2006 Small Business Trends

The site 'Small Business Trends' has started its series on 2006 Trends. First up on the block is 'Futurist Watts Wacker’s Trends to Watch in 2006.' Cell phones, Small environmental footprint, Digital life, Global culture and Avocation to vocation are topping Wacker's list. Out of the list Avication to vocation is the item that interests me the most. I really like the idea of turning my hobbies and interest into a job. It will be interesting to see how people going about making jobs out of hobbies. If you are thinking about trying to turn a hobby into a job I would ask you to consider why you love the hobby and what benefits it brings you. If you are using your hobby to escape the pressures of life then I would suggest you keep the hobby as a hobby. I know for my self that the woodworking should always remain a hobby.

Next we have '2006 Workforce Trends by the Herman Group.' Intensifying competition for qualified workers, Gradually increasing attention to employee retention, Increasing investment in older workers, Shift in retirement plans to lifetime lifestyle funding, Continued off-shoring of some work, coupled with return of other work, Larger investment in corporate training, Growth in telecommuting, Expansion of staffing industry, Heightened flexibility in work arrangements, Employer dissatisfaction with product of schools are the hot trends for the new year. It looks like companies will have to put more effort into getting, growing and keeping good employees.

Updated: 2005.12.15
Here are the trends from 'Happy About': Energy, Internet democratization, Increases in Internet marketing, China’s impact on world commerce increases, Outsourcing expands to other sectors, Services play an even larger part in Western economies, mobile commerce expands, VOIP, Employer/employee relationships change, and Security will be on everyone's mind.

The 2006 trends for Microbusiness are: increase in the number microbusiness, energy and information will play a large role in microbusiness, increases in marketing to microbusiness, more business articles will be written about microbusiness, and politicians will take more notice of microbusiness.