Many people in business are worried about the future. Some have seriously altered their business because of negative impact of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) - less sales means less revenues - less revenues means less expenses - less expenses means less staff.

Businesses around the world are waiting for signs that the economy will improve before they take optimistic and progressive action to grow their business. Sometimes, that sign is only when sales have picked up for several months.

But famous Canadian ice-hockey player Wayne Gretsky is known for having said that his success was not in being where the puck is, but to skating to where it was going to be.

So, if you want to be there and ready to beat the others when the economy picks up ... you will need to pre-empt the upswing in the economy.

“There is new optimism in the market with 67 per cent

of employers surveyed predicting the economy will

strengthen in the next 6 to 12 months. This is in stark

contrast to this time last year when only 6 per cent

thought the economy would improve. This increased

confidence is further illustrated by 45 per cent of

respondents intending to increase permanent

headcount and 22 per cent expecting to increase

their use of temporary and contract staff. A very

different picture to this time last year.”

Nigel Heap, Managing Director of Hays Asia Pacific (Hays Salary 2010 Guide)

It looks like the picture has changed significantly since last year.

When are you going to skate to where the puck is going to be?