Global Small Business (GSB)

Peer-to-Peer Procurement: Networking, S2P vs. P2P, RFP vs. RFQ, and Smarter Buying for Small Businesses is a practical playbook designed to help entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners master modern procurement without the heavy cost of middlemen. Rooted in the innovative model pioneered by BidLock, this eBook shows how peer-to-peer (P2P) procurement empowers small businesses to buy and sell directly with one another, lowering costs, improving trust, and creating opportunities that traditional supply chains often overlook.Inside, readers will find a clear breakdown of procurement essentials, beginning with how peer networks transform purchasing power and build resilience through collaboration. You'll learn the difference between Source-to-Pay (S2P) and Procure-to-Pay (P2P) processes-understanding when strategy matters most, and when efficiency is enough. The book explains how to choose between Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Quotations (RFQs), helping business leaders match the right tool to the right situation.Practical strategies are paired with real-world examples of businesses that cut costs, gained new customers, or launched innovative partnerships through peer exchange. Each chapter includes toolkits, checklists, and key performance indicators that make implementation simple. The book also weighs the pros and cons of sourcing from small businesses versus large corporations, offering a balanced perspective to guide smarter decisions.More than just a manual, this eBook is a roadmap for building a procurement ecosystem that values transparency, fairness, and community strength. Whether you're a startup founder seeking suppliers, a procurement lead exploring alternatives, or an entrepreneur eager to expand sales, you'll find actionable insights to create value, foster partnerships, and compete on a bigger stage.Peer-to-Peer Procurement equips small businesses with the knowledge, confidence, and tools to thrive together, because smarter buying starts with peers. Charles Johnson is a builder-coach with three decades in sourcing, procurement, and supplier governance, known for turning big ideas into everyday operating discipline. An inventor and systems thinker, he holds U.S. Patent No. 8,517,742 (Labor Resource Testing System and Method), awarded for technology that assesses skills and aligns talent with real-world project needs. He also serves as Chairperson & Executive Director of the C.A.S.T.N.E.T. International Chamber of Commerce, where he mobilizes global partners to open trade routes and de-risk cross-border projects, and as the founder of BidLock , a peer-to-peer source-to-pay SaaS platform designed to help small and disadvantaged businesses scale.As an author, his writing grew out of that long arc of experience. After thirty years of wins, wipeouts, and rebuilds, professionally and personally, Charles saw the same pattern repeat: setbacks are tuition, if you know how to extract the lesson quickly and move forward with integrity. Intelligent Failure distills the frameworks he has tested under pressure: how to debrief without blame, design safe-to-fail experiments, protect what must not break, and align work with values so progress is sustainable at home and at the office. He wrote it for rising leaders and seasoned operators who are tired of perfection theater and ready for a playbook that turns inevitable missteps into momentum. In Charles's hands, failure becomes a disciplined practice, one that helps readers learn, heal, and grow into the kind of people others trust when the stakes are high.

Global Horizons: A Small Business Guide to International Expansion is a powerful roadmap for ambitious entrepreneurs and small business owners ready to scale beyond borders. In today's interconnected economy, even the smallest startup can access international markets, but success requires more than a good product. It demands preparation, cultural fluency, smart strategy, and the courage to navigate risk with confidence. This book gives you all four.Written in a professional yet approachable style, Global Horizons translates the complexity of global trade into a clear, actionable guide. Readers begin with a readiness checklist that highlights the operational, financial, and leadership capacities required to expand abroad. Practical sections walk you through compliance, intellectual property protection, tax considerations, and cultural due diligence, ensuring that you avoid common, and costly, pitfalls.From there, the book explores proven market entry strategies: direct exports, partnerships, licensing, franchising, and joint ventures. Each option is broken down into simple decision frameworks so you can choose the model best suited to your stage of growth. With an emphasis on high-opportunity regions, Global Horizons highlights booming sectors in Africa, such as fintech in Nigeria and agribusiness in Kenya, and thriving markets in South America, including Brazil, Colombia, and Chile. Real-world case studies and post-2023 data show what works, what fails, and why.Beyond strategy, this guide teaches you how to build international networks, forecast demand, align supply chains, and finance growth responsibly. You'll find tools for risk management, including trade credit and political risk insurance, and learn how to safeguard your venture against currency fluctuations, regulatory changes, and supply disruptions.To ensure immediate application, Global Horizons closes with a 90-day action plan and a 12-month expansion roadmap, complete with measurable performance indicators. Appendices include templates, scorecards, and curated resources from leading trade agencies, chambers of commerce, and global business associations.Whether you are an early-stage founder, a small business owner seeking new revenue streams, or a leader aiming to position your company for long-term success, this book equips you to take the leap. Global Horizons transforms international expansion from an overwhelming challenge into a structured, achievable journey toward global growth. Charles Johnson is a builder-coach with three decades in sourcing, procurement, and supplier governance, known for turning big ideas into everyday operating discipline. An inventor and systems thinker, he holds U.S. Patent No. 8,517,742 (Labor Resource Testing System and Method), awarded for technology that assesses skills and aligns talent with real-world project needs. He also serves as Chairperson & Executive Director of the C.A.S.T.N.E.T. International Chamber of Commerce, where he mobilizes global partners to open trade routes and de-risk cross-border projects, and as the founder of BidLock , a peer-to-peer source-to-pay SaaS platform designed to help small and disadvantaged businesses scale.As an author, his writing grew out of that long arc of experience. After thirty years of wins, wipeouts, and rebuilds, professionally and personally, Charles saw the same pattern repeat: setbacks are tuition, if you know how to extract the lesson quickly and move forward with integrity. Intelligent Failure distills the frameworks he has tested under pressure: how to debrief without blame, design safe-to-fail experiments, protect what must not break, and align work with values so progress is sustainable at home and at the office. He wrote it for rising leaders and seasoned operators who are tired of perfection theater and ready for a playbook that turns inevitable missteps into momentum. In Charles's hands, failure becomes a disciplined practice, one that helps readers learn, heal, and grow i