Transitional Trends

As business transitions into true global economy, my crystal ball says that the following trends should be watched closely in 2006. Are you ready for the transitions in your business? How are you preparing to transition yourself, your company, your resume?

1. Healthcare

• A major battle looms between the banks and the non-banks for thenearly $94billion in HSA deposits expected by 2010
• Renewed focus on corporate wellness and health promotion improves the bottom line
• Consumers demand electronic medical records and will happily pay for the service

2. Emerging Technology

• Should you be thinking about business blogging and podcasting? The answer may surprise you
• Mobile commerce and mobile everything else (TV, movies, music,games, mobile search, GPS, RFID, healthcare and financial services applications, and more) zooms in 2006
• VoIP gets it right

3. Automotive

• The automotive industry discovers the power of maintaining an online advertising presence in a big way in 2006
• 2006 will see an emerging luxury car "boom"; and cars that are small but not cheap
• What GM's future means to the industry

4. Global Marketing and Strategy

• Dialog marketing extends relationship marketing
• As market segments continue to go deep and narrow, brand equity matters now more than ever
• "3 billion new capitalists" emerge in India and China - do you speak Mandarin?