

How can I pack like a pro to ease through airport security?  How can I pack like a pro so I don’t have to take out a small business loan to pay for extra costs for weight of baggage of ever-changing airlines fees?

I dream of the day when I take a small bag, which fits easily into the overhead compartment.  A bag filled with the toiletries, and attire that are convertible work for many occasions and climates.

I want to be a savvy traveller and packing pro.

Well, it seems that TSA agents want me to pack like a pro and ease through the security line too.  TSA has suggestions for people on how to pack to make the process easier and less invasive–http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/screening_experience.shtm

This youtube video inspires me on how to pack for a month–http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5UlxHsgD58&feature=related

I can always ship a duffel bag or suitcase to the hotel, B&B, guest ranch or yurt prior to my arrival, and I can fill it with the suits, formal wear, extra shoes, workout/sports gear, etc. 

You can too. Find a cheap shipping rate.  Contact your hotel and arrange to have the package shipped to Guest (your name, date of arrival), care of either the hotel manager, concierge or bell captain.

Then you can breeze through security and enjoy your trip.

We all want it, but how often do we really achieve those long-range, big picture goals?

With this economy, may be I need to rethink it and focus on small goals (smaller budget, expenses) more achievable and take time to plan them with patience.  A quick fix can get costly.

I just finished reading two articles about goal setting that offer steps and system that I think make sense.

I’ll think about small, achievable goals and use patience to plan.

I think it makes sense with current economy to look at small-scale goals that will not cost a lot to implement, are flexible and can be built upon.

Then I want to turn those goals into initiatives that fit with a one-year strategy.  Goals are good, and initiatives are action.

I’ll want to track my progress on the initiatives in an easy-to-follow format, that I can check on daily, weekly and won’t involve me buying expensive software.

Money Magazine’s article for more information on these steps to planning goals– http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/12/3-ways-to-blow-your-goals-for-the-year/?iid=HP_LN

Fast Company has an article on implementing those initiatives and a system for tracking the progress–http://www.fastcompany.com/1802627/your-most-productive-week-ever

You can negotiate a price fix menu, special cocktails, and ask about special touches or bringing in your own floral displays and special touches.

For business events, it’s much quieter and can be less expensive and provide audio/visual equipment for a guest speaker and/or sales pitch.

For personal events, the hostess(es) can enjoy the event, it can be disability accessible, more elegant and no clean up required.

Cost it out and compare the price, time and people involved to hold a similar event in an office or banquet facility or home.  Ask the restaurant if it has a slow period or season, and offers with special discounts.  You may think it more expensive, but will actually being saving money because of the time and people needed to hold it elsewhere.

Websites like this one list provide locations, details and prices by cities:  http://www.opentable.com/info/banquets.aspx?m=3

When communicating–do it with KISS.

I’m a believer in communicating simply and smart and repeating the message when necessary.

A meeting runs smoother with a simple easily understood agenda (date, time and length of meeting, topics and brief explanations, new business and/or idea solutions) that guide a meeting.

If you’re hosting a meeting with a group of people with disparate ideas and attitudes, stick to the agenda and don’t let them roam.  Always note that they can send you their comments after the meeting for consideration.

Or maybe you just want to learn a little about cultures around the world before or while you travel to a particular country.

May I suggest the book, “Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands,” by Teri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway.