Latest news with #international trade
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
87-year-old chairman's secret to success is always being on time, warning Gen Z ‘if you're one minute late, it's the same as being an hour late'
Research shows that Gen Z workers think showing up 10 minutes late to work is as good as being on time—but the 87-year-old chairman of the $1.7 billion-a-year Gellert Global Group warns being a minute late 'is the same as being an hour late.' George Gellert even credits his punctuality for his career success—and still sets his alarm for 4:45 a.m. to make sure he's always on time. Many workers are counting down the days until they turn 62, begin receiving retirement benefits, and can say goodbye forever to the 9-to-5. However, for George Gellert, now 87 years old, the grind still hasn't stopped. He is the chairman of Gellert Global Group, a network of food importing and distribution companies that rack in a collective $1.7 billion in revenue each year. And while his career has spanned nearly 60 years and has included navigating international trade through wars, natural disasters and recent tariff battles, he reveals to Fortune that the biggest secret to his success hasn't been reading every management book or mastering an elevator pitch. Instead, it's always paying attention to his watch. 'My mother would say to me, if you're one minute late, it's the same as being an hour late,' he recalled to Fortune. For Gellert, keeping to a strict schedule starts most mornings before the sun has even risen—at 4:45 a.m. But the first part of his day isn't checking his email or sipping his coffee in peace, it's placing a call to his business partner, Charles Kushner (who just became the U.S. ambassador to France). 'I talk to him for 15 minutes every morning from 4:45 to 5:00. Then I work out an hour before tennis, and then I start my tennis from 6:00 to 7:30 and I'm in the office a little after 8:00.' Staying on time and sticking to a routine may sound like no brainers, but there's indications that tolerance for tardiness increases among younger people. A 2024 study found that Gen Z don't see running late as a big deal, with almost half of those surveyed ages 16 to 26 saying that being between five and 10 minutes behind is just as good as being punctual. However, that drops to around 40% of millennials believing 10 minutes behind schedule is OK. Only 26% of Generation X and 20% of baby boomers feel the same. Success means getting your hands dirty, according to Gellert When Gellert first started his career at his father-in-law's company, Atalanta, in 1966, he was tasked with opening mail (back when they didn't have email, he joked). At the time, it may have seemed like monotonous clerical work, but it opened his eyes to the entire inner workings of the company—a lesson he says young people of today can learn from. 'Get your hands dirty,' he tells Fortune. 'Start at the bottom.' But for many young professionals today, staying at the same company for decades is no longer what they enjoy. Instead, Gen Z in particular are job-hopping more than ever, in part to try to secure a more lucrative title or higher salary. In fact, one study found that 56% of Gen Z think it's acceptable to change jobs every two to three years. It's on companies to do better about fostering an environment where junior employees can grow, Gellert says. 'You gotta motivate them to feel you,' he says. 'They're always wondering, what's my future? What's the next step? So, you have to really make sure that they have a career path going forward, because if not, they'll leave.' That also means picking employees who are growth-oriented to begin with: 'I make a joke if they play golf, I don't want to hire them. They have too much time,' he says. And while Gellert's leadership has helped his family's business grow from being simply a Polish canned-ham importer to a billion-dollar enterprise now in its 80th year, he says validation of success shouldn't come from others—but rather in reaching your own goals. 'Find satisfaction in what you do,' Gellert says. 'Try to keep a low-key profile. When success comes to you, you know you've worked hard.' The end of silent generation leadership While many of Gellert's fellow members of the silent generation are now enjoying their retirement years away from the board room—he's not alone. Billionaire Warren Buffett, now 94-years-old, still serves as the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (though is set to step away later this year). However, his routine is contrary to the early-riser mantra of Gellert. 'I get quite a bit of sleep. I like to sleep,' Buffett said in a 2017 interview with PBS NewsHour. 'I will usually sleep eight hours a night, and that—no, I have no desire to get to work at four in the morning.' And while Buffett also notably had a lasting bond with his respective business partner, the late Charlie Munger, ultimately, what might distinguish Gellert and Buffett from others is not their net worth or title, it's their attitude. 'We enjoy what we're doing here,' Gellert said. This story was originally featured on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is Rand Paul eyeing a 2028 presidential run? Here's what he had to say
Is Sen. Rand Paul eyeing another chance at the White House? "It's too early to tell" if he'll make a bid in the 2028 presidential election, he said at an event in Shepherdsville on July 14. But he didn't rule out a future run. "I think in the Republican Party, though, there needs to be someone representing that international trade is good for America, that we get richer and more prosperous in the world we trade..." Paul said. "There's a feeling for some, led by the president and others, that they want less trade and somehow limitations on trade." The Kentucky senator was recently featured in an Axios article on potential GOP contenders who are trying to build a national profile. According to the article, Paul has already visited Iowa and South Carolina and has plans to go to New Hampshire, an early primary state. Other possible contenders listed in the article included Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. It wouldn't be Paul's first time running for president. He previously ran in the Republican primary in 2016, where he traded insults with now-President Donald Trump. During the campaign, Paul called Trump a "fake conservative," as well as a "delusional narcissist and an orange-faced windbag." Meanwhile, Trump said Paul "reminds me of a spoiled brat without a properly functioning brain." Paul dropped out in February 2016 after a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucuses. Almost a decade later, he can still be seen as a foil to Trump on some policies, including government spending. Paul was one of three Republican senators who recently voted "no" on Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill" because it was projected to add to the nation's debt. He is generally described as a libertarian and considers himself a member of the Senate's informal Tea Party Caucus, a movement that generally opposes excessive taxation and government intervention. Paul's seat is next up for reelection in 2028. He could potentially run for both Senate and president, as he did in 2016, if the Kentucky Republican Party chooses to again hold a caucus instead of a primary for the presidential nomination. Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@ or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Is Rand Paul running for president in 2028? Here's what he had to say
Bloomberg
15-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Is the Dollar's Era of Exorbitant Privilege Ending?
The dollar's global standing is a mixed blessing. Its status as a safe haven and dominant reserve currency lowers the US cost of borrowing — the so-called 'exorbitant privilege' — which means more investment, more growth and higher incomes in the aggregate. But the dollar's strength also leans against the economy's competitiveness in international trade, which puts some of its producers at a disadvantage. What a shame that, on the face of it, you can't collect the benefits of a strong currency alongside the benefits of a weak one. On one interpretation, though, the Trump administration is aiming to do just that. According to a strategy mapped out by Stephen Miran, chairman of the president's Council of Economic Advisers, it's possible to nudge the dollar's value lower without causing long-term interest rates to rise — thus achieving greater competitiveness in trade without surrendering the exorbitant privilege. The key is to change the terms of international trade and finance by using all the instruments of US power.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Braskem Expands Its Own Fleet with the Vessel Brave Future and Strengthens its Global Logistics Strategy
The second vessel marks the next chapter in the company's efficiency and competitiveness in international trade SíO PAULO, July 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Braskem, (B3: BRKM3, BRKM5, and BRKM6; NYSE: BAK; LATIBEX: XBRK), a global pioneer in large-scale biopolymer production, celebrated the arrival of the Brave Future, its new vessel, today. The start of operations of the approximately R$ 500 million ship, which will operate on the route between the United States, Mexico, and Brazil, marks the expansion of the company's strategy to increase its logistics autonomy, reduce maritime transport costs, and strengthen global competitiveness. The christening ceremony was held in China at the YAMIC shipyard, the company responsible for building the vessel. The ethane carrier has a length of 188 meters, a capacity of 36,000 m³, and is capable of transporting cargo at temperatures as low as -104°C, it was financed by Ocean Yield and will be operated by the Hartmann Reederei. The vessel is equipped with a dual-fuel engine running on bunker oil and ethane. It boasts high fuel efficiency and a propulsion system with CO₂ emissions approximately 40% lower than the average fleet in operation. "The Brave Future is a strategic asset that expands our autonomy in the area of logistics, which provides greater predictability to operations, and strengthens our position as a global leader in the petrochemical industry," highlights Hardi Schuck, Director of Braskem Trading & Shipping (BT&S). Before the christening, the vessel underwent sea trials, a rigorous testing phase at sea that evaluates safety, speed, maneuverability, and equipment performance before the start of commercial operations. With the new vessel, Braskem now has two dedicated ethane carriers – the Brave Future and the Brilliant Future. In 2026, BT&S expects the delivery of four more ships to serve Braskem. This structure reinforces the company's commitment to innovative, sustainable logistics solutions aligned with the demands of global maritime trade. About Braskem Braskem is a global, human-oriented petrochemical company with a forward-looking approach, cultivating strong relationships and generating value for all. Offering sustainable chemical and plastic solutions to improve people's lives, the company has a comprehensive portfolio of plastic resins and chemical products for various sectors, including food packaging, civil construction, industrial, automotive, agribusiness, health, and hygiene, among others. Braskem believes that disruptive innovation is the only viable path to establishing a new relationship with the planet. Therefore, it chooses to act in the present by promoting plastic circularity and driving the revolution of bio-based materials. With 40 industrial units in Brazil, the USA, Mexico, and Germany, the company exports its products to customers in over 71 countries through its 8,500 team members who operate globally under a management model that demonstrates a commitment to ethics, compliance with regulations in all countries, and respect for responsible competitiveness. More information: Braskem on English social media: View source version on Contacts Braskem North America, Europe, and Asia Stacy Torpey – (215) 841 3194 – Braskem Brazil Fato Relevante AgencyBruna Machado: +55 (91) 8150-9098Alessandra Carvalho: +55 (11) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
