Your business hopes and dreams for 2009

This year ain't gonna be pretty if the experts are to be believed! With well established businesses collapsing left, right and centre and employment analysts predicting hundreds of thousands of extra people out of work by December, we're set to experience the worst economic conditions for decades. With all that in mind, entrepreneurs would be forgiven for throwing in the towel.

But, for many, giving up is the last thing on their mind. As my blog post last month showed small business owners are ready to laugh in the face of the doom mongers and build business success. That view is confirmed by the new year's resolutions of many entrepreneurs I've gathered from members of our sister website UK Business Forums.

• Peter Syme, managing director of Splash White Water Rafting, is typical of those adopting the not giving up attitude. Pledging to "stick two fingers up at the doom sayers", he says he plans to work on doubling his business' profits despite being in a sector that is getting "kicked badly by the recession". At the same time though, Syme intends of working less by adopting smarter working practices and "playing more" by visiting at least six new countries. Sounds good to me!

• Jim Gold, of Business Sale Report, has a list any entrepreneur would do well to follow. Updating his business plan and forecasts is his first aim followed by trim unnecessary expenses and really focusing on his company's competitive advantage. Finally, Gold plans to "re-evalulate short, medium and long term personal and business objectives to make sure they synchronise!".

• Arena Flowers managing director Will Wynne's main pledge is a key business principle. "Our top resolution for this year," he says, "is to keep making sure we do the best job we possibly can and delight our customers." Wynne is another entrepreneur who is not going to let the downturn hinder his plans so he will also spend 2009 building his international business and be "more transparent" in green areas such as recycling and waste.

• Business coach Claire Chapman uses three words to sum up her resolutions: connection, sharing and being. More interaction via blogs, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn is on the cards as is sharing her thoughts and experiences. Chapman also plans to get better at "being". "I'd like to finally in 2009 create the space to work the way I want, live the way I want and take time to stop and smell the roses," she says. "Being will help me to have more space, spend more time doing things I love like getting out in nature walking and taking photos."

Inspirational stuff I'm sure you'll agree but what about you? Please post your business resolutions below. We'd love to read them. Happy New Year!