On Wednesday, August 18th, we were joined by an incredible lineup of Certified International Trade Professionals and experts to talk all about global growth and how to weatherproof your business, in partnership with FITT.
Daniel Lewis, Author, and International Speaker, CITP
Lora Rigutto, Loyalty and Engagement Manager, FITT, CITP
Craig Atkinson, Founder and Director, Lexmerca International Trade, CITP
We began by talking about change because it’s inevitable;
A1 You need to upskill like an Olympic athlete who needs to keep updating and adding new skills to compete. No different in business. Upskilling makes businesses more agile and adaptable @FITTNews #StartupChats https://t.co/MVnbbchnyn
— Lora Rigutto (@CitpLora) August 18, 2021
A1. I think it’s important to keep an open mind. The best way to ensure that you don’t adapt is to stick to “the way we’ve always done things.” Take each change as it comes, see what you need to do differently, and do it! #StartupChats https://t.co/LswrC9SKzq
— Shaun Pingitore (@shaunpingitore) August 18, 2021
To stay agile & adaptable I suggest diversifying and developing your skills. Become more knowledgable about your products,industry or new industries to gain a competitive edge. Consider becoming an educator, expert or content creator in your field #StartupChats. (1/3)
— Daniel Lewis (@iAMDanielca) August 18, 2021
We explored how you can weatherproof your business as you grow globally;
A3 Train yourself & your employees. Ensure staff understands complexities of international trade. If you identify knowledge gaps, hire or partner with experts in the field. A #CITP can provide the big picture planning to take your business global @FITTNews #StartupChats https://t.co/zQTrrsrqhe
— Lora Rigutto (@CitpLora) August 18, 2021
A3. I think it’s important to be careful not to grow faster than you can sustain. Also be aware of culture differences that could turn what you think is a positive message into an offensive one. https://t.co/FnxdpfTVyt#StartupChats https://t.co/EzdgPViFpk
— Shaun Pingitore (@shaunpingitore) August 18, 2021
A3: We love the great advice in this @WSJ article about weatherproofing your business. Applicable to businesses around the world! https://t.co/DltLlRelTf #StartupChats
— MyCorporation (@MyCorporation) August 18, 2021
We also talked about risk and how it can create hesitation;
A7 Economic risk is real. Growing global markets takes time & money & AND ⏲️is💰Startups need to tap into available export programs. Public or private advisory services can help navigate complexities and ultimately get paid for reaching new markets @FITTNews #StartupChats https://t.co/5JH1bmvZpR
— Lora Rigutto (@CitpLora) August 18, 2021
A7: Economic risk relates to potential adversity given unforeseen changes in the business environment / economy. It creates hesitation for entrepreneurs because of the unknown effects. #StartupChats
— Craig Atkinson, CITP, GTP (@craigaatkinson) August 18, 2021
If you want to view the entire conversation, you can see the transcript here.