Let’s face it, there are very few things more attractive than being your own boss. In fact, thousands of entrepreneurs start their own businesses each year. They don’t have some magic formula for success, however. They simply make the conscious decision to turn that business idea into a reality. What about you? Are you ready to take the first steps towards being your own boss? If you’re like most first-time entrepreneurs, your primary concern is probably money…or lack thereof. But even if you don’t have the funds ready right now, there are still some steps you can take toward starting your own business.

Journal. Jot down any and every idea you have about your business, whether it seems huge and significant or minor and meaningless. Carry your journal with you everywhere you go…in the car, to the store, to your current job. Not only can you keep track of the great ideas you’ve already though of, but…

The world of entrepreneurship is full of potholes and wrong turns. You may work for months and months only to find out that you need to scrap your original idea and try something else. You may follow a particular protocol for years before you realize that there’s a more efficient way to run your business. Much of this trial-and-error experience is to be expected when you’re starting your own business, and you can learn a great deal from your mistakes. But be sure to learn from other people’s mistakes, too. Here are 7 to avoid.

1. Working In Your Business Rather than on Your Business. Every business consists of little tasks that must be done to make the whole operation run smoothly. There is always work to be done. But your job as the owner of your own business is to…