The last few months have been brutal for most industries and companies.  Business, investors and individuals are starved for an economic upturn.  Far too many experts still place the possibility of a double dip between 20 and 50 percent.

On the pessimistic insider billionaire view of the world, read the article EXCLUSIVE: Outlook Gloomy at Secret Billionaire Meeting . The article says “They saw the United States in a long-term slow growth environment with the near-term risk of recession quite real.” “The Obama administration was viewed as hostile to business and that discouraged both hiring and investment. Companies and entrepreneurs were reluctant to add workers because they didn’t know what their health-care costs or taxes were going to be.” www.cnbc.com/id/39097299

Other experts have been talking about how the likelihood of a double dip has dramatically increased. Still others are saying the next year will probably be flat for an extended time period – 2 years or more.  The comments that we are at the bottom and the worst is over mainly are coming from politicians.

As you update your information sources to make the decisions, leaders will be pleased to see some credible indication that the economy may be getting closer to an upturn. That raises the question you have been hoping for.  Should you prepare to grow or at least get ready to move out of hunker down mode? 

With all the access to business approaches to the global economy which an international Big 4 CPA firm has, what information do they know which you do not have access to? At a minimum, maybe you should look into updating  your  last contingency planning , strategic planning or stretch budgeting  review about when or how you should prepare to prepare for an upturn.

The article Deloitte Plans to Hire 250,000 Worldwide in Next 5 Years describes what the title says.

http://www.webcpa.com/news/Deloitte-Plans-Hire-250000-Wiorldwide-Next-5-Years-55546-1.html?ET=webcpa:e1021:38133a:&st=email&utm_source=editorial&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WebCPA_Daily_091310

Preparing to move forward will at least get your leadership team  ready to take some optimistic steps when you are more comfortable about the near-term economy.  Those who do nothing and limit their ongoing flexibility will probably not be able to exploit the opportunities which are opening up.  More of those opportunities seem ready to happen, particularly if your corporation has created options for the international market.

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow … is to get to walk away with the tools and knowledge that there is so much more out there and it’s all yours if you choose to use it  … to grow… and be more rewarded for your efforts.

What can you do to get your fair chance at the pot of gold?