More countries are participating in and getting the hang of capitalism. Consumer economies are forming at different rates of development despite well-publicized world financial woes. Yet, people around the world are working and earning wages, and they need and want stuff.

There are markets at home, close to home, and further out. The United States might be the biggest consumer market, but we aren’t the only market to mine. How often and how wise is it to go back to the same wells? While the United States Congress and Executive branch battle about reining in expenses and cutback measures, they want the citizenry, at same time, to buy, buy and buy. And we do, because that’s part of the fun of life. But we pay for our quality of life by taking on debt. Buy more and spend more is United States economic philosophy.

Time for USA SMB’s to pursue fresh sources of money. Why not go for more share of overseas money like big business does? Obstacles? Sure. Plenty! But consider this quote. “ Much is not dared because it seems hard; much seems hard only because it is not dared.”

Offshoring jobs are a proven way of boosting bottom lines and fattening profit margins. OK. That’s a long-term trend. But that’s the cost side of P&L. What is being done to bring more customers in the loop? Business guru Peter Drucker wrote that the purpose of a business is to create a customer.

The United States holds 313 million people. The world holds 7 billion. Markets are many, especially segmented globally, spread among 194 other countries plus hundreds more individual states, provinces and cities of size many of us know little about.

There is, and continues to be, an advantage to the foreign-born to become Americanized in order to participate in our economy. While the foreign-born that come for higher education and by immigration slide into being multi-cultural, thus gaining an edge by learning how to operate in more than one society, too many American-born stick to being mono-cultural.

There’s $$$ reasons for putting effort into making our selves more global. There’s money to be made in the world outside The United States, provided you know the territory. Except too many of us don’t. Business doesn’t get done with strangers. They way things are, the world knows more about our culture and us than we know about their societies and them. How can that be good for our businesses and careers, in whatever field, in such an interconnected world?

What is to be gained by engaging in antagonist, protectionist competition framed by nationalism, and treating world neighbors with doubts, suspicion and fears. Everyone on the planet needs to work and earn wages.

The United States in this and future generations can help our selves by making a greater effort to fit into the world better. Make more effort to know and understand about world people and place, and what makes them tick. Just taking an interest can have a rainbow effect.

It pays to know about the world.