We all know that 2009 is going to be one of those years we talk about for some time to come. Many of our clients feel like they’ve been tossed around by high winds for the past 12 months — heavy rain gear on, little relief in sight.

But now, as we plunge head-first into budgeting and planning for 2010, it’s time to take what learnings we can from this tumultuous year, look past the overcast skies and find that ray of sunshine we all know is out there somewhere.

If you think about it, this is actually an exciting time. After all, your planning right now could lay the groundwork for a rebound year — the year your marketing initiatives helped put the jet stream back in your company’s favor.

Of course, it can also be a frustrating time. Gloom still hovers over many industries, resources are scarce and finance execs are being conservative about budget increases.

That’s why we’ve gathered information in this issue of CustomerProfit to help you through the 2010 planning process.

First, check out our feature on four common CRM goals for 2010 — and how to achieve them. Then read our article on how to speak the language your CFO needs to hear, with tips straight from two financial leaders we at CCG work with and admire.

Also keep in mind that a key competency at CCG is our ability to help our clients gain buy-in from their CFOs — by quantifying the financial impact of customer engagement efforts early in the process. That way, our clients can evaluate which initiatives offer the best opportunities for winning ROI, before they begin the Big Sell to senior management.

We are also often asked to help clients “fill out” their planning efforts. We can help find overlooked opportunities or tweak existing ones with our unique view of CRM and direct marketing best practices.

And we can help you weather the cost-cutting mandates coming from the top — by using techniques like fine-tuned segmentation, and production or multi-channel efficiencies.

The fact is, we are always looking for challenges that test our creativity and knowledge. Think of us as the storm chasers of CRM.

So … 2010? Bring it on.