.PNG)
Going Global in Seven Strategic Steps
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to present for the Newfoundland & Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE). I presented Going Global in Seven Strategic Steps, in my home town of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland to a group of women entrepreneurs.
It was a very special and emotional experience, when you are in a group of only women there is a common understanding of the realities of being a woman and all the other roles, responsibilities and challenges we need to manage in addition to operating our businesses.
Yesterday, as I presented, I thought how monumental the thought of going to another country at this moment can be for all of us. I had spent the morning before the presentation baking bread because there was no fresh bread at either of my neighborhood grocery stores.
That is our day to day reality on this island. The smallest task, even just making it to the event required that I walk 10 km!
As I walked to and from the event I remembered walking those same paths thousands of times and always dreaming of leaving here. And it wasn't for lack of love for this little island I call home, but rather, wanting to see what else is out there, wanting to explore-that is what this island inspires in me.
I have spent over 15 years building strategic international marketing plans for organizations. In building these plans I use this framework to start building our strategy.
You can use the framework either for yourself or for your business.
- Start where you know and grow:
The best place to start is where you have experience. Where have you traveled personally or professionally? Do you have clients or suppliers or partners or friends in other countries?
If you have never left the island, do you have ancestral connections or ties to a country?
Maybe you studied another language or grew up in a bilingual home. Did you study literature/ art/ music/ culture from another country?
For example, I have a Minor in Spanish Language and Culture and I specialized in Mexican Art and Architecture. It is completely random, and hardly comes up in conversation, but those connections which are so obvious that we forget about are the best place to start.
- Requirements:
What are the things that you need in your new market? Requirements can be free trade agreements, internet connectivity, cultural barriers, religious considerations, events, market size, safety etc.
For example, for our cannabis app we need countries that have legal markets for cannabis.
For my swimsuit line, shipping is a major consideration.
Think about all the requirements and make a list, when you know what you need it makes it a lot easier to plan and budget.
- Where would you like to go next:
For love, money, personal or professional reasons, where do you want to go. In a high travel job that I had in a past life, me and my colleague would make a list of all the places we wanted to go and divy them up and try to go to as many as we could in a year.
This is your business, your passion, you deserve to go places that align with you.
- What is motivating you:
This is one that I like to think about from the organizational and personal level. What are your biggest dreams? And everyone has them and it is typically financial independence, freedom, experience, adventure, and growth.
Whatever your dreams are, write them down. Create vision boards so you can visualize them, I have mine as my phone screen saver so that everytime I pick up my phone I am reminded of what I am focused on.
Write notes to yourself, or even create a reel or video reminder. Here is mine, I created on a rather gloomy Sunday when I was suffering post-travel depression.
Reminder-you are working for Ibiza.
Ingrain these goals in yourself, and if you see them everyday it will be easier to actually go and do it!
- What is holding you back from going global?
When I worked at the University of Alberta, I developed a study abroad program and part of our research found that students don't study abroad because of the 4Fs-Fear, Family, Friends and Finances.
THE FOUR Fs-all of the considerations that you will list and come up with, will likely fall into one of these four categories
What is interesting is that for women, there is a greater pressure from friends and family not to go abroad and research showed that girls as young as 18 years old were opting out of study abroad opportunities because of boyfriends.
To acknowledge the reality, it is a herculean task for women to travel alone, but you can do it. You just need to make a list of all those tasks and get through them one by one!
- Timeline:
I recommend that everyone start with a one year plan from where you are today and start mapping out where you would like to go when.
Look up industry events, seasonal attractions, consider industry timelines, production, deployment, and map out your year for all of the travel or events that you would like to do for a 12-18 month period.
- What do you need to “feel” ready?
Do you need to have a product built?
Maybe your website isnt finished or you are waiting on samples, you need to finish your language courses or you are trying to find partners and events in the market.
Whatever the factors are make a list and start working your way through the list.
It can seem like a monumental task to go abroad, especially if it is your first time. But I promise you it is the best thing that you will do personally and professionally!
To get you started here is my Going Global Checklist:
- Book flight
- Block Calendar
- Book Hotel
- Passport valid and in hand
- Cash $200 USD
- Vaccine Records
- Check Baggage Requirements
- Insurance
- Local Address
- Local Phone Number
- Ground transport
- Clothes
- Notebook
- Promotional material
- Medications
- Tech accessories
- Bank cards
- Tourist visas fees
