Here’s are 5 true predictions that my crystal ball is showing for 2010:

1.  2010 WILL be better than 2009 especially for small businesses.
Macro metrics like the GDP, unemployment rate and the national debt may
not move much but small business is the backbone of our economy.  Small
businesses are agile, flexible, nimble and resilient.  We will adapt in
2010 to find a rhythm for smart growth.  Expect a slow start as we
adapt and then stronger 2nd half in 2010 if you work for it.

In case you were wondering – http://www.sba.gov/advo/stats/sbfaq.pdf

• Small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.
• Small businesses have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years.

2.  People are done with fakes, frauds and phonies – watch out!
Enron, Tyco, MCI, Bernie Madoff and Tiger are cheats we know but Tiger
Woods could be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back.  If
Tiger is the straw then “we” are the camel’s back.  People are going to
not just ignore bad behavior anymore, they are going to look to punish
it.  Personally if I were Nike, I would sue Tiger for the money he
received on his image of being the all-around great guy.  It’s a breach
of contract.

3.  TRUST will become the new currency.
If I am right on #3, then trust, brand promise, reputation is KING!  Of
course cash will always be king but with enough trust couldn’t you get
that too?

4.  Smaller is better.
This is without a doubt a trend that started a long time ago.  But I
see more twitter-like 140 character inventions and discoveries for
cars, computers, phones, teams, slogans, etc…

Past this, look for people to make fewer commitments to each other also.

5.  E-X-E-C-U-T-I-O-N will be the new buzz word.
When the hype dies down, a company either executed or it didn’t.  Every
professional service company in the world is going to claim to help you
take your ideas from theoretical to reality.

The only question is – how many companies truly have that core skill set?

(wink-wink, I know one!)