The cover article on BusinessWeek Magazine  (issue 1/18) focuses on the current and future state of the workforce in the US.  An excerpt from  "The Disposable Worker" ..... this recession's unusual ferocity has accelerated trends—including offshoring, automation, the decline of labor unions' influence, new management techniques, and regulatory changes—that already had been eroding workers' economic standing. The forecast for the next five to 10 years: more of the same, with paltry pay gains, worsening working conditions, and little job security. Right on up to the C-suite, more jobs will be freelance and temporary, and even seemingly permanent positions will be at greater risk. "When I hear people talk about temp vs. permanent jobs, I laugh," says Barry Asin, chief analyst at the Los Altos (Calif.) labor-analysis firm Staffing Industry Analysts. "The idea that any job is permanent has been well proven not to be true." As Kelly Services CEO Carl Camden puts it: "We're all temps now." Wow, when you read that who the heck wants to work for any company.  Do yourself a favor and read the entire article it's chalk full of insight and realities that are bound to slap you between the eyes if your dreaming of working for one company until you retire. So why is this good news?

I saw the new Nissan Cube the other day and it got me thinking about niche opportunities.  Now if you've seen the car in person you will certainly agree that it is different.  With its round windows and asymmetrical design, to me, it's ugly. But that's exactly the point of design.  It's subjective.  While I think its ugly there will be many that love it.  And that's where the value of this niche type of design comes into play. If a big car company is willing to invest so heavily into niche type designs surely there are other opportunities for this type of thinking. Creating something that is different enough to cater to a small market is the future of business.  More and more companies that create very vertical, highly niche type products will succeed.  The days of mass appeal and production are coming to an end.  People want unique products, services and information. What business ideas do you have to create that niche product, service or information?