Most South African businesspeople will not look back on 2018 with any great fondness. It proved to be yet another difficult year, with the economy dipping back into recession and the political climate remaining volatile and, at times, hostile. Many of us will be feeling somewhat reinvigorated following our much-needed summer holidays. In the back of our minds, though, we also realise that the 2019 election wave is about to break. Much resilience and resolve will be required during the first few months of the year to sustain that holiday optimism.