Stay Home?
If the great global future of business is here, so far it's not much to look at. Are you trying to find a path to international success in today's world economy?
By Joshua Kurlantzick • Feb 1, 2003
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
For years, Bob Duncan of Leawood Export Finance Inc. in OverlandPark, Kansas, was a vociferous advocate of globalization. Aspresident of the B2B export finance firm, which helps U.S.companies expand their export sales, Duncan saw his company growsteadily throughout the post-Cold War 1990s, venturing into oneforeign market after another. During that time, Duncan himselftalked up the advantages of globalization--a combination ofadvances in trade, communications and capital flows--to hundreds ofsmall U.S. businesses considering expanding overseas.
But over the past two years, as globalization has undergone itsmost severe test to date, Duncan's mood has become darker. Hiscompany has laid off employees and slashed costs, and he has becomeless certain of the future of global integration. "The globaleconomic situation has become unclear, and there are clearly majorrisks," Duncan worries.
Continue reading this article — and all of our other premium content with Entrepreneur+
For just $5, you can get unlimited access to all Entrepreneur’s premium content. You’ll find:
- Digestible insight on how to be a better entrepreneur and leader
- Lessons for starting and growing a business from our expert network of CEOs and founders
- Meaningful content to help you make sharper decisions
- Business and life hacks to help you stay ahead of the curve
