If I have to recall one sentiment that prevailed during the past year, a lesson rather, it was not to predict the future. So for 2006, I d only suggest that you continue doing what you know best and to keep an alert eye for the unusual because the next opportunity or the next disaster may not lie in the obvious.
As a saying in the Sun Tzu – Art of War goes, “One may know how to conquer without being able to do it”. And as another says, “To see victory only when it is within the ken of the common herd is not the acme of excellence.”
I only hope that office bearers of associations like NACIT, PCAIT, TAIT and many others learn from mistakes committed in the past, and continue to lead the way for the rest of the community. And I am sure they do so without the goal of seeking recognition but to really leave do good. Some of these associations, virtually armies made of members from the trade, are far more capable of weeding out malpractices (the enemy).
I also hope that vendors/principals and distributors do more to strengthen their network of loyal partners so that opportunities don t go waste. Consider, for instance, that retail and e-commerce is the way to go. With their superior financial and resource clout, these companies could invest in developing real estate for IT malls or online retail stores. Some vendors of solutions had embarked on creating specialists among their partners, knowing it s this that enterprise customers are looking for now (compared to end-to-end solution providers). Even in this sphere, distributors can go one step ahead in identifying areas and developing a focused knowledge base for partners to develop strengths on, before they lose the competitive edge.