Happy St. Patrick’s Day — my favorite day of the year! We’ll start with a little bit of history and add an Irish Blessing:

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that’s always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

And let’s end on a light note: When Irish Eyes Are Shining (turn volume down first – lyrics here). More songs here.

Past posts on this day … one more here. Enjoy the day.

Posted by: Laurel Delaney (heritage here), The Global Small Business Blog

The NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional provides a benchmark for competency in global commerce. The CGBP designation demonstrates an individual’s ability to conduct global business including Global Business Management, Global Marketing, Supply Chain Management, and Trade Finance.

At the NASBITE CGBP (logo pictured) site you will find information regarding how to become a NASBITE Certified Global Business Professional, the background to the project, training resources, test overview, and a practice exam. There is also a forum in which you may ask questions and share your thoughts regarding the NASBITE CGBP credential.

Regular registration closes March 31.

Take action here.

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Bradley Corp., an international manufacturer of commercial plumbing fixtures and washroom accessories, received a 2010 Exporter of the Year award from ThinkGlobal Inc., publisher of Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Commerce Department.

Bradley serves a diverse customer base ranging from small local facilities to international corporations such as WalMart, General Motors, U.S. Postal Service, W.W. Grainger, and AMC Theaters Corp.

Here’s what we can learn from Bradley on taking a business global:

“Our company’s commitment to product innovation and strong customer service – as well as aggressive sales promotions in Germany and the Czech Republic — have all positively influenced our continued success in product exportation,” said Steve Zingsheim, Vice President, International Sales, Bradley Corp. “We also work closely with the Department of Commerce and take advantage of services such as the Gold Key in Japan and Mexico. Because of our many years of service in the international community through organizations like Milwaukee World Trade Association (MWTA), we mentor international students enrolled at local area colleges.”

Find out more here. Bradley backgrounder here.

Congratulations to Bradley! It is clear they are benefiting from their export efforts through new market expansion opportunities that lead to powerful growth.

Photo credit: Bradley’s Themepark Women’s Restroom

With or without the United States, the global economy is surging forward.

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim (pictured) is the first man from a developing nation to become the world’s richest person – a shift that underlines the loosening of America and Europe’s stranglehold on the top spots in the billionaires’ club.

Find out how there was a time when Americans held top spots in the world and how that is changing here.

Related articles here:

Carlos Slim Arrives in Lebanon, Will Meet President
Carlos Slim richest person in the world
#1 Carlos Slim Helu & Family

Posted by: The Global Small Business Blog

This week at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Sony (worth a look!) unveiled a motion controller for the PlayStation 3 (pictured), offering gamers its answer to the Nintendo Wii. It’s called the Move and is a rectangular device curved on the sides to fit comfortably in the hand. It also has a glowing ball at the end that contains technology used in tracking a player’s motions.

Interesting what all the major players are doing in this industry:

Nintendo’s success with the Wii, released in November 2006 as the first console to offer motion-sensing technology, has brought the gaming technology to the mainstream.

Microsoft is expected to join the trend in offering a motion-sensing device for the Xbox 360 in time for this year’s holiday shopping season.Unveiled in June 2009 as “Project Natal,” the Xbox system relies on sensors that track players’ body movements to allow them to interactively play sports and other games without having to hold any hardware.

Read more at here.

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