You may have the best, even most innovative product on the market. You may be developing the most talented team with the latest leadership skills. You may have a significant competitive advantage through your brand. But if you’re not preparing your company for the effect of globalisation and the changes that will bring, you could fail in the blink of an eye.

Change and the speed of change will increase and affect the way we do business. Wealth and success will change and the definitions of those words will become very individual. Growth of your business will be different, how you make a profit will change and competition will be even greater.

Trust will be your most important asset with customers and employees. You will need to justify why you are different at every step even if it means you are cheaper. Technology will drive your business and we will become obsessed with trends. Marketing is changing and rapidly. No longer will you have brochures or attend that exhibition, that part of your budget will be spent online.

One of the best investments you can make at the moment is to read a couple of books on the subject of globalisation and get geared up. According to the leading experts on the matter, it is here to stay so we better damn well understand the implications for our small business.