Let’s get to them.<\/p>\n
People love to throw around the statistic that 95 percent of business fail. Don’t listen to that — it’s an excuse to make you feel comfortable about giving up.\u00a0If that number is even correct, it’s because most people don’t commit,\u00a0they don’t follow through to the end\u00a0or they are stupid in how they manage their money.<\/p>\n Don’t start something you won’t want to do in five years. Because if you are successful, you’ll still be doing this in five years.<\/p>\n In fact, you probably won’t know anything when you first start. Start anyway. When I first got into real estate investing, I had no idea how to buy a property, rent a house, or evict a tenant<\/a>. I figured it all out “on the job.” You will too.<\/p>\n Nearly every entrepreneur I know suffers from the same curse: We like to start things more than we like to finish them. In other words, if you are a good entrepreneur, you’ll have a lot of great ideas. Most of them would probably work out well and make you a lot of money. However, that doesn’t mean you should pursue them. Pick one and go with it until it dies or it makes you rich enough to buy a private island.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> How Top Entrepreneurs Overcome the Dreaded Fear of Failure<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Partner with someone because it makes you stronger. The wrong partner will drive you crazy, make you hate your work\u00a0and end up causing more problems than they solve.<\/p>\n It’s ok, we all do at first. However, this is one task you must<\/em> get better at. Hire an assistant right now, even if it’s only a virtual one<\/a> for $3 an hour. It will give you some great training on managing, with little downside.<\/p>\n We just pretend it is so we can look at cat pictures on Facebook. I’d recommend installing a Facebook newsfeed blocker, such as this one<\/a>.<\/p>\n They don’t matter right now. Go build your business and stop doing busy work that makes you feel like you are accomplishing something.<\/p>\n Screw the line. Trample right over it.\u00a0You need to cross that line continually, so never let anyone tell you that you are too obsessed with your idea. I’m completely and overwhelmingly obsessed with real estate investing —\u00a0and it’s ok. What are you obsessed with?<\/p>\n Yes, you’ll have more time to build your business, but let’s be honest: There are 168 hours in a week; only 40 are consumed by your job\u00a0and another 50\u00a0by sleep. You have plenty of time if you would just hustle and turn off Netflix. But don’t be afraid to quit your job if you can afford it.<\/p>\n Divide up your tasks and determine what your “$10 per hour” tasks are and what your “$1,000 per hour” tasks are. Focus on doing more “$1,000 per hour” tasks and fewer “$10 per hour” ones. For more on this, read “Want to Make $1,000 or More Per Hour?<\/a>”\u00a0And yes, you do a lot of $1,000 an hour tasks, even if you don’t realize it. Just do more of them.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> 5 Daily Habits to Help You Steadily Reach Your Entrepreneurial Goals<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Never forget that.<\/p>\n If you don’t have time, listen to audiobooks.<\/a> And not just business books. Read motivational books, self-help books, success books, fiction books, biographies — whatever.<\/p>\n Yes, you can, and you should.\u00a0I don’t care if you are not a morning person. That’s an excuse lazy people use.\u00a0For more advice on this, read\u00a0The Miracle Morning<\/a><\/em> by Hal Elrod. It’s life\u00a0changing.<\/p>\n Focus on building a business\u00a0so incredible people throw money at you.<\/p>\n Like driving down a lonely highway on a dark, foggy night, entrepreneurship can be a little scary. But hopefully at least one of the above tips will help you navigate through the fog a little easier with more confidence. If you are just getting started with your business, just remember this: keep driving through the fog. Your future self will thank you.<\/p>\n Do you have any additional tips you’d like to add? Or something you’d like to expand upon? <\/em><\/p>\n Leave your comments below and let’s continue the conversation.<\/strong><\/p>\n Finally, if you think this post could help one of your family members or friends, share it on your favorite social media channel. You never know whose life you might change.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Webinar](\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Webinar-Jpeg-294x300.png\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>(*****Important<\/strong>: Before I get to the 15, I’d like to take a second and invite YOU to this week’s webinar here on BiggerPockets! This week we’ll be talking about “How to Analyze Rental Properties for Maximum Cash Flow<\/strong><\/em>.” It’s going to be pretty awesome, inspiring, and nerdy! Hope you can make it. Click here to hold your spot!<\/a>\u00a0Okay, on to the 15!)<\/p>\n1. Don’t listen to statistics.<\/h2>\n
2. Do something you like.<\/h2>\n
![\"buy-first-property\"](\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/buy-first-property.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n3. You are not going to know everything.<\/h2>\n
4. Finish what you start.<\/h2>\n
5. Never partner with someone because it’s convenient.<\/h2>\n
6. You are going to suck at managing people.<\/h2>\n
7. Social media probably isn’t that important.<\/h2>\n
8. Stop designing business cards,\u00a0logos,\u00a0business plans and stationery.<\/h2>\n
9. There is a fine line between dedicated and obsessed.<\/h2>\n
10. Don’t quit your job too soon.<\/h2>\n
11. Focus on your higher paying tasks.<\/h2>\n
12. Your spouse and kids matter more than your business.<\/h2>\n
![\"work-life-balance\"](\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/work-life-balance.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n13. Read — a lot.<\/h2>\n
14.\u00a0Get up earlier.<\/h2>\n
15. Don’t worry about raising money.<\/h2>\n