So you’ve come up with a fantastic idea, now it’s time to clear your mind and focus on what you need to do next. Here’s how to get started

There are many things most of us are happy to stumble blindly into: relationships, jobs, living arrangements, long car journeys. And sometimes things work out ok and sometimes they don’t. If there’s one thing it’s not worth taking a risk with it’s your own business. Cover all your bases by putting a well-thought out plan into place to give you every chance of moving forward with it. So you’ve come up with your idea, what next?

Business advisors Heather Wilkinson and Jenny Ungless from Striding Out give the following tips:

1. Have courage and self-belief
You need guts to step out and do your own thing. To be a successful entrepreneur you need to have an unshakeable belief in yourself and your business. That belief comes much easier if you know where you're going and how you're going to get there.

2. Focus and prioritise
Successful people spend time on the parts of their business that matter, that fulfil their targets and goals. The devil is in the detail, and they know what detail to focus on. As you embark on your journey as an entrepreneur you'll learn how to separate the important tasks from the less important and prioritise effectively. Organising your time will be one of your biggest challenges, so you need to be able to focus.

3. Persevere
The successful entrepreneur is the person who is prepared to try and try again, without getting downhearted and giving up. It's about your mindset and attitude: successful people are those people who've failed in the past and used their failure as a chance to learn. Of course you'll make mistakes along the way - we all do. Remember, failure is only the chance to begin again, only this time more wisely.

4. Draw up a business plan with clear goals
"Failing to plan is planning to fail", is a phrase no truer than in the world of business. If you haven't got the motivation to write a plan, or you haven't got the answers to the questions the plan poses, then running your business will be very much like heading to a destination with no map, no guidance, no signposts. You'd be far more likely to fail completely or waste a whole lot of time along the way.

5. Put a support network in place
Successful people know they can't do it all. In business, as soon as you think you know it all and can do it all, you're doomed. Continuous learning and realizing other people's strengths can fill the gaps in your skillset or knowledge base, is key to business success. Asking for help, guidance and encouragement isn't a sign of weakness. It's part of taking responsibility.

6. Take responsibility
Successful people take responsibility for their own success and avoid the victim mentality. Succeeding in business isn't about “luck” or “being in the right place at the right time”. It's about accepting that it's down to you to make it work, and then making sure that you give your very best. Whether you succeed or fail in your business venture is entirely up to you, so take responsibility and be prepared.

And that's where good planning comes in. Next time we look at how to write a business plan.