Now is the time for South African businesses to re-strategise their energy sources and consumption patterns, for a number of reasons that have recently been highlighted. With the challenges of Stage 6 loadshedding still fresh in our memory, government’s multiple measures to address this national crisis, announced just a month ago by President Cyril Ramaphosa, confirm that there is no quick short-term solution for Eskom’s woes, leaving us responsible for proactively securing our own alternative energy solutions. Fortunately, advances in technology and financing models continue to create more effective and affordable solutions. There are also tax incentives that make it more attractive for businesses to invest in energy efficiency measures and alternative power generation projects.

What qualities would your perfect customer have? On the surface this is a casual question, but a little examination shows it to be one of the most important ones any small business leader will have to answer. The traditional view of customers would hold that anyone you can attract to interact with your company and buy products or services is the ideal customer – the world is your potential client, and you should act accordingly. But what if that wasn't true? Learning to tell the difference between good customers and bad ones will be a critical skill for any small business owner with limited resources. Bad customers can waste time, extend resources and ultimately produce very little revenue, while the good ones can become the launching pad to bigger and better things. But how do you tell the difference? Here are the signs that will help you separate the good customers from the bad.